Book Description

Do you know what the best feature is in All New Square Foot Gardening?

Sure, there are ten new features in this all-new, updated book. Sure, it's even simpler than it was before. Of course, you don't have to worry about fertilizer or poor soil ever again because you'll be growing above the ground.

But, the best feature is that anyone, anywhere can enjoy a Square Foot garden. Children, adults with limited mobility, even complete novices can achieve spectacular results.

But, let's get back to the ten improvements. You're going to love them.

 

1)      New Location - Move your garden closer to your house by eliminating single-row gardening. Square Foot Garden needs just twenty percent of the space of a traditional garden.

2)      New Direction - Locate your garden on top of existing soil. Forget about pH soil tests, double-digging (who enjoys that?), or the never-ending soil improvements.

3)      New Soil - The new "Mel's Mix" is the perfect growing mix. Why, we even give you the recipe. Best of all, you can even buy the different types of compost needed.

4)      New Depth - You only need to prepare a SFG box to a depth of 6 inches! It's true--the majority of plants develop just fine when grown at this depth.

5)      No Fertilizer - The all new SFG does not need any fertilizer-ever! If you start with the perfect soil mix, then you don't need to add fertilizer.

6)      New Boxes - The new method uses bottomless boxes placed aboveground. We show you how to build your own (with step-by-step photos).

7)      New Aisles - The ideal gardening aisle width is about three to four feet. That makes it even easier to kneel, work, and harvest.

8)      New Grids - Prominent and permanent grids added to your SFG box help you visualize the planting squares and know how to space for maximum harvest.

9)      New Seed Saving Idea - The old-fashioned way advocates planting many seeds and then thinning the extras (that means pulling them up). The new method means planting a pinch- literally two or three seeds--per planting hole.

10)  Tabletop Gardens - The new boxes are so much smaller and lighter (only 6 inches of soil, remember?), you can add a plywood bottom to make them portable.

 

Of course, that's not all. We've also included simple, easy-to-follow instructions using lots of photos and illustrations. You're going to love it!

Customer Reviews (74)

Very informative! I can't wait to try it!
I found this to be a very informative book about the history of "Square Foot Gardening" as well as a nice comparison of the old and new methods.
It also is a great "How To" book because every step of the process is carefully described and illustrated with both photographs and drawings. Mel takes you every step of the way including determining how large an area is needed, the actual building of the square foot garden, and many great options for your completed garden. Mel even tells you how and when to plant to extend your growing season.
I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks gardening has to be hard work, or if you just want to try something new. I can't wait to see mine growing!

too repetitive!
While the basic ideas in this book seem useful and even good, the author is so repetitive and gimmicky that reading it begins to sound like an infomercial and one wonders what "Mel" is trying to sell. It turns out that he's not trying to sell anything other than the method he devised and is so enthusiastic about, but the book could have been a lot shorter and accomplished the same thing. Although he goes on and on about how little work it is and how much space you save and how much better it is than row gardening, he falls short on his descriptions of the protective structures for the individual squares, on starting seeds early and other such details. Another annoying thing is when he tells the reader that he won't explain some things since with his method the reader/gardener simply doesn't need to know. With all that said, I still plan on trying the basic method since it seems sound and indeed easy.

Great charts, poor book
The 2 stars I give this book are for the charts in the appendix. This 200+ book could be a 10 page brochure found in the gardening section of Lowes or HD. The author repeats himself to the point it sounds like an infomercial. The continuous self-glorification and put downs to anyone that does not garden his way, keeps distracting the reader. One feels like the author is nominating himself for a Nobel Prize; no, not for literature, but for Peace. You are almost lead to believe he solved world hunger. Anyone who has traveled through the developing world knows how important natural resources are; where in the world would these people get peat moss, and vermiculite??. Then, he makes it sound like he invented raised beds. His Mel's Mix is as revolutionary as anyone else's mix that you see on HGTV.
Summary: Raised beds, 6" tall, 4'x4', 1/3 of each, vermiculite, compost, peat moss.
Now, save your money and buy yourself something else.

Excited Again
It's winter and as most gardeners in the north do, I read about gardening while the ground is frozen and covered in snow.I absolutely loved this book saying "Finally- this is what I've been looking for!"
Unfortunately, I can't put the method to the test, but I'm confident that it'll work. I've been so disappointed with my half-hearted attempts at temporary garden beds in my new yard. Now it's time to really get things going!
Of course, I have a few criticisms. There was some repetition. This 250 page book could have been about 175 without losing any content. Mel seems to pat himself on his back quite a lot. There's a fine line between gaining trust in one's methods and bragging.
Past that, everyone needs to read this book!

A gift
I gave this book as a gift to my son.He is enjoying the useful information.Says he can't wait to get started.He also indicated that the book was laid out in a concise and logical format. ... Read more

Amazon.com
One night, the sounds of New York City--the rumbling of subway trains, thrumming of automobile tires, hooting of horns, howling of brakes, and the babbling of voices--is interrupted by a sound that even Tucker Mouse, a jaded inhabitant of Times Square, has never heard before. Mario, the son of Mama and Papa Bellini, proprietors of the subway-station newsstand, had only heard the sound once. What was this new, strangely musical chirping? None other than the mellifluous leg-rubbing of the somewhat disoriented Chester Cricket from Connecticut. Attracted by the irresistible smell of liverwurst, Chester had foolishly jumped into the picnic basket of some unsuspecting New Yorkers on a junket to the country. Despite the insect's wurst intentions, he ends up in a pile of dirt in Times Square.

Mario is elated to find Chester. He begs his parents to let him keep the shiny insect in the newsstand, assuring his bug-fearing mother that crickets are harmless, maybe even good luck. What ensues is an altogether captivating spin on the city mouse/country mouse story, as Chester adjusts to the bustle of the big city. Despite the cricket's comfortable matchbox bed (with Kleenex sheets); the fancy, seven-tiered pagoda cricket cage from Sai Fong's novelty shop; tasty mulberry leaves; the jolly company of Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat; and even his new-found fame as "the most famous musician in New York City," Chester begins to miss his peaceful life in the Connecticut countryside. The Cricket in Times Square--a Newbery Award runner-up in 1961--is charmingly illustrated by the well-loved Garth Williams, and the tiniest details of this elegantly spun, vividly told, surprisingly suspenseful tale will stick with children for years and years. Make sure this classic sits on the shelf of your favorite child, right next to The Wind in the Willows. (Ages 9 to 12)Book Description
After Chester lands, in the Times Square subway station, he makes himself comfortable in a nearby newsstand. There, he has the good fortune to make three new friends: Mario, a little boy whose parents run the falling newsstand, Tucker, a fast-talking Broadway mouse, and Tucker's sidekick, Harry the Cat. The escapades of these four friends in bustling New York City makes for lively listening and humorous entertainment. And somehow, they manage to bring a taste of success to the nearly bankrupt newsstand.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (114)

Charming book
I preview all of the books I assign to my kids to read. I enjoyed this one. Vivid descriptions allowed me to vividly imagine the scene and hear the music the cricket plays. This is a book I will have my 11 and 13 year-old read.

Charming personified animal characters, good story.
My daughter loved the book, and we have given copies of it several times as birthday presents, to 7-9 year old friends.I bought this CD as a gift for my 7 y.o. nephew, who wanted Books on CD so could listen in the car.This is a quality children's story, which adults can enjoy too.A good adventure, without buying into a whole series and marketing machine!Boy and Mom love The Cricket in Times Square book on CD.

Beautiful reading of a classic
An engaging dramatic reading of this fabulous animal adventure and story about friendship. This is great for a car trip.

