Grandmother Spider: A Charlie Moon Mystery

Amazon.com

It's pretty well understood that mysteries come with an implied contract. Authors, for their part, promise to deliver plots and resolutions, however improbable, with some degree of plausibility. Readers, in turn, give an author a 50-50 shot by turning down the gain on their innate disbelief. Then along comes Grandmother Spider and all bets are off.

Southern Ute tribal policeman Charlie Moon has a problem. It seems that, thanks to the imprudent squishing of a wayward spider, the giant spirit Grandmother Spider has risen from her cave below Navajo Lake and exacted revenge on humanity by snatching the research scientist William Pizinski and Tommy Tonompicket, the local carouser with whom he was drinking. Charlie knows this because the squisher was Sarah Frank, the 9-year-old ward of his elderly, shamanic, and altogether elsewhere aunt, Daisy Perika. And Daisy got it straight from a dwarfish spirit called a pitukupf.

The pitukupf half smiled, exposing jagged rows of yellowed teeth. He vigorously stirred the crooked stick in the embers under the apparition, kindling new flames. The dwarf ceremoniously lifted the helical baton like a conductor calling dark chords from an unseen orchestra. The glowing sparks swirled up the column of heated air... and the hideous image of the eight-legged creature followed. As it ascended, the grayish form took on the bright orange hue of the yellow flames beneath it. The apparition grew larger, the entrapped man struggled vainly in hope of release. And screamed piteously for someone to help him.

And that's not the half of it. Before long, Charlie and his friend, Granite Creek Police Chief Scott Parris, are up to their gun belts in national security issues, mutilated bodies, hideous creatures roaming the countryside snatching sandwiches from the mouths of 80-year-olds, and the bizarre reappearance of the two missing and now-amnesiac tipplers. And, happily, that's still not the half of it.

Grandmother Spider is Charlie Moon's sixth, strangest, and perhaps funniest airing (from 1994's The Shaman Sings through 1999's The Night Visitor). With mystery and mysticism enough to satisfy Hillerman's fans, and humor, memorable characterization, and good writing enough to satisfy everyone else, who's going to quibble about a silly old contract? -- Michael Hudson

Book Description

A lawman with a hardy appetite for life and an unshakable faith in the explicable, Southern Ute Acting Chief of Police Charlie Moon is not prepared to accept a purely supernatural explanation for the recent strange events of April 1. Nevertheless, something carried off Tommy Tonompicket and his unlikely drinking companion, research scientist William Pizinski, in the black chill of the Colorado night. And something ripped the head off a man outside a lonely cabin in the mountains...and left two large, fanglike punctures in his chest. And though Charlie's eccentric old aunt, the shaman Daisy Perika, claims the gargantuan avenging arachnid Grandmother Spider has risen up from the depths of Navajo Lake, the hulking, good-natured tribal policeman feels in his gut that this is murder, pure if not simple, and most probably by human hands.

Customer Reviews:

Love the whole Charlie Moon series.......2007-06-21

Magic, mystery, crime, inticate plots dosed with laugh-out-loud humor set on the Ute Indian reservation in SW Colorado. James Doss' characters are wonderful. Charlie Moon is big, brave, smart and lovable (the big jug head) and always gets his man (or woman). Even though he's a lawman, he doesn't always follow the law (but no one is supposed to know that). His elderly Aunt Daisy Perika gives a wonderful depth with her cantankerous wit and shamanistic dreams. When she teams up with her friend Louise-Marie, you know trouble's on the way. Part mystery, part western, part spooky, always tricky. Once you start this series, you'll hunger for more.

gotcha.......2006-06-16

This was interesting, and very readable. I enjoyed it, although I still say the author uses foreshadowing way too much. But in this story, the author plays some really good tricks on the reader - Charlie Moon keeps repeating there is a reasonable explanation for everything, but we get sidetracked by the metaphysical - the visions, shamans, symbolism, dreams and so on. I usually can figure out just about any mystery, but the author had me on this one. I was surprised at the resolution of the mystery, and had a good laugh, too.

