The Subtle Serpent: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland (Sister Fidelma Mysteries)

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Seventh century Ireland provides the background in Peter Tremayne's newest murder mystery which begins gruesomely as two nuns pull a decapitated corpse from their drinking well. Sister Fidelma is called upon to determine who the body is and how she met her untimely end. Fidelma, as an advocate of the courts, is the appropriate person to collect evidence and determine if there is a case to be answered. Although Tremayne makes clear in his introduction that women under Irish law in the period aspired to and performed most professions on a similar footing with men, he does not neglect the opportunity to place Fidelma in situations where both her youth and gender raise the question of her suitability for her official capacity. Still, her enjoyment in convincing her doubters of her abilities and her ultimate success indicate, as Tremayne evidently intends, that this particular period, at least as Ireland as concerned, should not be characterized as a dark one.

En route to the scene of the crime that opens the story, Sister Fidelma encounters a second curiosity, a ship foundering in the waves without a person on board. What Fidelma does discover are hints that an old and trusted friend was aboard and seems to have met the same mysterious fate as the rest of the crew and cargo, whatever that might have been. The novel proceeds as Fidelma sets out to determine the cause of each of her mysteries, and what if any is the connection between them. Tremayne is a careful and engaging storyteller; his characters are thoughtfully drawn, and he uses the central mystery for them to discuss and reflect upon the differences between the native Irish church and that of Rome (which is becoming the more powerful--and whose ultimate success will keep women like Fidelma out of the halls of power which she has confidently and capably strode.)

The ecclesiastical period setting may remind readers of the work of Ellis Peters, but the 7th century is distinct from the 12th and Ireland distinct from England. Tremayne relishes those differences, creating a tale that has much to enlighten and intrigue his readers and make them anxious for the next time Sister Fidelma is called to perform her duties.

Book Description

In the fourth book in this acclaimed Irish medieval mystery series, Sister Fidelma investigates a murder at a remote abbey, only to encounter the strange disappearance of a ship and its entire crew...

"The literary successor to Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael." --Southern Star (Ireland)

"One of the most intriguing new characters in detective fiction."--Book & Magazine Collector

"A heroine whom many readers will willingly follow."--Kirkus Reviews

Sister Fidelma is "brilliant and beguiling." --Publishers Weekly

* This is the fourth book in the acclaimed Irish medieval mystery series
* The popular Sister Fidelma has been featured in stories in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, The Mammoth Book of Historical Mysteries, and Great Irish Detective Stories

Customer Reviews:

Fourth in the Series.......2007-02-01

The author Peter Tremayne obviously has a great knowledge of Ireland in the 7th century and also on the Irish Law of the period. His Sister Fidelma book are attracting what can only be described as a cult following, but they are of interest to anyone who likes historical novels or mysteries. This series of books are set in Ireland in the 7th century, a time when there was total equality for women. The lead character is the beguiling Sister Fidelma. She is a brilliant scholar, a leading authority on Irish law and the sister of a king. This is also a period in history when celibacy was not yet a part of religious life.

In this the fourth book in a must read series of Irish mysteries, Sister Fidelma is called to investigate a murder at a remote abbey. But when she arrives there that is not the only mystery that awaits her. There is also the strange disappearance of a ship and all its crew.

Suspenseful and entertaining historical mystery! .......2007-01-11

This fascinating historical mystery is set in Ireland in the year 666 AD. The author uses actual historical events as a backdrop for the story of Sister Fildelma, who is dalaigh, an advocate for the courts. In this capacity she is sent to investigate a murder at an abbey on the southwest coast of Ireland. During her investigation, several more murders are committed and Sister Fidelma becomes aware of local tensions and political machinations, as well as inappropriate behavior at the abbey.

This is a story that benefits from the excellent scholarship by the author who has thoroughly researched this historical setting. The time and place are vividly portrayed with lots of relevant and interesting details. The author is a capable writer with a talent for characterization and ability to build suspense. In addition, despite the fact that I have read none of the prior books in the series, I didn't feel lost by jumping in at the fourth book. However, I am intruiged enough to want to go back and start at the beginning!