Racist Book
This book portrays very old racist stereotypes of Chinese people.It portrays Chinese people as speaking in stereotypical accents with all r's replaced by l's.It portrays Chinese people as not knowing when to stop bowing to each other.It portrays Chinese people wearing Japanese Kimono's.If you MUST buy this awful ignorant book, do not let your child read it without teaching them about the racism and teaching them how not to be as ignorant.

A bug and his buds

This is a fun book.It's a nice book to read a chapter at a time as a bedtime book, because nothing particularly stressful or traumatic happens.The chapters are reasonable short and benign.There is tension, there is some drama, there are rich characters struggling with their individual challenges.But there aren't many chapters ending on cliffhangers that will leave young readers or listeners feeling unsettled.

The strength of the book is the warm friendship between a displaced country cricket, a scheming but kind-hearted urban rodent, and an unflappable feline.There is also the human protagonist, Mario, a young boy who labors in Grand Central Station at his parent's newsstand.Mario's family dynamic, with the passive dad and the hard-boiled, derisive mother, sets up a nice juxtaposition.We see the sweet sap of childhood innocence standing its ground against a well-meaning but distrustful adult world.

I bought this book to read to my kids because I remember loving it so much as a little kid myself, both the book and the filmstrip adaptation, which I believe I can picture myself watching in an overcrowded mobile home that was functioning as a second grade classroom.

There's one distressing flaw to the book, which I don't remember from my own childhood because I wouldn't have noticed or cared at the time, but there is a part of the book that takes place in China Town, where it feels as if the story gets a dose of 1950's borcht belt race humor. The wise old Chinese man's dialect is achieved by switching every `R' into an `L.'As is "Vely solly."Since I was reading it to my kids, I just improvised a little and avoided doing the accent, but if an older kid is reading the book for themselves it merits a discussion.A little social-historical context.

That aside, we had a great time reading this book.The part I am asked to reread is when Chester Cricket, while dreaming that he is home eating leaves, waked up and realizes he's half-chewed through a two dollar bill borrowed from the newsstand register.There's brief panic and then excited brain-storming with his mammalian accomplices.As always, some credit goes to my unsubtle vocal performance, and I'm sorry, you can't buy that at Amazon.But it is funny stuff.

... Read more

Book Description
Twice as much in half the space!* A complete garden book for both the beginner and the expert* A new way to garden with 80 percent less space and work* The companion book to the nationally acclaimed television series* Over 900,000 copies in printSquare Foot Gardening presents a new way to garden in less space with less work.* Grow a perfect garden in only 10 minutes a day.* Harvest the biggest tomatoes.* Enjoy spectacular flowers every day.* Ideal for beginners from 4 to 94.* Simple, easy, attractive and rewarding gardens. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (74)

Best Garden Book for Beginers
I have owned this book for years.Worn out more that one copy.This copy was purchased to give to a new urbanm garden project in a develpomently challanged area of my city.We will be teaching at rick young people how to garden and landscape.This is one of many tools we will use and is as far as I am concerned the best how to do it garden book for people who have little or no knowledge about gardening.

Not "Just" for Small Spaces
Wonderful information is contained throughout this book for gardeners planting in small 4'X4' spaces to huge gardens. In fact, "Square Foot Gardening" is chocked full of useful information which can and should be used in any size gearden from a small container on the patio to very large gardens. The info saves a gardener many back-breaking laborous hours.
Before I read this book, I did not know that cantalopes can be trellised, which saves "those" vines from rambling all over the garden. There is too much info to be missed without this great book.

Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work
All the information a gardener needs to begin this method of raising flowers and vegetables is found in this book, which pleases me greatly.

Love it -- it's so easy!
The techniques in this book ABSOLUTELY work!I have 3 4'x4' raised garden beds, and all seeds I planted are sprouting (and I have seeds left over for planting later in the season, too--no more wasted seeds).

Mr. Bartholomew explains all of his techniques very well and the book is very easy to read.I'm especially fond of his formula for good garden soil and planting with coarse vermiculite.I think this an extremely important step in preparing the garden, and I attribute my success, so far, to his detailed instructions regarding soil prep.

I'm not a great gardener by any stretch of the imagination, so I love the idea that I am growing more in a smaller space, plus my weeding HAS been very minimal.His technique of growing in "grids" is also very visually appealing and my children (ages 18 mos to 11 years) can very easily see what's happening and identify the vegetables that are growing.

Kudos to Mr. Bartholomew for writing such a helpful book for those not-so-green-thumb gardeners!

I just can't be this meticulous
Is anyone really this uptight about measuring everything and not overproducing vegetables?The methods are organic and the garden looks lovely, but can you truly guarantee that no matter how well you take care of your garden you will have no losses to critters or pests?Last year, I had a family of raccoons move in and eat half of my sweet corn.The only reason my family got any was because I planted more than what we needed.The coons also got the raspberries and grapes.I've also lost beans and peas to rabbits, and been invaded from time to time by various creepy-crawlies.A garden is not grown in isolation, at least, not mine.I preserve what we can't use in season or store it in the root cellar, and when I get extra veggies I share them with friends and family.They are always welcome.

The techniques are good and I agree that it is better to take care of a small patch of garden well than to care for a large patch poorly. I am just more of a "cottage garden" style gardener, so this was not the book for me.If you like this book you should read some books by Eliot Coleman.He's a very precise gardener, too.

... Read more

Book Description

A visual history of Times Square from the late 19th century to today, rich with rarely seen photographs of the neighborhood's shimmering, pre-World War II electric advertising signs.

Book Description
Teach writing skills using this innovative new approach that has been proven to work in classrooms just like yours. The Four Square method can be used with all forms of writing and will fit any reading or language arts program. This step-by-step approach is built around a simple graphic organizer that first shows students how to collect ideas and then helps them use those ideas to create clear and polished prose. Open-ended reproducibles make the technique accessible to writers of all ability ranges. Also great for content area writing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellent, visual approach to teaching kids to write reports
This approach is soooo much better than the outlining approach I learned over 30 years ago.I have no idea why it is so much easier for kids to fill in boxes than fill out an outline, but for some reason it is.My kids are writing basic reports quickly and easily and without the tears and frustration we had last fall.The method is easy to learn and use, and I highly recommend it.

However, if you are more interested in teaching creative writing, then I wouldn't use this approach - in my view, 4-square is well suited to non-fiction reports and essays, but not for writing adventure stories, etc...

this rocks
This is the best writing curriculum ever! When I taught my daughter the first lessons, she responded, "That was school? I didn't even know we were doing school!" It's easy to teach, very visual, and makes the child feel like a writing pro with the first lesson.

AN UPDATE
3 years later and I'm back with an update.I still like 4 Square as a graphic organizer.
The structure is easy for children to understand.You will get writing that is organized with details.

I can say that I have moved away from it as my ONLY graphic organizer.If you plan on using 4 Square I would couple it wih 6 TRAITS materials or the authors 4 Square additions/extensions.

Students do need to be taught voice, word choice, and sentence fluency, in addtion to organization.

Great writing tool!
Very helpful for teaching young kids how to compose well written paragraphs and reports. Recommended!

