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Joanna P. (Bellbird) - Reviews

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10,000 Baby Names
10,000 Baby Names
Author: Bruce Lansky
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 9
Review Date: 7/29/2006


A lot of names in a small paperback. Contains some odd and interesting variations, and very short definitions. Helpful for new parents and for writers.


The 1983 Annual World's Best SF
Review Date: 1/1/2006


Includes excellent short stories from James White, Joanna Russ, Tanith Lee, Frederik Pohl, Gardner Dozois, Timothy Zahn and Rudy Rucker.


Review Date: 12/22/2005


Tips that actually work, tested by actual mothers (the authors of the book).


The ABC Bunny
The ABC Bunny
Author: Wanda Gag
Book Type: Unknown Binding
  • Currently 4.6/5 Stars.
 7
Review Date: 2/28/2007


Lovely old-style pencil drawings. A wonderful, timeless alphabet book. Includes sheet music at the back, a song for the alphabet written by the author's brother.


The After Work Entertaining Cookbook
The After Work Entertaining Cookbook
Author: Ceil Dyer
Book Type: Hardcover
  ?
Review Date: 1/6/2006


Book Club edition, 1976. Good advice/reference book for the clueless urban professional who needs a little help in the kitchen.


The All Seasons Cookbook
The All Seasons Cookbook
Author: Favorite Recipes Press (Editors)
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 12/25/2005


Nice recipes, easily made in home kitchens, contributed to Favorite Recipes Press.


The American Mercedes
The American Mercedes
Author: Daimler
Book Type: Paperback
  ?
Review Date: 1/6/2006


This book is a faithful reproduction of a 1906 booklet on the American Mercedes. Large print, black and white drawings of the parts of the auto. Good book for those in love with Mercedes-Benz.


And the Shofar Blew
And the Shofar Blew
Author: Francine Rivers
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 139
Review Date: 4/4/2006
Helpful Score: 6


This book, as most of the Christian fiction by this author, starts out fairly plebian, even mediocre. I thought it would be like a James Herriot novel...a gentle, 600-page long story about the families centered around a country church. Boy, was I wrong. As with most Xtian fic by Rivers, the gentle beginning with the hack wordage is just a ruse! It is a story about how little by little people can slip into sin...the Devil slides in the needle without the characters noticing. The country church booms and becomes a megachurch...is the blessing from God? Or from someone else? It is well plotted, and even frightening although it is no _Oath_. The motivations of the pastor make sense and there is no deus ex machina to make everything back to happy-normal at the end. Pride has to be chopped down and cast into the fire, forever. Now, since Rivers is a romance writer, there is of course a restored romance at the end...but it does not come without cost.

The most frightening thing about this novel is not how it shows the steady decline away from God and into the hell of self, but that it reflects actual situations. It's not a roman a clef but might as well be one. God save us all.


The Art of Spanish Cooking
The Art of Spanish Cooking
Author: Betty Wason
Book Type: Paperback
  ?
Review Date: 12/27/2005


Original copyright 1963, reprinted in 1977. Vintage Spanish recipes.


Assembly Language Programming for the Control Data
Review Date: 12/29/2005


Original copyright 1968, 2nd printing 1972.


Asterix the Gaul
Asterix the Gaul
Author: R. Goscinny
Book Type: Hardcover
  ?
Review Date: 12/21/2005


The shrewd little Gaul fights off Romans with the help of his tribesmen. A children's classic.


Betty Crocker's Dinner parties
Betty Crocker's Dinner parties
Author: Betty Crocker
Book Type: Unknown Binding
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 1/1/2006


Small book of kitchen-tested recipes. Back cover features painting of Betty Crocker before she changed races.


Beyond Jennifer and Jason: An Enlightened Guide to Naming Your Baby
Review Date: 9/23/2006


I enjoyed this book of Christian names (or first names, as none of them are necessarily Christian!) - when I was in my fiction writing stage as a teen, this book provided lists of names arranged under many, many categories: old fashioned, new age, wimpy, manly, androgynous, so far in they're out (circa 1988-1990), and more. You can see what your name is categorized under (Feminine, Feminissima, 75% Masculine, RAF Pilot name?) and see if you agree. A good book for fiction writers who need names, people who like lists of things and for new parents who are wondering what to properly call their bundle of joy.


Bonjour Tristesse
Bonjour Tristesse
Author: Fran?oise Sagan
Book Type: Paperback
  ?
Review Date: 1/7/2006


1955 edition, Dell paperback.


The Butterball Turkey Cookbook
Review Date: 12/22/2005


Contains lots of recipes for turkey, including side dishes (that don't include turkey) such as chutney, stuffing, casseroles, etc.


Castors Away!
Castors Away!
Author: Hester Burton
Book Type: Hardcover
  ?
Review Date: 12/21/2005


This story follows the coming of age of three English siblings during the Napoleonic wars, centered on the true event of an apparently drowned soldier who comes back to life after 13 hours of resuscitation by the children's doctor father. Contains a charming glimpse of rural Suffolk life, as well as wartime experience on board ships. Published in 1962 and suitable for grades 4-6.


Cheaper by the Dozen
Cheaper by the Dozen
Author: Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Frank B. Gilbreth
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 83
Review Date: 7/6/2006
Helpful Score: 2


Cute novel about a great family and its ups and downs. I love the way the parents made this marriage work (and of course they made their kids work)! Inspiring and heartwarming.


The Children of Men
The Children of Men
Author: P. D. James
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 95
Review Date: 9/1/2006


Pessimistic look at the future, much talked about in some political-fan circles.


Chocolate : The Consuming Passion
Chocolate : The Consuming Passion
Author: Sandra Boynton
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 24
Review Date: 9/29/2006
Helpful Score: 1


Good book, very funny, makes one feel comfortable about being a chocolate fiend.


Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt
Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt
Author: Anne Rice
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 162
Review Date: 2/18/2007
Helpful Score: 9


Anne Rice is famous for her sexual horror novels - but this represents, perhaps, the viewpoint she was meant to have. It is not a substitute for reading the Bible, and not as strong as a novel of Francine Rivers (herself an author who dropped her original genre after accepting Christ), but it is genuine. Protestants, be wary of her Catholic apocrypha and Mariolatry - this book is not gospel. But it is evidence of a sincere heart, "meticulously researched" detail about how a family might have lived and what they might have seen in the Jewish parts of the Roman Empire, and best of all, it is one more person who understands that Jesus is Lord.
My favorite part is the Author's Note at the end where she explains her journey of Catholic schoolgirl to atheist and her gradual return to faith, and how it is damningly clear that there is no possible way the Jews could have survived for thousands of years without supernatural help, and how historical evidence about Jesus affirms that his story could not possibly have been created or believed unless the Bible was factual. I recommend reading this book.


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