Like Perry Mason, keeps you guessing to the end. .......2005-06-28

I read this 300-page book in one day, which says something about Peter Tremayne's ability to keep the story moving with plenty of twists and turns. Tremayne artfully evokes the landscape and social setting of 7th century Ireland, and is adept at creating visual imagery to take us back to that world.

His heroine, Sister Fidelma, is the proud forerunner of today's special prosecutor, assigned to investigate evil deeds throughout the Emerald Isle. In this case, she ponders the grisly beheadings of two women at a monastery on the Southwest Coast, a mystery which soon becomes entwined with political intrigue and a threat to the kingdom.

Sister Fidelma is very much a modern woman in an ancient setting, and this will be appealing or offputting according to the reader's predilections. If the book has a fault, it is in Tremayne's gratuitously injecting his views on various theological controversies into a murder mystery. In the same context, others may question the historical accuracy of some of his claims.

These caveats nothwithstanding, the book is a page-turner that will not go half-read. Stodgy conservatives such as myself might be irked by this or that historical point, but we will nonetheless have had ourselves a good read.

Simply Good.......2002-09-02

To put it succinctly: this is a solid, well-written, nicely plotted mystery set in seventh century Ireland, where women had greater rights than they probably have today. Historically accurate (within reason for a mystery novel), this is about as good as the genre gets.

Excitement without paranoia makes a great escape.......2002-03-08

I'm not a fan of modern murder mysteries because I can too easily translate it into paranoia, and stay awake at night worrying about my own safety. But the setting of the Sister Fidelma mysteries is far enough removed from my own reality to just be a great escape. I'm also interested in Irish history, but I'm not one to just sit down and read a history book. I was delighted to learn that in Sister Fidelma's time in Ireland women often were on an equal level with men in many ways, perhaps even as much as today.

This story is the second of the Sister Fidelma mysteries I have read. Another reviewer mentioned the preferred sequence to read them, but I have not done so. You can pick up one and still know as much as you need without having read any of the others.

The Subtle Serpent is very difficult to put down. Even with kids fighting in the next room or my eyes begging me to let them close at night, I found it difficult to not go on to the next page. Sister Fidelma is a bright, bold, brave, compassionate, and likeable young woman who is called to figure out why a headless corpse has been found in the well of the Abbey of the Salmon of the Three Wells. You meet some very interesting characters and some interwoven plots while Sister Fidelma goes about solving this murder.

2 Book Signet Mystery Set; "The Subtle Serpent" & "Suffer Little Children" (Mystery of Ancient Ireland / Sister Fidelma Mystery)
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2 Book Signet Mystery Set; "The Subtle Serpent" & "Suffer Little Children" (Mystery of Ancient Ireland / Sister Fidelma Mystery)
Peter Tremayne
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000RXW030

Book Description

Throughout history, beings of great power have walked the earth, for the most part unknown and detected. Some have become historic figures, but few knew where their power came from. This is the story of one such being, Lisa. But her power only works when she's near Caleb, who is her "Source." Caleb has the ability to give superhuman powers to those who are compatible and standing within 30 feet of him - The "Proximity Effect." Separated, Lisa and Caleb are merely human. But together, they can change the world.

Customer Reviews:

don't get within proximity of this one.......2006-11-05

okay, lets start out by saying that the basic concept of this book is workable, However thats about the only thing in this story thatis.Bad artwork and worse dialogue completely make one lose track of the halfway decent plot which involves superhumans who are born with the ability to empower not themselves but a select group of other people, 1 in every 1000 people, with superpowers as long as they are in close proximity to the themselves, about thirty feet. the only people who should purchase this are incurable insomniacs or people who want to kill themselves.DO NOT GET WITHIN PROXIMITY OF THIS ONE.