Four Square Writing Method
I love this method of teaching.I have taught 4th grade for the past 2 years.The school I taught at last year used this method.My class loved this method and their writing improved.I moved to a new school this year and loved this method so much I had to buy my own book.I started using it with my class now, and they love it.It makes writing so much easier.My class always wants to know when it is time to write.I recommend this book to anyone who teaches writing. ... Read more

Book Description
With a new afterword by Michael Cunningham

What Catherine Sloper lacks in brains and beauty, she makes up for by being "very good." The handsome Morris Townsend would do anything to win her hand-even if it means pretending that he loves the homely ingénue, and cares nothing for her opulent wealth.Download Description
Inspired by a story Henry James heard at a dinner party, Washington Square tells how the rakish but idle Morris Townsend tries to win the heart of heiress Catherine Sloper against the objections of her father. Precise and understated, the book endures as a matchless social study of New York in the mid-nineteenth century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

Both the Novella and the Film Adaptation are Quite Good
Nominally a story of young romance, Washington Square's plot actually pivots around two sharply defined characters: the young Catherine Sloper, honest and sweet, but embarrassingly average and plain, and her father, Dr. Austin Sloper, articulate and brilliant, but disturbingly cold-hearted and domineering. Henry James professed little liking for his early novel; through the years most readers have ignored his opinion.

The writings of Henry James, especially his later novels, are notable (some might say, infamous) for using lengthy, digressive sentence structures for exploring complex emotional and psychological motivations. Slow paced plots play a subordinate role to nuanced, subtle, ambiguous characterizations. Contrastingly, Washington Square's popularity most likely stems from its straight-forward plot, some suspense, and sharply defined characters.

Catherine was an only child; her mother and baby brother died of complications during childbirth. Years later Dr. Sloper is still grieved and angered by the loss of his beautiful, vivacious, and witty wife. Despite Catherine's love and admiration for him, Dr. Sloper remains distant and cold, viewing Catherine's social ineptness as an ironic parody of his deceased wife.

When the young, handsome, articulate Morris Townsend shows interest in Catherine, Dr. Sloper immediately concludes that his only interest is her wealth, and moves quickly to break them apart. Matters are complicated by Catherine's silly, meddlesome, and manipulative aunt (Mrs. Penniman, the widowed sister of Dr. Sloper) who functions as an uninvited go-between for the two young lovers. Dr. Sloper remains quite confident in his own judgment, but in the early stages of their romance we readers remain uncertain ofTownsend's motivation.

My fascination with Washington Square centered not on whether Townsend was genuinely in love with Catherine, but with the way in which Catherine revealed her inner strength in managing her increasingly strained relationship with her insensitive father and in how she ultimately comes to terms with the duplicity of her lover. Washington Square may not have achieved the full psychological subtlety and complexity desired by Henry James, but it is far from a simple, superficial tale of bitter sweet romance.

Washington Square on film: I highly recommend Washington Square, a 1997 production that features Jennifer Jason Leigh as Catherine, Albert Finney as Dr. Sloper, Ben Chaplin as Morris Townsend, and Maggie Smith as Catherine's aunt. This casting is superb, with all four characterizations faithful to the novel.

There are a few unnecessary scenes, however, that portray Catherine as overly clumsy and inept. Also, Morris Townsend on occasion is unrealistically effusive in his praise and admiration. A little more of Henry James's subtlety and nuance would have been better. Washington Square was directed by Agnieszka Holland.

Washington Square in print: This novella is widely available in various anthologies, or published alone, in inexpensive paperbacks from Signet Classics, Penguin Classics, and others. I particularly like a Simon and Schuster, hard cover edition (ISBN 0-684-81911-2) with 16 pages of high quality, black and white historical photographs, many belonging to the Museum of the City of New York historical collection.

Washington Square
Washington Square is a compact, tightly constructed story that focuses with almost unwavering gaze upon the Sloper family, or more particularly, on Catherine Sloper, a sweet, ordinary, rather dull young lady who falls in love with a man her father is convinced loves her purely for the inheritance she stands to gain upon his death.This early novel of Henry James' alternates between biting, witty exchanges amongst the characters and introspective, sensitive exploration of the feelings and thoughts of Catherine and her father.The narrator - never named, though at times he is quite chatty towards the reader - chooses not to take sides, instead displaying the different facets of each character as they are, leaving questions of personality and intent up to the reader.

It is usual in a novel involving a young lady and a potentially disastrous suitor that the female in question be beautiful, intelligent, resourceful, kind - even if she doesn't know it.These stories tend to follow her development from innocent to experienced, which is one of the many reasons why Washington Square plays out so differently.Catherine is, we are told, 'not ugly; she had simply a plain, dull, gentle countenance.The most that had ever been said for her was that she had a "nice" face'.Later, her father compares Catherine's intelligence to that of a bundle of shawls.He often laments Catherine's lack of qualities, and so does Catherine, and so does everyone else.She is a submissive, almost subservient in her attitudes, willing to submerge her ideas - if she has any - and bend with the will of her father.Enter love, however, and slowly a change begins to take place.

Morris Townsend is the man Catherine falls for.She had never experienced the interest of a male before, indeed, her life seems to have been somewhat sheltered.When Morris enters her life Catherine's father, Dr Sloper, who never had much hope for his daughter, becomes determined to prevent them from marrying.Sloper is the type of father who wishes a specific future for his child, so they will 'be happy', and yet when their happiness chooses a different direction, they become stubborn, obstinate, and, in this case, quite hurtful and damaging.

Neither Morris nor Dr Sloper are particularly admirable characters.Granted, both are intelligent and even charming, with the novel's most enjoyable moments coming from the interaction between the two.They snipe at one another during their very clever exchanges where epigrams fly and bon mots are thrown about with abandon.However, Morris is shown - rather bluntly - to be interested in Catherine's money and not herself, which he finds tiresome, and Dr Sloper is concerned with breaking the tiny backbone that has emerged from he knows not where within Catherine's heart.

Do we love Catherine?Is that the intent of this novel?The answer is - no.Catherine truly is plain, in the sense that there isn't much to her.She is confused by the larger forces in her life which seem to determine the direction of her future without any real input from herself.She believes that both Morris and her father have her best interests at heart, even when it is clear to the reader they do not.Whenever poor Catherine dares to speak her mind, Morris or her father are ready and willing to stamp it down.Her father can be quite manipulative.After asking Catherine to give Morris away, he says, 'Have you no faith in my wisdom, in my tenderness, in my solicitude for your future?', and later, when she stands by her man, he asks, 'You make nothing of my judgment, then?'Poor Catherine is left to wonder what to think, when all she knows is she loves her father and wants to marry Morris.

During the course of the novel, Catherine develops attitudes which distinctly reject her father's plans, but she also, to the surprise of Morris, refuses to go along with everything he says, either.There is a clear impression throughout the work that, should she choose Morris, she will be exchanging one master for another - the names may change, but the overall life of Catherine will not.

Henry James is known for his dense - some call it impenetrable - prose, and for his fondness for deeply exploring the inner workings of his characters.Washington Square is slightly different to his others works in this regard, perhaps because it is an earlier novel.The prose can be quite circumlocutory, with multiple clauses embedded within a single sentence, long rambling comma filled descriptions and niceties of expression that seem to exist purely to avoid stating the blunt truth of the matter.But it is these techniques which serve also to highlight the confusing world around Catherine, and the difficulty she finds in untangling the intention of the two very strong men who wish to control her life.James, at his best, is a phenomenal writer, and happily for the reader of Washington Square he is completely in charge of the material.The narrator is confident in expressing the feelings and thoughts of the major and minor characters, using tact, grace, eloquence and insight to create his little portraits.