Grandmother Spider: A Charlie Moon Mystery.......2005-08-04

Doss does it again. Charlie Moon is a wonderful character and Doss knows how to spin a yarn!

Great fun! perfect summer reading.......2004-05-28

Finally...a mystery so outrageous it seems unsolvable without breaking the bounds of reason...and a solution outrageous enough to work!! I loved how this book mixed elements of a modern police/detective story with Native American shamanism and even a little of the supernatural. I also enjoyed the characters, especially the old shaman Daisy ,a cranky, fiesty woman with a shrewd sense of humor, and Charlie Moon, the soft-spoken Ute police chief with an appetite for unhealthy food.

After Daisy's young charge Sarah smashes a spider with her biology book, the Shaman tells her of how Grandmother Spider will rise from Navaho Lake to revenge her spider people. That very night something carries off two men...and then the strangely mutilated body of a third victim is found--the victim of a spider attack? Soon, Charlie Moon finds himself sorting through evidence so bizzare, even HE is starting to believe in Grandmother Spider...

Fun Story.......2003-06-20

This book was an easy read. I liked the mystery, but there was little build up of suspense. He's not as good as 'early Hillerman', but it falls in line with some of Hillermans more recent work. I think Kirk Mitchell probably does a little better job of building suspense. I do plan to read one of his other books.

Sleeping in Flame
Average customer rating:

Not fantasy, but pseudo, new-age spirituality

Another good Carroll book

Carroll's best!

Lovely work, as is usual for Carroll

My Introduction to Magical Realism
Sleeping in Flame
Jonathan Carroll
Manufacturer: Orb Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Outside the Dog Museum

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ASIN: 0765311860
Release Date: 2004-09-09

Book Description

Walker Easterling is a retired actor turned successful screenwriter living in the Vienna of strong coffee, fascinating friends, and mysterious cafes. When he falls in love with Maris York, a beautiful artist who creates cities, his life becomes alive in fantastic and unsettling ways. As Walker's love for Maris grows, his life gets more and more bizarre-he discovers he can see things happening just before they happen, and at the same time feels an incredibly strong tug from his past-so a friend steers him to Venasque, an odd little man reputed to be a powerful shaman. Venasque helps Walker discover and unravel his many interconnected past lives, and it is soon clear that an unresolved conflict from these past lives has resurfaced, and now threatens to undo Walker and Maris's love.At once lyrical, frightening, funny, and sexy, Sleeping in Flame is a spellbinding tale where reality and fantasy merge in astonishing convolutions of magic and suspense. It confirms that Jonathan Carroll is one of the very few novelists who-by constantly surprising us-give us an entirely new perspective on our world. It is no wonder that he is generally considered to be the most original and provocative novelist of his generation.

Customer Reviews:

Not fantasy, but pseudo, new-age spirituality.......2007-02-13

Okay, clearly I'm in the minority here. I purchased this book because so many people put it on their list of best nontraditional fantasy novels. This is not, however a book in the fantasy genre. It falls more in the tradition of books like The Alchemist, that is to say, books of the "the magic is within you" type of spirtualality. Unlike The Alchemist, however, the story takes forever to unfold, and in order to even get to the old, Jewish shaman who likes to watch Miami Vice on TV, you first have to read through 100 pages of nothing. The narrator's romantic interest is a supermodel whom we are supposed to like because she's a slob and drives a car without a heater. Or as the author puts it: "she drove the way she spoke: nervously, a little too fast, but clearly in control." If that kind of writing appeals to you, perhaps you will like this book. But nothing happens until almost page 100 and by that point I was bored to death. The book gets two stars simply because the author can write well. Unfortunately, to me, he didn't choose anything to write well about. If you like Vienna, you might like this book as Carroll describes the city in as much loving detail as he describes the narrator's supermodel girlfriend. But the narrative about the city is just as monotonous as everything else -- it feels like its only in there to prove that Carroll speaks German and has spent a lot of time in Vienna. If you like Carlos Castaneda, Paolo Coehlo or were one of the many who fell in love with Jonathan Livingston Seagull, maybe you'll like this book -- I'm not aiming this review at you, it just isn't my cup of tea. I'm posting so that people who dislike this kind of material will know that this isn't for them.