Effect of ground proximity on the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of an aspect-ratio-1 wing with and without wing-tip blowing (NASA technical memorandum)

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Effect of ground proximity on the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of an aspect-ratio-1 wing with and without wing-tip blowing (NASA technical memorandum)
Raymond E Mineck
Manufacturer: For sale by the National Technical Information Service]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00072FFY2

Magnetic Heterostructures: Advances and Perspectives in Spinstructures and Spintransport (Springer Tracts in Modern Physics)

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Magnetic Heterostructures: Advances and Perspectives in Spinstructures and Spintransport (Springer Tracts in Modern Physics)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Heterostructures consist of combinations of different materials, which are in contact through at least one interface. Magnetic heterostructures combine different physical properties which do not exist in nature. Examples are semiconductors/ferromagnets, superconductors/ferromagnets, or ferromagnets/antiferromagnets. These combinations display new physical properties different from any single one of them. Interlayer exchange coupling, exchange bias, proximity effects, giant magneto-resistance, tunneling magneto-resistance, spin spininjection and spintransport are examples for new physical phenomena, which relay on the combination of various metal, semiconductor, and oxide layers. Heterostructures are generated by stack-wise deposition of these materials layers and by lateral structuring them via lithographic processes. This book provides the first comprehensive overview of an exciting and fast developing field of research, which has already resulted in numerous applications and is the basis for future spintronic devices.

Measurements of the Effects of Tunnel Wall Proximity on the Velocity Field Upstream of a Rod with Vortex Shedding in Low-Speed Flow

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Measurements of the Effects of Tunnel Wall Proximity on the Velocity Field Upstream of a Rod with Vortex Shedding in Low-Speed Flow

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 1423536495

Product Description

This is a AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSONAFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A542083. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: High cycle fatigue is an important consideration in blade design for turbomachinery. Blades in an engine undergo countless loading cycles in a lifetime, the result of pressure waves that propagate upstream and downstream from disturbances in the flow. Better understanding of these effects would allow blade designers to reduce the effects of high cycle fatigue, such as costly recurring maintenance or catastrophic engine failure. An experimental study was undertaken to determine the unsteady flow field upstream of a single cylinder in a subsonic flow. Von Karman vortex shedding from the cylinder produced a forcing function much like periodic blade passage in a turbine engine. A hot wire in constant temperature mode was used to measure the velocities upstream of the cylinder. Data were ensemble averaged and phase locked with the shedding from the cylinder to allow quasi-simultaneous comparison. The phase and amplitude of unsteady velocity data taken at a series of upstream locations were compared to a model developed from potential theory. The potential flow model for a single cylinder did not accurately predict the phase and amplitude change upstream the cylinder except when the cylinder was near the center of the tunnel. When virtual cylinders were added to account for endwall reflection, the prediction more closely approximated the behavior of the data. While much is yet to be understood, the results of this study indicate that the flow field upstream of a disturbance may be reasonably predicted using elements of potential flow theory.

Boy in the bubble: effects of paraprofessional proximity and other pedagogical decisions on the interactions of a student with behavioral disorders.: An ... Journal of Research in Childhood Education

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Boy in the bubble: effects of paraprofessional proximity and other pedagogical decisions on the interactions of a student with behavioral disorders.: An ... Journal of Research in Childhood Education
Kimber W. Malmgren , and Julie N. Causton-Theoharis
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Research in Childhood Education, published by Thomson Gale on June 22, 2006. The length of the article is 6560 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Boy in the bubble: effects of paraprofessional proximity and other pedagogical decisions on the interactions of a student with behavioral disorders.
Author: Kimber W. Malmgren
Publication: Journal of Research in Childhood Education (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 20 Issue: 4 Page: 301(12)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Boy in the Bubble: Effects of Paraprofessional Proximity and Other Pedagogical Decisions on the Interactions of a Student With Behavioral Disorders.: An article from: Childhood Education
Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Childhood Education, published by Thomson Gale on August 15, 2006. The length of the article is 683 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Boy in the Bubble: Effects of Paraprofessional Proximity and Other Pedagogical Decisions on the Interactions of a Student With Behavioral Disorders.
Author: Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett
Publication: Childhood Education (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 15, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 82 Issue: 6 Page: 378(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Development of a RIOPA database and evaluation of the effect of proximity on the potential residential exposure to VOCs from ambient sources: (Dissertation)