Whether or not Catherine will marry Morris and defy her novel, though an important part of the novel, is not the primary thrust of James' work.It seems clear from the outset the direction the story will take, and this initial belief becomes true.Where the strengths of the story lie is in the growing independence of Catherine, her understanding of herself as a person capable of expressing intent and determining the direction of her life by herself.Catherine is an innocent in a world which is, invariably, destructive towards such people.She learns this the hard way, but there is something undeniably 'Catherine' that remains, even to the bitter end.Washington Square, while not a masterpiece on the level of The Portrait of a Lady, nevertheless explores its theme well, and does so with an assured hand.Catherine's life, though somber and small by today's standards, does evoke sympathy within the reader.The final line is very sad, because it was inevitable, and because, deep down, the reader knows that it is the best life Catherine could have had.

"You Can't Please Your Father and Me Both; You Must Choose Between Us..."
Although Henry James is best known for The Portrait of a Lady (Penguin Classics), this slender volume of a young woman's lifetime is one that resonates for the oddest reasons. With a protagonist who is entirely passive, a plot that is somewhat uneventful and a cast of supporting characters that are entirely unsympathetic, "Washington Square" is a novel that encapsulates a life hardly worth reading about. Paradoxically, that is precisely why it should be read, and why it's so surprisingly memorable.

Catherine Sloper is shy, plain, dull and a little slow in her studies. Her mother was none of these things, leaving her somewhat of a disappointment to her father, an accomplished and well-respected doctor, a man who Catherine adores and longs to please. Well aware of her spiritless nature, Catherine is astonished when she receives the attention of the handsome and charming Morris Townsend, and is soon devotedly in love with her new suitor. Encouraged by her romantic and foolish Aunt Lavinia Penniman, Catherine accepts Morris's proposal of marriage. Unfortunately, her father is not at all impressed by the match, (believing Morris to be a mercenary after her dowry) and forbids Catherine from seeing him on the threat of disinheritance. Torn between the two most important people in her life, the listless and confused Catherine decides to wait. But will her beloved wait for her, or is she deceived by his true intentions?

Catherine's complete ordinariness is what makes her special within the context of the novel, as I am hard-pressed to think up another heroine who is so uncommonly common. Though she is a pleasant enough person, there is nothing remotely interesting to her, save the predicament she finds herself in. Her situation is frustrating to behold, as the poor girl is torn between her intelligent, infallible father and her charming, loving fiancée. Although her father has his daughter's best interests at heart, he handles the affair with such practicality and stubbornness that his crusade against Townsend eventually dwindles into a battle of will between himself and his daughter, and then petty revenge and one-upmanship. Likewise, though Morris Townsend seems faithful and loving, declaring that he has no interest in Catherine's inheritance whatsoever, we cannot shake a sense of untrustworthiness in him. Despite Catherine's plainness, you can't help but feel that neither man deserves her.

To be privy to Catherine's inner struggles is to witness a tiny and insignificant life within literature, with none of the romance, passion or tragedy of Lizzie Bennett, Tess Durbeyfield, Cathy Earnslaw, Jane Eyre, or any other literary heroine that comes to mind. Although Mrs Penniman alleviates some of the gloom with her far-flung intrigues and romances, her presence ultimately brings more harm that good to her young charge. Catherine is a woman who suffers in silence, without witness or companionship, a testimony to how passive-aggressiveness, lost opportunities and selfishness can destroy the life of one who has no means of fighting back. Every single individual on earth would like to believe that they are special, unique and important in some way, and the mediocrity of a life ill-spent becomes quite terrifying by the close of the novel. Catherine's attempts to assert some control over her father and her suitor are pitiful to behold, though they are victories, they are tiny ones within the context of her life. It's almost as if James uses Catherine as a vessel for every individual who has simply "misplaced" their life, and the emptiness that follows those who don't have the means, strength or fortitude to fight against those that hold them in sway. Make sure it never happens to you.

a classic American tale of parents and children
Eloquently composed by a master of the World and American novel, Henry James, WASHINGTON SQUARE is a revelatory , painful study of wealth, prestige, and social discrimination in mid nineteenth century New York.Quite possibly James' masterpiece, it poignantly depicts with sympathy and intellectual blindnessthe a father's oppressing memory of his dead wife upon his innocent, frail and oblivious daughter.The daughter, Catherine Sloper, has become an iconic chatacter in American dramatic literature and film due to James' superficial description of her awkwardness coupled with the arrival of her wit, ruthlessness, spirit and clever sensibility after she is jilted by her fiancee.A remarkable study of how parents unknowingly deprive children of love and nurturing though their grief and personal disappointment.

A pleasure
Washington Square is a pleasure to read.Best of all is Henry James' lush prose; his ethereal descriptions of characters and their emotional states and feelings towards others is peerless - and beautiful, and often funny in a stylistic sense.The novel itself functions as an expostition of human greed and the need for control, physically and emotionally.The four focal characters are all well drawn, and because of that their more despicable natures come forward.The naive Catherine; her father, the overbearing Dr. Sloper; his sister, the officious Mrs. Penniman; and the greedy, and lazy, Morris Townsend, ostensibly interested in Catherine only for her, and her father's, money.There is plenty of scheming and posturing by all four of them, and any more words from me will spoil the novel.Also amusing, is the dated sensibilities of the characters; but it all adds up to an enjoyable novel by an American master. ... Read more

Book Description

The woods are full of puzzles to be solved, clues to be found. Inspired by this book's hints and fun-filled experiments and activities, and using only simple equipment, young readers unlock the closely guarded secrets of the woods­­from the strange meetings of lazy butterflies, to the miraculous "walking" of a twig, to the riddle of why the leaves turn color and fall. One small square at a time, these "detectives" plunge deeper and deeper into ancient mysteries­­without ever getting lost. Beautifully illustrated, Woods offers a picture field guide, a glossary-index, and a resource list.

Customer Reviews (2)

Amazing amount of info and inspiration & [good] price!
What a gem! I was surprised when I discovered this book. The gist of the book is for the child (or adult) to mark off a square space in the woods and begin exploring and learning. This book is a real integration of activities, suggested observations, and fact. The learner is to explore, dig, look, observe and investigate every inch of this square area. While suggesting the learner look for this or that, the author provides factual information about various findings. The book goes into a lot of detail and there are many things that the author thinks may be found. I bet that the learner won't find everything that is mentioned but that is OK, at least the reader can experience it in reading about it in the book if it is missed "in real life".

The book starts off in autumn, assuming the learner begins in the fall and in an area of deciduous trees. A small sampling of what is addressed in this book is why trees lose their leaves, how trees store energy and make energy, examples of camouflage with animals, migration of birds and butterflies, insects, spiders and their webs, lizards and mammals big and small. As the book progresses winter then spring then summer is discussed.

The illustrations are drawn and in color (just like the cover), these are not photographs. There are loads of details in the drawings. At the back is an illustrated guide to creatures grouped by their classification (leaves, mammals, fungi) and an index.

The learner is encouraged to do creative projects such as leaf and trunk rubbings. Also keeping a nature journal or notebook to record the findings is recommended.

I am surprised that so much information and creative ideas packed into this small and very inexpensive book. This is one in a series of "one small square" books and I plan to buy more to use in our homeschooling adventure. Now this is science!

Great details
This book provides a small instant field trip to those students who might not have access to woods. It gives incredible details of what goes on in one small square of woods.For those who have access to wooded areas forexploration...safety tips are included as well as supplies needed forcollecting data while exploring.I teach second grade and use all of theSmall Square books in my teaching. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Buy all of these Bear books for your child!
These are great books.I plan on keeping all of them even though my son is 6 years old.He still likes to read them.Keep them for your grandkids!

Learned shapes at 12 months
My son has loved this book from the start.I thought he was just fascinated by the vibrant colors and pictures, but evidently it is also a valuable learning tool. He knew all the shapes by 12 months. He is 18 months now, and we still read this book, making up stories about the pictures. He still likes being 'tested' on the shapes at the end, though of course he knows it by heart by now.