Another good Carroll book.......2006-12-01

I am a huge fan of Carroll, having read almost every single one if his books. Sleeping in Flame, the most recent of his books I have finished, is a decent book that blends the fantastic into the everyday life of reality. The dialogue is believable and the plot twists are fun.

Two minor faults. Having read Outside the Dog Museum I felt the Venasque scene was all too familiar, giving the feeling that I had already read that part of the book. Additionally, sometimes the plot is a little forced. All of a sudden Carroll writes, "And this is the dream I had", or "This is what happened" rather than telling and showing the reader.

Don't get me wrong. I still enjoyed Sleeping In Flame. The book is an enjoyable fast read that takes bits of pieces of common folkloric information everyone is familiar with and weaves it into a tale. I would certainly recommend other Carroll books such as After Silence or The Wooden Sea, but in the end I would recommend this book as well.

3.5 stars.

Carroll's best!.......2006-06-24

This was the first Jonathan Carroll book I ever read. Now, having read all his others as well, it's the one I keep coming back to and recommending to my friends. Carroll is a skilled prose writer and constructs believable dialogue surrounding almost-unbelievable situations. Although his books get a little predictable after a while, this book stands out for me as Carroll at his best.

Lovely work, as is usual for Carroll.......2006-04-12

"Walker Easterling, an actor, saves a woman's life only to place her in infinitely greater danger by falling in love with her. Maris York, an artist, is an androgynous beauty who arouses incinerating passions in the men around her. Sleeping In Flame is a novel populated by a shaman with a fondness for sandwiches, an autistic Adonis, and a tiny man as powerful and ravenously jealous as the God of the Old Testament." (cover blurb, paraphrased)

Just when the reader thinks he's in the middle of a slice-of-life romance, this novel takes a sharp left turn and veers into classic Carroll territory -- in other words, deep into the mythic and the folkloric. That jealous old man claims to be Walker's father, and Walker isn't who he thinks he is. Carroll treats us to clear rich prose, and somehow makes even the most fantastic situations seem plausible and perfectly ordinary.

Jonathan Carroll remains one of my favorite "unknown" authors.

My Introduction to Magical Realism.......2006-02-01

I never knew what magical realism was before I read this book. To be frank, it didn't seem possible. You were either writing magic, or you weren't. Magical realism seemed this hypothetical mix that couldn't hold water. For me, if you were writing about magic and you weren't writing a fantasy book (or Terry Pratchett), it seemed pointless. With Sleeping in Flame, Jonathan Carroll changed all that.

I went into this book knowing it was in the magical realism genre, not knowing what that genre was. A friend suggested I read this book, telling me to expect an interesting ride, and saying it was a "cult waiting to happen." To be sure, this was an interesting read and, more than that, Carroll really is a cult waiting to happen. Sleeping in Flame is that and more. This is an excellent read that challenges what you believe about fate and love, and in a less than ordinary way.

As far as I can tell, magical realism is this. You take an ordinary, run-of-the-mill setting - say Vienna - and add magic to it. The key expression here is "add magic", sort of like you add salt to a meal. You don't submerge it in salt. You sprinkle sparingly, lest your blood pressure rise to astronomical levels. Same thing goes for this genre of literature. If you add too much magic, you're suddenly waking up with dragons in your bed and rubies implanted in your forehead. While that's all well and good, there's nothing real about it.

Regardless of how you feel about this approach to writing, the element of magic here doesn't overwhelm the reader, it merely helps the story along. Likewise, regardless of your belief system, the story flows well and keeps you interested as you turn the pages. Having said that, it's safe to say this book isn't for everyone, but what book is? Those interested in the cookie cutter court room stories of John Grisham aren't going to enjoy this. Then again, the shift in gears might do that class of reader a lot of good.