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Development of a RIOPA database and evaluation of the effect of proximity on the potential residential exposure to VOCs from ambient sources: (Dissertation)
Jaymin Kwon
Manufacturer: ProQuest Information and Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Science | Subjects | Books

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Citation Details

Distributed by ProQuest Information and Learning

Effect of absolute spatial proximity between a landmark and a goal [An article from: Learning and Motivation]

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Effect of absolute spatial proximity between a landmark and a goal [An article from: Learning and Motivation]
V. Chamizo , and T. Rodrigo
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000RQZ84K

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Learning and Motivation, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
In two experiments rats were trained in a Morris pool to find a hidden platform in the presence of a single landmark. Circular black curtains surrounded the pool, with the single landmark inside this enclosure, so that no other room cues could provide additional information about the location of the platform. This landmark was hung from a false ceiling and rotated from trial to trial, and the position of the platform also changed on each trial, thus preserving a constant relation between the platform and the landmark. In Experiment 1, the position of the landmark was exactly above the hidden platform in Group Above and was relatively close to the hidden platform in Group Near. At the end of acquisition, test trials without the platform revealed a difference between the groups. Although a preference for searching in the correct quadrant of the pool, where the platform should have been, was found in both groups, this preference was significantly higher for Group Above. In Experiment 2, new rats in Group Near were compared to rats for which the position of the landmark was relatively far from the hidden platform in Group Far. Test trials revealed a preference for searching in the correct quadrant of the pool in both groups, but this preference was significantly higher for Group Near. The implication of these results is that the control acquired by a single landmark is different depending on its relative distance from a hidden platform: Closer landmarks acquire better control than distant ones. These results show a clear parallelism in comparison with the effect of absolute temporal proximity of the CS to the US in classical conditioning.

THE EFFECT OF MALE FAMILIARITY ON PROXIMITY TIME IN FEMALE EASTERN MOSQUITOFISH (Gambusia holbrooki).: An article from: The Psychological Record

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THE EFFECT OF MALE FAMILIARITY ON PROXIMITY TIME IN FEMALE EASTERN MOSQUITOFISH (Gambusia holbrooki).: An article from: The Psychological Record
Mary E. Mclaughlin , and Katherine E. Bruce
Manufacturer: Psychological Record
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008I0I1K
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Psychological Record, published by Psychological Record on March 22, 2001. The length of the article is 5727 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: THE EFFECT OF MALE FAMILIARITY ON PROXIMITY TIME IN FEMALE EASTERN MOSQUITOFISH (Gambusia holbrooki).
Author: Mary E. Mclaughlin
Publication: The Psychological Record (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2001
Publisher: Psychological Record
Volume: 51 Issue: 2 Page: 237

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Effects of low frequencies on three phase induction motor performance operating in close proximity to rated speed.(Report): An article from: American Journal of Applied Sciences

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Effects of low frequencies on three phase induction motor performance operating in close proximity to rated speed.(Report): An article from: American Journal of Applied Sciences
Qazem Jaber , Qais Naman , and Mahdi Shamaseen
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000WQ0RNM
Release Date: 2007-10-01

Book Description

This digital document is an article from American Journal of Applied Sciences, published by Thomson Gale on May 1, 2007. The length of the article is 3828 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Effects of low frequencies on three phase induction motor performance operating in close proximity to rated speed.(Report)
Author: Qazem Jaber
Publication: American Journal of Applied Sciences (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 4 Issue: 5 Page: 284(10)

Article Type: Report

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Do You Have
An Aging Parent Who --

Blames you for everything that goes wrong?
Cannot tolerate being alone, wants you all the time?
Is obsessed with health problems, real, or imagined?
Make unreasonable and/or irrational demands of you?
Is hostile, negative and critical?