Works on several levels
This is a great book for a pre-reader, up to age 4 or so. It teaches rhymes, shapes, colors and numbers, all in a sturdy board book illustrated with funny colorful pictures. Very cute!

Great baby book
I have this book as a board book, which is good because it's appropriate as a "baby's first" type of book.I just love it and my one year old just loves the bright pictures.When I put it down to get another one, he points to it again.The rhyming text is wonderful and the pictures are really cool and artsy and bright.My 3-year old also likes it because she understands how to find and count the shapes.I really recommend this one - perfect for a baby gift or first birthday!

A Cheerful Look into the World of Shapes
This bright, colorful book with whimsical illustrations is fun to look at.The big, bold words are easy for children to read, and the rhyming text is simple.It encourages children to look for the shapes hidden within each picture.While it has no real story line, it is valuable as a tool forlearning shapes and colors.It may be a bit too simplistic for some, ifthey are of reading age.It might be more appropriate as a board book,rather than a hardcover. ... Read more

Book Description

"Friedman has drawn a vivid picture of the Times Square area and its denizens. He writes about the porn palaces with live sex shows, and the men and women who perform in them, prostitutes and their pimps, the runaways who will likely be the next decade's prostitutes, the clergymen who fight the smut merchants and the cops who feel impotent in the face of the judiciary."-Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews (7)

Oh what a glorious time it was!
Aside from the covertly racist remarks, Tales of Times Square is a fun chronicle of the recent history of the classic red-light district that was as part of Americana as mom and apple pie. With stark detail, down to the exact addresses of various brothels, porn houses and other wild joints; it feels as if a walk down the old Forty Deuce and Eighth Avenue is taking place as the pages go by. A natural born writer, Friedman's eye for detail is amazing and he delivers the goods.

During its height of splendid glory it was a neighborhood that fostered more orgasms than any other making it somewhat depressing that this cultural relic known as Times Square has now been hijacked by Disney, the big developers and large corporations. Friedman does a quality job in touching on the underlying politico-economic realities responsible for the destruction of one of the last places that refused to be gentrified.

With a keen eye for the hilariously absurd and the interesting denizens populating the Square from roughly the mid 60s to the mid 80s, Friedman offers up funny and enthralling stories involving strippers, johns, swing clubbers, prostitutes, shoeshines, religious folks, kiosk workers, pornstars and others. One startling fact broached is that in the 1970s during a typical summer night it wasn't unusual to see a thousand old school style hookers plying their trade along Eighth Avenue. Today it's scarcely possible to imagine given the plethora of cops occupying America's cities.

Certainly the most indelible section of Tales of Times Square has to be the description of the famous -- or infamous depending on a person's predilections -- east coast swing club Plato's Retreat. The wild shenanigans documented are simply unbelievable. These chapters are worth the price of the book alone, although some may feel a shower's in order after reading some of this stuff.

The last bastion of a truly honky-tonk atmosphere is over. As Friedman points out it's time to make way for Mickey and Minnie Mouse. In an age of sterile corporate strip malls, Tales of Times Square is a reminder that in at least one neighborhood things used to be quite different.

The Forty Duece That Was
This may very well be the best book on Times Square,so far ( compared to Samuel Delany's "Times Square Red, Times Square Blue" and Bill Landis & Michelle Clifford's "Sleazoid Express").Josh Alan Friedman reads like a cross between Damon Runyan, and Studs Terkel, with a big dose of Jimmy Breslin vocabulary. He definitely tells it like it was, from the early history of vaudeville, to burlesque, to porno grinders, Plato's Retreat, and live sex shows. And, he heralds its demise, even in the early 80's. His character sketches are priceless! It's funny, erotic, dirty, and, at times, downright repugnant, a veritable Dantesque tour of sleaze. Welcome to the Forty Duece,suckers!

A great time capsule of what once was
There will never be another place on earth like Times Square during the heighth of its sleaze days. Friedman captures it perfectly and in this wonderful book. It seems incredible that anyone would ever want to revel in nostolgia for the old "Forty Deuce" (West 42nd Street), but now that the XXX theaters, massage parlors, pimps and hookers have been driven out, their absence can be strongly felt, leaving a gap filled today only by a Disney-dominated corporate sanitation job.If you remember the "Times Scare" of yesteryear, and maybe even miss it little bit, then this book is a must.

quintessential
This is the best document ever written about pre-AIDs pre crack Times Square. Koch era New York was the golden age of Times Square and no book captures it with less judgement than this.

PERFECT WRITER FOR THE SUBJECT
I found this work to be a very good description ot the old Times Square...that is prior to 1983.I was familiar with many of the establishments described and some of the people.Friedman's use of imageryis outstanding.He helped me to understand for the first time things thatI had seen thousands of times.The author's tone is perfect.He iswithout moral condemnation and without excuse for the charaters in thebook.His tone is one of amused...and amusing disgust.Future historiansmay doubt that such a place ever existed, but Freidman's description is sovery true. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Danny Meyer is the owner of the three-star New York City Union Square Cafe, and Michael Romano has been chef there since 1988. Together they've compiled some of their best-loved recipes, some of which have been on the menu since the restaurants opening, peppering them with clever notations and excellent wine suggestions. Their style is Italian-inspired new American and includes dishes like Orange-Fennel Osso Buco and Ratatouille-Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms. There's also an entire section devoted to mashed potatoes. Prepared with everything from over-dried tomatoes to eggplant, ginger and garlic, the restaurant's variations on this distinctly American dish are among its most popular offerings. The book won the 1995Julia Child Cookbook Award in the First Book Category.Book Description

Union Square Cafe serves some of the most imaginative, interesting, and tasty food in America. The restaurant and its owners, Danny Meyer and chef Michael Romano, have been lauded for their outstanding food and superb service by Gourmet, Food & Wine, the New York Times, and the James Beard Foundation. Now its devoted fans from down the block and across the globe can savor the restaurant's marvelous dishes, trademark hospitality, and warm decor at home.

Offered are recipes for 160 of Union Square Cafe's classic dishes, from appetizers, soups, and sandwiches to main courses, vegetables, and desserts. Hot Garlic Potato Chips, Porcini Gnocchi with Prosciutto and Parmigiano Cream, Grilled Marinated Fillet Mignon of Tuna, Herb-Roasted Chicken, Eggplant Mashed Potatoes, and Baked Banana Tart with Caramel and Macadamia Nuts are some of the all-time favorites included in this long-awaited collection.

Union Square's recipes are easily mastered by home cooks. They call for ingredients that are widely available (mail-order sources are listed for those few that are not), employ familiar techniques, and take a reasonable amount of time to complete. Amateurs and pros alike will find the dishes here as accessible as they are irresistible.

Beyond just providing recipes, The Union Square Cafe Cookbook inspires confidence in home cooks by sharing Michael Romano's tips for success. Readers learn that soaking baby onions in warm water makes them easier to peel (in the recipe for Sweet Peas with Escarole, Onions, and Mint); that the Corn and Tomatillo Salsa served with Polenta-Crusted Sea Bass also goes well with barbecued chicken or pork; that leftover Sautéed Spinach with Garlic makes a great sandwich filling; and that yesterday's sourdough bread should be kept for such soups and salads as Ribollita and Sourdough Panzanella. Danny Meyer's wine suggestions, inspired by the restaurant's remarkable cellar, accompany almost every recipe.