To this point, I haven't really said much about the book. I guess I needed to edify the whole magical realism thing in my head before I went any further. It only stands to reason the style of the book be pointed out. But what about the story? The story lures you in with flowing text, a smooth story featuring characters you're genuinely interested in, and intrigue. It's pretty hard to see where the story is going until you're done reading it, so I'll leave those sorts of details as an exercise to the reader. The book is a sort of mystery, or adventure, where you laugh and emote yourself though the lives of Walker and Maris, the couple around which the story is centered, which we fall in and out of through combinations of reality and dreams, woven together in intoxicating combinations.

The story is impossible to guess, so don't bother trying. As you reach the last page, and you think the roller coaster ride is over, you'll be tossed one last time before you finish. This last scene brings home a bit of foreshadowing that was dropped 250 pages earlier. Take that and you *still* won't be able to figure it out. As opposed to overthinking it, just sit back and let Carroll take you for the ride. It's quite enjoyable.

The downside here, what keeps it from the 5 star category for me, is the general ending of the story (not the last scene). Faced with a conflict, we expect resolution. This is the reader's expectation and you get it - nothing given away there, what book leaves you without resolution? However, the resolution is unconvincing and most of all, convenient. For all the splendor Carroll graces the pages with, he falls short when it comes to tying the story up, which makes the story suffer. The resolution comes with little fanfare, sliding in where it scarcely belongs. Maybe I was expecting more, my expectations of Carroll having run rampant. Obviously, some suspension of disbelief needs to be taken seriously here, magical realism and all. But in the end, some well-established character behavior disappears, and the story suffers for it.

Having said all that, the book is still a great read, taking you on a fantastic journey which explores love and fate, and dabbles in the occasional dream. Sure to be a hit with those who own their own deck of Tarot cards, Sleeping in Flame should appeal to a much wider audience than that. With shades of Tom Robbins, Milan Kundera, David Lynch, and occasional shades of Dan Brown (in a good way, seriously), yet carving his own style-niche along the way, Sleeping in Flame is hard to put down.

In all, an excellent book that isn't for everyone. If you had trouble selling Skinny Legs And All to people because of a can of beans character, you'll have the same trouble selling this story. But if you liked Dirty Sock, you'll like this, but for different reasons. Before you embark on this, be ready to suspend disbelief. When you do, be ready for a wild ride into the world of Jonathan Carroll, a world that has a lot to offer and is worth looking into.

The Sleeping Dragon (Guardians of the Flame)

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
A Gamer's Delight
Fantastic
Not as impressed as others
Rosenberg Starts his Six Book Series Well

The Sleeping Dragon (Guardians of the Flame)
Joel Rosenberg
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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The Road Home (A Guardians of the Flame Novel)

ASIN: 0451453506

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A group of college fantasy role playing gamers end up being transported to their own fantasy gaming world. The group includes both men and women, and we see them have to get over the shock of this translation, and start to adapt to new roles in the game world that they are used to playing with dice and paper in the real world. Pretty lightweight fun.

A Gamer's Delight.......2007-04-11

This is a must read for any fantasy fan. Honestly, its a must read for anyone getting into RPG's or fantasy lit. A great idea for a novel. Also the characters are realisticly portrayed as confused at first, then believers in the world in which they have been thrust. I have some complaints about the overall conclusion of this series, but this book is fantastic.

Fantastic.......2005-08-31

This is the book that got me back into reading. It is a wonderful tale of a group of college role-players who are transported into the world and bodies of the very game they were playing. The story has many twists and unexpected surprises. I would recommend the entire trilogy. The stories that appear later on in the series are hit or miss for me, but the original three are the best.

Not as impressed as others.......2005-04-28

I read the book several years ago and found it silly, fairly unengaging, and filled with poor dialog.
One other problem, and this is only partially the author's fault, is that the material is fairly cliché riddled.
Granted, the book is fairly old and predates a lot of other DM transports characters into the game, but the idea wasn't really new then either.