Coping with these traits in parents is an endless high-stress battle for their children. Though there's no medical defination for "difficult" parents, you know when you have one. While it's rare for adults to change their ways late in life, you can stop the vicious merry-go-round of anger, blame, guilt and frustration.

For the first time, here's a common-sense guide from professionals, with more than two decades in the field, on how to smooth communications with a challenging parent. Filled with practical tips for handling contentious behaviors and sample dialogues for some of the most troubling situations, this book addresses many hard issues, including:

How to tell your parent he or she cannot live with you.

How to avoid the cycle of nagging and recriminations

How to prevent your parent's negativity from overwhelming you.

How to deal with an impaired parent who refuses to stop driving.

How to asses the risk factors in deciding whether a parent is still able to live alone.

Customer Reviews:

Good Information.......2007-08-29

I read this book a couple of times with about a year in between readings. The first time I read it, my difficult parent had not yet developed dementia, but he had afterward. I found it interesting the first time around, but absolutely got it the second time around. It focuses on the rights your parents have as human beings, but also asserts the importance of stepping in when it's necessary to protect your loved one - something that I needed to face by the second reading. I approve - I think anyone wondering if they're doing the right thing will enjoy this book.

Somewhat helpful.......2007-07-19

This book is pretty good for what it does: it gives some advice to anyone who is dealing with aging parents who are of certain difficult personality types. I especially like how the author focuses on the fact that it is important for adult children to remember that they do not have to assume the roles they once had as children. She specifically outlines how to respond to some frustrating manipulative parenting behaviors. In this respect, the book is a reminder that one can control previously automatic responses to difficult parents. The drawback to this book is that it is more anecdotal than I had hoped. What I would recommend is getting this book - if you have a truly difficult aging parent - in conjunction with Joy Lo Verde's Complete Eldercare Planner. That book is more practical and complete in dealing with the practical stuff that can be really stressful (finding longterm care, talking to your parents about care options, financial considerations, wills, etc...).

Very practical guide.......2007-05-12

My copy of this book has many pages underlined, marked and highlighted. I have used it in almost every conversation with my 86 year old mother and it has made a huge difference for both of us. I can treat her honorably and respectfully and yet still not pretend that she is someone she has never been. This is a very practical guide and I have recommended it to many of my friends who have found it equally helpful.

Helps Smooth your feathers!.......2007-02-13

To our parents we are their "children", not the adults we have become. When they become child like & demanding/difficult we don't want to parent them but that is the role we are put in to anyway. Always see yourself as an adult, don't revert to the child & fall into their PIT of shame & blame. The main thing is this book will teach you that your difficult parent is not going to change & most likely get more difficult so prepare yourself & make sure you don't lose yourself in the process.

Coping With Your Difficult Older Parent: A Guide for Stressed-Out Children.......2006-12-04

We're grateful for, "COPING WITH YOUR DIFFICULT OLDER PARENT", by Grace Lebow & Barbara Kane because in it, we found our caregiving situation articulated, explained AND were given ideas for how to best handle it.

Anyone with a less-than-apple-pie parent (which the book's quiz helps readers identify) is likely to find guidance here, too. Why? Because the authors aim themselves at helping us "grownchildren" understand the roots of our parents' behaviours so we can care for them from a position of understanding.

That's a perspective that's less stomach-churning for us.

This book has some unique offerings: 1. Actual words - that's right, real sentences - and the best tone of voice to use when talking with intractable parents - and...

2. A chapter on how to care for ourselves starting now so WE have a better old age.

Really, don't we ALL say, "I sure don't want to become like my Mom or Dad," or, "I sure don't want to do to others what my folks did to me."?

Lebow and Kane are the first we've found to give us some guidance on that. Hint: Adapt to life as it changes. Thanks!

The American Boulangerie: Authentic French Pastries and Breads for the Home Kitchen
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"C'est magnifique!!!"