The Union Square Cafe Cookbook does the rare job of capturing the bustling energy and ebullient enthusiasm of the restaurant itself and the spirited personalities—those of Danny and Michael—that drive it. Folks will still go out of their way to eat at Union Square Cafe, but this cookbook—filled with the restaurant's vitality, warm artwork, and tempting recipes—ensures that its pleasures are as close as your bookshelf. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Satisfied
The item was received within the stated delivery schedule stated.I'm very satified with this order

Union Sq Cafe cookbook
The book was a gift and the recipient enjoyed it very much. After eating at the restaurant it was to good try out the great recipes.I would recommend it.

Union Square Cafe just as I'd hoped!
Great book with easy to follow instructions.... a damn shame there is not as many pictures of the food, but really happy!

Excellent cook book
I have been lucky enough to eat at this restaurant on more than one occasion, so I can tell you that if you follow the recipes you will feel like you are actually eating food prepared by them. (Although, you can never replace the experience of dining at the resturant - IMO the best restaurant in the City!) I love the tuna and the polenta as well as the turnips. Yum.

I have two words for you: BAR NUTS
I probably would violate some copyright law if I put the short and simple recipe for Bar Nuts into this review, but I'm really tempted. They are far and away the most delicious little snacky to have around when guests arrive. Once you've provided them to your friends, they will insist you bring them to every future gathering. And make them right as folks arrive: the aroma that perfumes the whole house is intoxicating, and the nuts, hot out of the oven, disappear really, really quickly, so make plenty.
Damn, they're SO GOOD.
Okay, the rest of the cookbook is a winner, too. It was given to me as a gift from a friend who visits NYC frequently and dines at this restaurant, so, ta-da, I have a 1st edition sighed by both Meyer and Romano, owner and executive chef. The cooking is a beautiful mingling of French, Italian and other Mediterranean cuisines.
Lots of great photos to help with presentation.
Yumilicious, especially the Bar Nuts. Don't forget `em! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Celebrate the Cultures
We enjoyed the story within the story of this book.It tells why some huts are round and some are square to this day in a small African village.This story is of men's & women's strengths & differences, the celebration of family and of the tradition of storytelling.The artwork adds to the quality of this book.

Review for The Village of the Round and Square Houses
The Village of Round and Square Houses, is a story told byalittle girl, Osa, about how the people in her Central African villageof Tos ended up having the men live in square houses and the women in round ones. Osa's story begins with vivid descriptions and pictures of day to day life including their eating rituals in which the men come to eat with the women and children in the round house. Grifalconi uses bright, beautiful colors and illustrations, which help set the happy and peaceful mood. As Osa's grandmother tells her the story of how the great Naka Mountain burst open sending lava, ashes and smoke everywhere, Grifalconi does a good job of depicting the eruption. She contrasts the color orange on black and later shows the village and people all covered with ashes, with only two houses left standing. Since Naka had spared them and these two houses, the men and women split up and have been living this way ever since. The language and descriptions that she uses to tell the story are unique and informative; she keeps the reader wanting to know more.Grifalconi also does a good job of portraying the culture and tradition in the small village. In a note to the reader at the beginning of the book, she states that this village of Tos really does exist but that it is almost entirely isolated which makes its culture unique with different traditions from other African villages. The story, The Village of the Round and Square Houses, tells of the importance of family and the respect given to the elders. For the eldest in this family has the wooden stool to sit on and the next eldest has the grass mat. The children help the women cook, and everyone eats supper taking turns in order, starting with the eldest right down to the youngest child. Osa's grandmother tells the story of how their village ended up the way it is now. All members of the village respect her grandmother, and she is known as the best storyteller in the village. By telling stories she is able to pass on the culture of their village.In their 1988 Children's Literature Association Quarterly article, "Sharon Bell Mathis: Features of a Culture," Darwin L. Henderson and Arlene Harris Mitchell examine Mathis's work. Sharon Bell Mathis's works and Grifalconi's, The Village of Round and Square Houses, are similar because they both deal with celebrating life, children, family, survival, spiritual strength and culture. The oral tradition of story-telling is important to Mathis, and Grifalconi has the grandmother orally pass on the story of Naka. For me, this story by the grandmother is one of the most important things in the book because it gives the reason for having the women live in round houses and the men live in square ones, and it gives insight into part of their culture. This shows that oral tradition and culture are important aspects to both authors when writing children's books.I found this book stimulating to look at and interesting to read. The illustrations are great and add a lot to the story though it was a great story in itself. I definitely want to check out more of Ann Grifalconi's work.

Cultural differences
This is a wonderful book to share with children. Children need to know that different cultures do things differently. Culture is a big part of people and how they live their lives. This book was awarded a CaldecottHonor in 1987 for the wonderful pastel pictures. I, myself, loved this bookand so did my children in the classroom. ... Read more

Book Description
A funny, entertaining introduction to Ben Franklin and his many inventions, including the story of how he created the "magic square." A magic square is a box of nine numbers arranged so that any line of three numbers adds up to the same number, including on the diagonal! Teachers and kids will love finding out about this popular teaching tool that is still used in elementary schools today! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Awesome book!!!
I love this book! It introduced me to magic squares. Sometimes they're hard but not always. I read the book in 3rd grade. We were doing math groups and Mrs. Wrigely said" Today we are doing Magic squares."
What is a magic square?" I asked.
"It is 9 cubes that all have to equal the same number." Mrs. Wrigely
And that's how I was introduced to magic squares. I recommend this book for kids 6 and above. I think that because some words may be a little challenging for kids that are 5 or 4.


Mitchell S. 4th grade

AMAZINGLY AMAZING BOOK BOB 21


I THINK BEN FRANKLIN AND THE MAIGIC SQUARES IS A REALLY GOOD BOOK FOR KIDS. AND MAYBE PARENTS TOO. I READ MOST OF HIS BOOKS. HE WAS MY TEACHER IN 4THGRADE. HE IS A VERY GOOD WRITER I THINK. HE WRITESAMAZINGLY AMAZINGBOOKS. HE IS A REALLY GOOD TEACHER.


RYAN .B
HOLLAND

WOW!
what other book can make math interesting? and funny? Mr. Murphy has done it once again with his fabulous work! A++++++++++++!
-Stephanie
Connecticut

GREAT BOOK!!!
I thought that ths book was really good! I thoght it was so interesting!! Mr.Murphy is my math teacher... and he is amazing at teaching!!! He did very well with all of the writers craft in it. In class for Language arts he encourages us to use writers crafts and he actually uses them in this book!! This book is very interesting for adults who are interested in math and Ben Franklin. It is also a great book for children who are interested in math and Ben Franklin!! I love math because it is so interesting and because I have a great math teacher!!
[...]

MY BOOK REVIEW BY THE COSMIC GENIUS
This book was great for kid's teenagers and adults. What I'm trying to say is that this book is suitable for all ages. I think elementary teachers should read this to their students. This book is great to teach kids about the past and how inventions are still used today, in different ways. I learned how Ben Franklin invented most of the instruments we use today; like the stove, bifocals, flippers and many other inventions. I encourage you to buy this book if you have young kids or not.

Scott G(...)
... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Disappointing
this book is quite a disappointment.The piece shown on the cover is pretty and original, and there is one other nice piece, a throw made of squares that begin with interlaced circles.(Note that I have not tried to make these so I can't say if the pattern is accurate.)there are a few motifs that use interesting ideas, such as a square made from the outside edge inward.But 90 percent of the items shown are clumsy and look crumpled, as though they need to be blocked.You might get a few ideas from looking through the book, but I would not purchase it.

Nice projects with granny squares, poor instructions
I had been looking for books that use granny squares to make projects other than afghans (I've made enough of those). This book has both squares and projects.