Rosenberg Starts his Six Book Series Well.......2004-05-04

I remember when I first got this series last year at a used book store. I was always interested in a series of short novels. When I first picked up this book I wasn't sure because of its length but found out that this series is very worthy of being a fantasy best. Being trapped in the game world in which they were playing to having their best friends die in front of their eyes this story of mystery and fantasy is definitely a worthy start to a great series

2 Sandra Dark Silhouette Shadows book set: SLEEPING TIGERS and OLD FLAMES

Average customer rating:

2 Sandra Dark Silhouette Shadows book set: SLEEPING TIGERS and OLD FLAMES
Sandra Dark
Manufacturer: Silhouette Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000QB94LO

Don't Wake the Princess (Celebrate Reading! Book A) includes Owl Moon, Harry Kitten and Tucker Mouse (excerpts), Sleeping Ugly, Lentil, The Flame of Peace, The Dog That Pitched a No-Hitter

Average customer rating:

Don't Wake the Princess (Celebrate Reading! Book A) includes Owl Moon, Harry Kitten and Tucker Mouse (excerpts), Sleeping Ugly, Lentil, The Flame of Peace, The Dog That Pitched a No-Hitter
Jane Yolen , Matt Christopher , George Selden , Deborah Nourse Lattimore , and Robert McCloskey
Manufacturer: Scott Foresman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0673800415

Guardians of the Flame: the Warriors (Sleeping Dragon, Sword & the Chain & Silver Crown bound in one volume)

Average customer rating:

Guardians of the Flame: the Warriors (Sleeping Dragon, Sword & the Chain & Silver Crown bound in one volume)
Joel Rosenberg
Manufacturer: Nelson Doubleday Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UCSP6Y

Average customer rating:

Sleeping in Flame
Jonathan Carroll
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O839B0

Average customer rating:

Sleeping in Flame 1ST Edition Us
Jonathan Carroll
Manufacturer: DOUBLEDAY & CO INC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UCX5GE

Average customer rating:

Sleeping in Flame 1ST Edition Us
Jonathan Carroll
Manufacturer: DOUBLEDAY & CO INC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SO5EWC

The Warriors (The Sleeping Dragon, the Sword and the Chain and the Silver Crown) (Guardians of the Flame)

Average customer rating:

The Warriors (The Sleeping Dragon, the Sword and the Chain and the Silver Crown) (Guardians of the Flame)

Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

THE GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME: WARRIORS: Book (1) One: The Sleeping Dragon; Book (2) Two: The Sword and the Chain; Book (3) Three: The Silver Crown; HEROES: Book (4) Four: The Heir Apparent; Book (5) Five: The Warrior Lives

Average customer rating:

THE GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME: WARRIORS: Book (1) One: The Sleeping Dragon; Book (2) Two: The Sword and the Chain; Book (3) Three: The Silver Crown; HEROES: Book (4) Four: The Heir Apparent; Book (5) Five: The Warrior Lives

Manufacturer: Nelson Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GW4DPU

The Complete Book Of Running For Women
Average customer rating:

Full of information on every aspect of running. A Must!

Women are different than men!

Great book for beginners and well-taylored to women

Excellent choice!

The best yet

The Complete Book Of Running For Women
Claire Kowalchik
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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4 Months to a 4-Hour Marathon,Updated

The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training

Accessories:

Tanita BC554 Ironman Glass InnerScan Body Composition Monitor Elite Series

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ASIN: 0671017039

Book Description

More women than ever are discovering the unique benefits of running -- for
stress relief, weight management, endurance, and self-esteem. Women's
bodies are not the same as men's, and though we can train just as hard and
with the same passion for excellence, we have certain special concerns.
Finally, there is a comprehensive guide exclusively for women who

experience the pure joy of running, or want to.