Fascinating book for the lover of bread, pastries, and food

Remedy for standing in line for 3 hours at Bay Bread

Gorgeous and Useful!

The American Boulangerie: Authentic French Pastries and Breads for the Home Kitchen
Pascal Rigo , and Paul Moore
Manufacturer: Bay Books (CA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Bread | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Desserts | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Pastry | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
French | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Paris Boulangerie-Patisserie: Recipes from Thirteen Outstanding French Bakeries

Paris Sweets: Great Desserts From the City's Best Pastry Shops

Kaffeehaus: Exquisite Desserts from the Classic Cafés of Vienna, Budapest, and Prague

Gourmet Shops of Paris: An Epicurean Tour

Tartine Tartine

ASIN: 1579595278

Book Description

How can one experience the wonderful freshly baked products of a French bakery without visiting France? Simply by following the instructions and guidance of Pascal Rigo, offered here in more than 70 recipes, many illustrated with color photographs. He, along with his crew of bakers and pastry chefs, has poured into this book the secrets of ancient family recipes, the knowledge of experienced professional cooks, and the traditions and techniques of various French regions. The result is chewy, dark, and rich breads like Pain au Levain; light crisp ones like Pain de Épi; buttery croissants to dip into cafe au lait; savory Quiche Lorraine and sweet fruit tarts; as well as tempting desserts including pound cake, poached pears, and Pots de Creme.

Customer Reviews:

"C'est magnifique!!!".......2005-03-20

There have been many wonderful and pinpoint reviews of Pascal's tome, so I will spare everyone the repetition of accolades. But it is necessary to make note that he has indeed surpassed my hope of what a truly good teaching tool a book needs to be in order to live up to it's promise. He has profoundly succeeded in his effort. Starting with the "levain" for the basic breads to the delicacies of pastries, he guides you with his wealth of knowledge based on years of experience and true love of this art. As he states, you do not become an expert overnight, but through trial and error; he tells you that this is a normal expectation as you perfect this amazing ability to bring life to food. I would caution that this is a book that caters a bit more to the experienced baker, or someone with a little more knowledge of baking, but do not let that keep you from appreciating the joy you will feel as you read and apply the education that this book gives you. Bon appetit!!

Fascinating book for the lover of bread, pastries, and food .......2004-10-09

The book makes you dream. The pictures are phenomenal; you have the feeling that yes, you can do it. Palcal Rigo makes you feel that what he does is natural, that he is sharing with you recipes so simple, yet so good. The book is an extension of what he does in his retail shops and his restaurant: simple yet exceptionally good food, natural ingredients.
I loved the feeling of the book, the "family cooking" tone to it, the colors. You can almost feel the ambiance of the room where pastries are made by bakers.

Remedy for standing in line for 3 hours at Bay Bread.......2004-01-11

If, as it appeared when I started reading this book, that Pascal Rigo's cookbook was to be about nothing more than bread (as Boulangerie in French means bakery), it would have been a worthy book. In that case, it would have been similar to Nancy Silverton's excellent `Breads from the La Brea Bakery'. But, it covers a much broader range of goods, including many things typically found in a Patisserie plus a wide range of `tartines' and sandwiches. Thus, it essentially covers the range of Silverton's three books on bread, pastry, and sandwiches, although not in a great a depth as Silverton in her three titles.

From the evidence of this book, it seems to me that the author's bakery, Boulangerie Bay Bread is one of the establishments which continues to keep San Francisco on the short list of American cities for really great cuisine. It is also evidence of the place of French baking as the first among equals with the two other great centers of European baking traditions, the Italians (primarily bread) and the Austrians (primarily pasteries).