The squares are OK, but frankly if you want to make afghans, the book by Jan Eaton 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans: Crochet Squares to Mix and Match is much better. The New Granny Square does have more blocks for use as flowers, etc. as embellishments, so if that's what you're looking for, this book is great.

The projects are OK. Many of the projects concern appliqueing little motifs on existing clothing. That, I can figure out myself. But there are two projects that I think are just gorgeous: the ribbon block skirt, and the ribbon block T-shirt. This is the kind of project I've been looking for. I was so excited, until I saw the directions. The instructions really only explain how to create the blocks. There is little to no information on how to construct the skirt or t-shirt. The skirt instructions have a diagram for where to place the different colored blocks, but leave out how to make the waistband, cord belt (if you're good, you can figure it out yourself), and how to sew it to a lining. There is also no info on how to create different sizing. The T-shirt instructions just give the directions for the block and say "make 24 blocks". There is no diagram on how to put the blocks together, or info on varying sizing.

This is a book that can give some inspiration, but if you hope to make the projects inside, you have to be confident and experienced enough to "wing it."

Granny Squares with Imagination
I am learning to crochet granny squares.This book has great photos of granny squares using color pictures.The granny squares are also in beautiful colored yarns.This gives me inspiration to continue the struggle of making sample swatches for gauge.The weakness is that it omits the use of diagrams.I went to the library for a reference book on crochet instructions with photos and diagrams. Still, I need the psychological encouragement of seeing the photos, reading instructions, and having a biography on the many gifted designers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Sea Squares is Great!
I like this book because it tells you how to times,1 x 1 = 1, 10 x 10 = 100, like that.I also like this book because it goes from 1 to 10 and shows you sea life.And sometimes on the right side margin of the page you see part of what animal comes next. When you see a white tale, you know the next page is a whale, and if you see wings, you know the next page is a seagull.

Henry, age 7

Nifty nimble numbers
Joy Hulme's Sea Squares is a fun rhyming romp that illustrates the concept of squaring numbers. The rhyme has a definite rythem to it and the illustrations are superb.The borders on each page hint and what thereader will find when the page is turned.The gorgeous use of color inthese seascapes delights the eye.I won't buy a children's book unless theillustrations are at least as good as the text.My children love the bookand didn't even realize it was a "math" book. I highly recommendadding it to your collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Truly delicious
Any keen knitter will understand when I say that you will want to put this book under your bed and keep it with you always. It's so beautifully photographed. Every one of these blankets is just a delight (apart from the alphabet one which looks slightly strange). The cost of the yarn may seem prohibitive but with a bit of sourcing and the wonder of the internet, you can find cheaper alternatives. The squares are different, so there's no room for boredom and the finished results are heirlooms, truly breathtaking. The only problem I found was which one to do first and how to squeeze more hours into the day to make it? The beauty of these is that they don't go out of fashion, so you can take all the time you need and pack the squares neatly away somewhere in the meantime. It's a great book.

Each with full step-by-step instructions and backed by twelve original projects to reinforce how to assemble the squares
Debbie Abraham's 100 Afghan Squares To Knit was quiet successful so her follow-up guide, packing in more design ideas, is likely to prove just as popular for both her old fans and newcomers. Here are a hundred more squares which can be mixed to create different, unusual blankets and throws: each with full step-by-step instructions and backed by twelve original projects to reinforce how to assemble the squares. Color photos of each afghan and close-up shots of the squares accompany patterns, sizing charts, materials and more.
... Read more

Amazon.com
From the author of the 2000 National Book Award winner, Homeless Bird, comes anevocative glimpse into a chilling period in world history. Gloria Whelan managesto take the fly-on-the-wall approach one step further in her latest piece ofhistorical fiction. In Angel on the Square, a young girl joins RussianTsar Nikolai II, Empress Alexandra, and their children when her mother becomesone of the empress's ladies-in-waiting. Katya Ivanova, as companion to theRomanov children, has an insider's view of the crumbling of tsarist Russia from1913 to 1918. Initially, life is lavish and amusing for this young aristocrat,although her friend Misha's revolutionary ideas often battle in her mind withher own loyalty to the tsar. Gradually, though, the world outside begins toenter the palace walls, and Katya's life--along with that of allnobility--changes forever.

Whelan's balanced treatment of both sides of the Russian revolution isremarkably accessible. Katya is an appealing protagonist; readers will hang onher every word as she is transformed from a spoiled, sheltered child into acaring, hard-working adult. Young readers couldn't ask for a better introductionto this terrifying, earthshaking epoch in history. (Ages 10 and older)--Emilie CoulterBook Description
It is a golden time for the aristocracy of St. Petersburg in the fall of 1914. The daughter of a lady-in-waiting, Katya Ivanova is safe behind palace walls. She takes her vacations on the imperial yacht and her tea with the Tsar's daughters. The royal family feels like her own.

Customer Reviews (18)

History Comes Alive
Angel on the Square is a historical fiction novel that comes alive. Katya a young aristocrat can't think anything bad of the imperial family. That is until the day Misha, her mom's best friend's son, and Katya's best frined, whom she thinks of as a cousin becomes a soldier during WWI. Katya now realizes that maybe the royal family doesn't alwasys make the right decsion. The happy ending is the cherry on top of the perfect book.

I love this!
This book is a historical fiction book. There is a war going on between Russia and Germany. Kayta, the daughter of the empress's lady-in-waiting is the main character. I am doing my book report on this book and am loving it! The book sort of starts off a little slow but picks up speed to when I was reading 50-75 pages a night. (I am not a reader.) Katya is an awesome character who I love and I think in a way is a great role model. I would recommend this book to kids above the age of 10 because the description of the war might bring bad thoughts. I thought this was a great book and I am a fan of Gloria Whelan's books. My other favorite is Chu Ju's House by Gloria Whelan. These are great books to read!

Very interesting
I learned a lot from this book. It was a good story, well told.

Excellent story set during the Russian Revolution.
Carole Seneker





Angel On The Square

Author:Gloria Whelan

Angel On The Square is a wonderful story that can transport the reader to another time and place.A student of history will be able to separate fact from fiction.The average reader will be so absorbed in the story that it might be difficult to think about anything but the protagonist, Katya.This fictional story uses facts of history to weave an interesting tale of a Lady-in-waiting, her daughter, and the son of friends.
There is no afterward or author's note to help the reader understand the historical facts this book is based on.The reader should not have to enter into research to understand the history this fictional story is intertwined with.Historical fiction authors should provide information in the appendix regarding the factual history the novel is based on.
Angel On The Square is an accurate portrayal of the values and norms of the early 20th century in Russia.The author does not stray from the known events of history.The descriptions of the characters and different areas of Russia reflect careful research and attention to detail.The paradigm shift Katya and her mother must make, as they move from the position of aristocrats to peasants, is artfully and convincingly portrayed in this novel.The two different points-of-view held by the aristocrats and the peasants are easily understood through the characters; Katya (aristocratic view-point) and Misha (peasant view-point), who, in the beginning of the novel, are as different as night and day.The author uses words from the Russian language in the dialogue.The Russian culture is easier to understand with occasional Russian words in use.There is a glossary of these words at the end of the book.
The aristocrat/peasant theme of Angel On The Square is present today.This perennial struggle permeates many countries of the world.A small fraction of it was visible during the recent Presidential campaign leading up to the election.Angel On The Square is historical fiction with a fictional story using actual events and people of Russia in 1914-1918.The story touches on Russia's part in World War I and the Russian Revolution.
The values children learn from historical fiction help them to understand that all people in any time period have the same needs and wants that people of the present time do.The oppressed will always seek change to obtain freedom and equality.The lesson here plainly reveals how much better a democracy is than an aristocracy.The children of today learn that Communism does not work because it takes away the incentive to be the best at whatever one sets out to do.The peasants in Angel On The Square saw the desperate inequality in the Russian government and revolted for change.This has happened throughout history in one form or another.If the world understood history and its' propensity to repeat itself, much warfare and aggravation could be spared its' people.
This story takes place in various locations in Russia.The settings are part of the story and help carry out the theme of the culture struggle known as the Russian Revolution.The characters are visibly changed from the time they lived in St. Petersburg to The Oaks.In the process of learning how to become peasants, Katya made a home for herself and her mother out of the shed that had been the smithy at The Oaks.The universal implications of this story indicate that people are resilient and able to change and adapt to radically different settings and lifestyles for survival.