It's the simplest, fastest, most accessible way to fitness and good health known to woman. You don't need a partner, equipment, or even much time. Now, Claire Kowalchik, former managing editor of Runner's World magazine, answers every question about the overwhelmingly popular activity that builds endurance, melts fat, and even prevents illness. In this total running book for women, you'll learn:

How to get started and stay motivated
What to eat for optimal nutrition
How to run during pregnancy and after menopause
Why running is the most effective form of exercise
How to prevent and treat injury
What to wear -- from sports bras to running shoes
How to prepare for everything from a 5K to a marathon

Authoritative and friendly, The Complete Book of Running for Women is a sourcebook for both beginners and long-time runners. Along with wisdom drawn from the author's personal experience, you'll find advice from the experts: coaches, exercise physiologists, nutritionists, doctors, and other women runners. Including question-and-answer sections and a complete list of resources, The Complete Book of Running for Women tells you everything you need to know to be off and running toward better health and richer living.

Customer Reviews:

Full of information on every aspect of running. A Must!.......2007-09-28

I have been running for about a year now but was getting discouraged so I picked this up at the library. It is an easy read and answers every question possible that you would have. This is a great reference guide, it gives information on how to buy shoes, strength building techniques, stretching exercises, to where various types of marathons are held as well as how to train for each level and type of marathon. I'm 38 and not sure if I really anticipate doing anything more than a 5K but I learned a ton through this book. I wish I would've had this a year ago.

Women are different than men!.......2007-05-19

This book helped me understand volumes about myself. Who knew really how different our running needs are!

Great book for beginners and well-taylored to women.......2007-04-18

This book is exceptional. An easy read and gives you everything you'd ever think you'd need to know (and more) about running for a beginner woman runner. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and after completing it, I felt 200% more prepared to actually start training for lightly competitive races and a further developing racing hobby/career.

Excellent choice!.......2007-03-23

This book is really amazing I just do not know where to start, so I will make long story short.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is a beginner, is already a runner, jogger or wants to improve thier fitness level, loose weight or do a marathon. I have never received such precise information all summed up it gives you great advice on:

How the body functions, while running
How to improve your technics depending what goal you would like to achieve,
Why you should wear certain clothes in order to feel comfortable while running
All the advantages and disadvantes of certain technis etc.
What nutrition you should eat in order to keep you level and so on

And by reading all of this it makes more sense to me why I did not achieve certain goals and how to stay motivated to reach certain goals!

The best yet.......2007-03-14

I have bought many running books since I began running a year ago. I would have saved myself alot if I had ordered this one first. It is informative and balanced. I especially enjoyed the information on nutrition. Get this book first and save your money for a good pair of running shoes

Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running: The Best Advice to Get Started, Stay Motivated, Lose Weight, Run Injury-Free, Be Safe, and Train for Any Distance (Runner's World Complete Books)

Average customer rating:

Lots of information
Great book! I would buy it through Amazon again.
There is a runner in all of us, even YOU!
Disappointed
What a great motivator!

Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running: The Best Advice to Get Started, Stay Motivated, Lose Weight, Run Injury-Free, Be Safe, and Train for Any Distance (Runner's World Complete Books)
Dagny Scott
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Running & Jogging | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Running & Jogging | Individual Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

Tanita BC554 Ironman Glass InnerScan Body Composition Monitor Elite Series
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ASIN: 1579544665

Book Description

"Listen to those millions of women runners. Listen to their quiet breaths as they talk in predawn pairs, before the rest of the family wakes-- the lessons and questions they share to the rhythm of steady footsteps. 'I never thought I could...' 'I feel so much stronger...' 'I'm ready to take on a new challenge...'

Women develop a special sorority on the roads. This bond is an understanding based on acceptance, an appreciation of how far they have come, a knowing wink that says how much is yet to be gained. And so they talk and share and grow-- and run. Singly and in groups, swiftly and slowly, they run."