In the making of bread, this book is not for the uncommitted. It starts with directions for making a classic `Levain Nature' or bread starter, including instructions for how to keep it alive, how to refresh it for use, and how to use it. This chapter brings back memories of the chapter in Tony Bourdain's `Kitchen Confidential' book which deals with a totally off the wall baker who maintained a really obnoxious sponge, but made terrific bread. But I digress. The next sections in the chapter on bread give recipes for various artisinal breads based on this starter. What is odd is that there is no recipe for baguettes, and no explanation for its absence. This chapter has the only really puzzling recipe instruction. In the list of ingredients for whole wheat bread, there is a call for six and a half to eight cups of organic whole-wheat flour. I immediately expected to see directions for preparing the dough with the Italian well method of bringing in only as much flour as you need, but there was nothing like that. The instruction is to simply dump all the flour into a large bowl and mix with starter, water, and salt. Very, very strange. With the emphasis on using organic wheat and European butter, I was surprised to find most measurements in volume rather than weight. This is odd, but it fits the direction of the book as covering a broad range of French baking and pastry products, not just bread. If bread is what you want, I recommend either Nancy Silverton's book cited above or Peter Reinhart's `The Baker's Apprentice' or Rose Levy Beranbaum's `The Bread Bible'. You can come back to Rigo's book for some specialties such as `Fougasse sur Plaque', the French answer to foccacia.

After bread comes Croissants and Pastries. The highlights of this chapter are the recipe for puff pastry, various types of croissants (actually created in Vienna, not Paris), brioche, and some pastries derived from brioche. If you are thrilled with the idea of making brioche, I recommend you check out Nancy Silverton's recipe. I believe it may be a bit better.

The next chapter presents savory tarts and sandwiches. Savory tarts are really France's answer to Italy's pizza and for someone who is adept at good pie dough (pate brisee), these tarts may be a lot easier than the pride of Naples flatbread and sauce. The highlight of this theme is the pizza du boulanger with tomatoes, olives, anchovies, and Parmesan on a pate brisee crust. The quiche Lorraine recipe without bacon is much less fussy than what one may find in most pastry shops. Tartines are open-faced sandwiches, many of which are a meal in themselves such as the Nicoise Open Faced Sandwich. As the name suggests, it is a Salad Nicoise done up on a large slice of Pain au Levain, a classic hard crusted bread. The sandwiches, tartines, and tarts in this chapter are worth the price of admission, which, for an oversized book of this caliber, is very reasonable.

The next chapter is house specialities headlined by pastries from Bordeaux, Rigo's home province in France (I found it especially charming that Rigo settled in San Francisco after a stint in Los Angles because `Frisco reminded him very much of his southwestern France). This chapter includes recipes for Madeleines, pound cakes, spice cakes, almond cookies, several types of macaroons, and a glamorous Chocolate Buche de Noel (Yule Log) plus a lemon version of same. Just for show, the author also includes a recipe for a chocolate Marquise. Good luck with this one. The author had to track down some near antique molds from the 1930's in order to make them. Interesting if you are really looking for a quest.

The next chapter covers country style pasteries starting with recipes for a sweet tart dough and pastry cream. The chapter primarily covers sweet tarts, galettes, and cakes.

The next chapter deals with crepes and starts with something of a puzzle. It calls large buckwheat crepes with savory filling a `galette'. I always thought a galette was made with a pate brisee type dough. Since the author says these galettes / crepes are from Brittany, it may be a regional thing. The chapter ends with some famous crepe recipes such as crepes Suzette.

The last chapter covers recipes suitable for children. The author says, they are not simplified, just naturally more suitable to less experienced hands.

Rigo's story of growing up in France and becoming a professional baker in the apprentice system repeats many similar stories of French culinary stars transplanting themselves to the United States. If you are really interested in making bread, come back to this book after reading Reinhart or Beranbaum. If you want yummy French classic pastries, this book is for you.

Gorgeous and Useful!.......2003-10-28

American Boulangerie is a terrific find. The recipes are easy and really work. Everyone has purchased a beautiful cookbook only to find that in practice the recipes are too complex for the average cook or that even when perfectly executed, they simply do not work, I'm pleased to report that is definitely not the case with American Boulangerie. For anyone in the Bay Area make sure to try the canneles de bordeaux (fabulous!) and then make them yourself with the recipe in this book - you will be impressed!

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