Angel on the Square
From award winning author, Gloria Whelan, comes another fascinating tale of courage and bravery. This heart-warming novel, Angel on the Square, takes readers to a whole new view of Russia's rich history. Readers are transported to a weak and crumbling Russia, where lives are not as certain as they used to be. There they meet Katya Ivanova, a young aristocrat and rich daughter of a lady-in-waiting in the palace of Tsar Nicholas II.

Katya has grown up rich and pampered. Her only knowledge is the privileged life she lives, with everything she needs right at her fingertips. With her mother being a very distinguished friend of the empress, she is even more honored. One day, however, her life takes an unexpected turn. Katya's mother is asked to become a lady-in-waiting to the empress. She would move into the palace and Katya would go with her!

Life at the palace, Katya discovers, is fun and merry. The royal family feels like her own, and Katya's life is, again, quite at ease. She becomes friends with the four grand duchesses, and the youngest of the four, Anastasia, is her special friend.The tsar is like the father she never knew and the empress is very kind. However, the young tsar's illness worries the empress, as it seems to become more serious day by day.

Guided by her close friend, Misha, Katya is the only one in the palace with an inside view of the Tsar's failing domination. She witnesses cruel labor strikes, and overworked peasants. Anger and war is surely brewing outside the palace walls. Katya almost questions her loyalty to the Tsar as she sees how he treats his people.

Suddenly, to everyone's surprise, Russia begins war with Germany, and millions of peasants are sent to fight. Will Russia win the war? Most importantly, can the Tsar keep his country together? Hatred of the Tsar is now clearly visible, and the word "revolution" is on everybody's mind. Even if this large country survives, what will the future bring? A rich and powerful nation, or a wasteland of hopeless dreams?

Slowly the war creeps inside the palace walls, and the royal family's future, as well as Katya's own, is changed forever.

A prized piece of historical fiction, this book shows a clear and accurate picture of 20th century Russia. Its captivating text illuminates the wonders and fears of living in that place and time, and a remarkable plot shows that learning takes time. The author brings life to many historic events of that time, and depicts them with vivid imagery. This book is a wonderful introduction to the war and hardships of Russia.
... Read more

Book Description
At last! A companion activity book to the immensely popular Four Square Writing Method.

Chock-full of projects and ideas that are tailor-made to work with the Four Square Writing Method, this volume includes age-appropriate activities designed to: take advantage of the language-learning connection and help students use what they know to learn new things; introduce ideas for a total writing classroom including management tools and techniques; provide mini lessons, warm-ups and other projects for writing experiences which also address some of the more troublesome student writing habits; improve compositions with examples and exercises drawn from actual student work and classroom experiences! ... Read more

Book Description
In his best-seller, Square Foot Gardening, Mel Bartholomew showed gardeners his revolutionary system of planting in square foot sections to boost vegetable yields.Now in his follow-up, Mel tells you everything you need to know to be a successful square foot gardener.Earn $5,000 or $10,000 or even $20,000 per year - even with limited time and space.

This book takes the Square Foot method beyond normal home use and shows how to produce an ABUNDANT HARVEST for profit, to feed a large family, or to provide food and/or business experience for a group or institution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Square foot gardening
This book mainly deals with how to sell to restraunts. It has very little to do with the square foot gardening method.

informative
Very good book if you've ever though about selling your produce.I think it also is good if you like can or freeze your own also.

CA$H from Square Foot Gardening
The revised edition of his first book, "Square Foot Gardening" is a much better source of information on how to use his system to grow food. The reason I bought this book was that it was supposed to have much more information about growing food on a large scale. That was what I was interested in. But, if you are more interested in marketing your produce, there is some info here that would be better suited to that.

Wonderful and workable idea
A very practical approach to using your garden to make money.Anyone can do it, as long as there are people to feed near you!Don't hesitate to grab this book as soon as possible if you dream of selling your crops for cash.

Enjoyed the book, rather helpful
Mel Bartholomew wrote a very helpful book for a beginning gardener. Even without using the money making guides, it still provides plenty of information about the square foot gardening system. ... Read more

Book Description
From the author of Tied to the Tracks comes a charming new novel set in Lambert's Corner, South Carolina-a beautiful town where no one's secrets remain secret for very long.

For John Dodge, moving to new places and reviving ailing businesses is a way of life. So when he sees an ad for Scriveners, a stationery shop in a small town in South Carolina, he decides to take the plunge.

As soon as he arrives in Lambert's Corner, Dodge falls happily into the whirl of gossip, gifts, and quintessential Southern hospitality. Link Kay, one of his employees, warms up to him after Dodge admires his expertise on pens. Bean Hurt-a feisty and outspoken ten-year-old-becomes a fast friend. And Maude Golden, the mayor, supplies him with indispensable information. But the one person who really catches Dodge's eye is Julia Darrow-the beautiful but aloof pajama-wearing owner of the Cocoon, a popular store specializing in luxury linens. Dodge tries to befriend her, but she remains elusive and mysterious. Everyone knows that she is a widow, but no one seems to know why she came to town or why she never leaves Lambert Square-or does she?

Like Dodge, Chicago-born Julia is fleeing a tumultuous past. But with the help of a hilarious and endearing cast of characters, Julia and Dodge learn that, sometimes, you don't need to go far to find home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

entertaining warm regional romance
Two years after he arrived in Amarillo, Texas where John Dodge bought the failing business WordPlay Books and turned it profitable before recently selling it; as he always does.His sister worries about John's inability to settle down in one place, but John starts anew in Lamb's Corner, South Carolina.He bought Scriveners stationary from retiree Robert Lee Cowper with the stipulation that he keeps the two employees on board for two years.

When he arrives at Lambert Square where his store is located, he begins his efforts to fit in as best as an outsider can.He gets on with seemingly everyone, but it is the president of the Merchant's Group, Julia Darrow who he finds he desires, a feeling alien to him.She runs and owns the every popular Cocoon that sells exclusive linen and other bedroom paraphernalia, which she and her three employees advertise as THE PAJAMA GIRLS OF LAMBERT SQUARE.Whereas he is falling in love, she mistrusts that emotion having run from Chicago knowing that a dog is a woman's best friend.Now John has someone he wants to settle down with, but Julia rejects his advances though his kisses make her reconsider; as the townsfolk matchmake them wondering who will retreat and surrender.

This is an entertaining warm regional romance starring two likable protagonists fleeing differently from their respective pasts.Whereas John lives up to his surname dodging commitment like a rolling stone; Julia buried her past settling for eccentricity and dog rescuing in one remote place.An eccentric support cast wants both to stay as they have brought life to a dying small South Carolina town.Fans will appreciate Rosina Lippi's wonderful contemporary that affirms "home is where the heart is".

Harriet Klausner
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