--Dagny Scott

Choose the best clothes and accessories * Lose weight permanently * Train for any race, from a 5-K to a marathon * Run through Menopause * Be safe wherever you run * Deal with self-consciousness and body image * Prevent and treat injuries * Run during pregnancy * Eat for maximum energy

Customer Reviews:

Lots of information.......2006-11-06

I've just completed an 8 week beginning running program. I bought this book to read just before I embarked on the program. The book was an easy read; it has information that every beginning runner should know. I'll be keeping this book to refer to for years to come.
Here's what I found good about the book:-
1. Nuggets of information that I as a beginning runner won't have known to look for
2. Relevant to women and sometimes both sexes
3. Stories of real life women and how they got hooked on and what has kept them going - I found those inspirational
Here's what I didn't like about the book (therefore I'm giving it 4 stars):-
1. I understand that taking up running is good for you and all, helping you to maintain weight, good for your heart etc. but really, I feel that the authors sometimes go overboard with the accolades. As a beginning runner, I dont want to feel intimidated but at the same time, I dont want to feel as if I'm joining a cult.

All in all, I like the book and I'm keeping it but strangely enough, I feel uncomfortable reading about "us runners". I like to run but I also don't want to be part of an "elite group"

Great book! I would buy it through Amazon again........2006-03-10

I had a wonderful experience buying this fabulous book from Amazon. It arrived as promised and is definately the best book geared towards women for running. I have looked at a couple other books like this and they didn't even compare!

There is a runner in all of us, even YOU!.......2004-03-19

Although I had been working out for years, my stamina for running was just not there. I researched several running books, and this was by far the best. If you are a beginner, and need the basics, get this book. Age should not be a factor, but as advised-have a physical before you embark on running. I am physically fit, I had never ran, and I did not start until I was 41. There are women who write that they did not even begin until they were in their 60's! The program instructs on how to incorporate running into your workout, starting with as little as 2 minutes! You can do that right? It covers how to choose the right running shoe, how to avoid injury, and what you need to eat in order to maintain stamina for the long haul. Carb's are important here, take note. Dagny covers it all, and speaks from experience. She even covers overcoming the initial "embarassement" of running for the first time, and how to enter your first 5K and finish. I love this book, and still refer to it.

Disappointed.......2003-10-31

Personally, I was quite disappointed in the content of this book. I was getting back into running after a several year hiatus and bought this book to inspire me to a new level of fitness. I found the information to be geared towards the beginner and quickly "outgrew" it.

What a great motivator!.......2002-12-10

While training for my third marathon, I picked up this book to find some new training ideas. I couldn't put it down! It covers all facets of women's running - beginning to long distance, pregnancy, nutrition, balancing family and/or job with running and motivating factors. I used the charts, stretches and training ideas. I've recommended it to countless friends and often discussed ideas from the book while on long runs with training partners. Not only did I get some practical training advice, but I got a new resource for my running.

Running for Women: A Complete Guide (Sports Illustrated Winner's Circle Books)

Average customer rating:

Running for Women: A Complete Guide (Sports Illustrated Winner's Circle Books)
Janet Heinonen
Manufacturer: Sports Illustrated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Running & Jogging | Individual Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Women in Sports | Miscellaneous | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 156800026X

Average customer rating:

Complete Book of Running for Women

Manufacturer: POCKET BOOKS (SIMO)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GOUYTM

Average customer rating:

The Complete Book of Running for Women
Claire Kowalchik
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K9WXLK

Average customer rating:

Lavender adds a sensual "je ne sais quoi" to these elegant dishes...

Lavender Cookbook

One of the BEST books on the subject

Dissatisfied

The Lavender cookbook

The Lavender Cookbook
Sharon Shipley
Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Herbs, Spices & Condiments | Cooking by Ingredient | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Lavender Garden: Beautiful Varieties to Grow and Gather

Lavender: The Grower's Guide

Growing & Using Lavender: Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin A-155 (Storey Publishing Bulletin, a-155)

Lavender: How to Grow and Use the Fragrant Herb

Lavender: Practical Inspirations for Natural Gifts, Country Crafts and Decorative Displays

ASIN: 0762418303
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Book Description

The appeal of lavender extends beyond its fragrance to the rich yet delicate flavor it adds to a variety of foods. Here's the first cookbook to focus on ways in which the aromatic herb can be used to enhance ordinary ingredients. More than 90 recipes, such as Grilled Lavender-Honey Chicken, Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms with Lavender Goat Cheese, and Double Chocolate and Lavender Gelato, highlight appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, baked goods, and desserts, with tips on growing and preserving lavender.

Customer Reviews:

Lavender adds a sensual "je ne sais quoi" to these elegant dishes..........2007-06-15

I saw Sharon Shipley's "The Lavender Cookbook" at several of the vendor booths at the Becker Vineyards annual Lavender Fest, and rushed to order myself a copy after being drawn in by the book's colorful seasonal menus that all incorporate lavender in some form, from beverages (Lavender ginger lemonade, lavender iced tea sangria, lavender mulled wine) to desserts (chocolate lavender brownies, lavender honey custard ice cream, lavender coconut panna cotta with raspberry caramel sauce).

As a vegetarian, this book had plenty of delicious offerings that make the most of seasonal Mediterranean produce such as eggplant and artichokes. Rounded out with the included veggie- and fruit-based soups and lavender-infused breads, there is plenty to appeal to vegetarians and vegans who seek to incorporate the delicate flavor of lavender. For carnivores, there are lavender salt rubs, lavender chicken breasts in champagne sauce, grilled lavender lamb chops, grilled seafood, and more.

Every page was a voyage of discovery. Unexpected delights such as Taos lavender potato soup (poblano and chipotle peppers, cumin, an assortment of veggies), cantaloupe, mango, and Asian pear salad with lavender cilantro dressing, and farro lavender tabbouleh salad brought unexpected international twists to a seemingly straightforward herb.

The recipes are presented in an easy-to-follow manner, and oftentimes there is a short introduction as to the origin of the recipe. The seasonal menus take advantage of fresh local produce, and are correspondingly light for spring and summer (tropical fruit gazpachos and cold soups, light salads) and heavier for fall and winter (hearty stews and chili, hot beverages). The desserts are simply fabulous, from lavender devil's food cake to fragrant fruit-infused cakes, poached pears, panna cotta, and more. The cookbook is illustrated with pen-and-ink sketches of the Provence countryside on the chapter headings, and line drawings on some of the recipes. Nearly every recipe includes helpful hints on where to find trickier ingredients.

This is upscale, elegant, and romantic cuisine that would feel at home in a spa or resort town. Thankfully, it is fairly easy to prepare thanks to the well-written instructions, the ingredients are generally easy to find (finding dried lavender itself (Melissa's Dried Lavender, 0.33-Ounce Bags (Pack of 24) may be the most challenging aspect), and your guests will be wowed with the unexpected sensuality and versatility that dried lavender has to offer.

Note: the book does not cover varietal lavenders other than the hybrid Provence.

Lavender Cookbook.......2007-01-16

I ordered 3 Lavender Cookbooks in December and received them in excellent shape within the time they were promised.

One of the BEST books on the subject.......2006-02-15

As a lover of lavender since I was a child and sewed sachets with fresh dried lavender and then learned to make French ice tea and lemonade with fresh lavender blossoms I have had lavender in my life. This is a wonderful book with so many wonderful recipes including her lavender syrup and cold beverages, and her wonderful brownies that are a great start for someone wanting to try culinary lavender.

Dissatisfied.......2005-10-04

I never received the book - just an email saying it was damaged in shipment and they could not send me the book - offering a $5 off my next $50 order from them. I would never order from them - they have done the same thing twice to me on two different books.

The Lavender cookbook.......2005-08-21

I own a lavender nursery (Pitsford Lavender) and grow over 80 different varieties of Lavender and found the book to be quite inspiring - I have tried several of the recipes, and they are easy to follow and is written in a nice style - pity there are so few pictures - and it would have been nice to do recipes specific to suit the different varieties - but if you are like me - a lavender lover (and I am a qualified Chef) then you will enjoy the book. - But I think I might write one myself! .. one day.. - I'd still recommend this one though.

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