Author Barbara Kingsolver and her family abandoned the industrial-food pipeline to live a rural life—vowing that, for one year, they’d only buy food raised in their own neighborhood, grow it themselves, or learn to live without it. Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is an enthralling narrative that will open your eyes in a hundred new ways to an old truth: You are what you eat.

#Pretentious and preachy (2008-11-13) I really wanted to like this book. I agree with the author in that as a culture we ve clearly gotten out of touch with living off the land and have become a fast food society. But I struggled to even get through the first chapter. The tone of the book is much too preachy and pretentious giving it a holier than thou feel. It s hard to get past that.

#You Take the Good, You Take the Bad (2008-11-07) I m only halfway through Kingsolver s book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, so it s possible I will have a skewed opinion. Anyway, Kingsolver opened my eyes to the plight of America s food problem. I d heard of things like HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), but I d never given it much thought. I sure will now. I appreciated her discourses about the garden, the cheesemaking, etc. The information about transportation costs, etc. given in the sidebars by Steven Hopp was excellent. I will, without a doubt, make many considerations in re...

#True Inspiration (2008-11-01) This book was a complete inspiration to get better connections with our food. As years go on, it seems we ve gotten further and further away from thinking about where our food comes from. This completely dials you in to the locavore movement, and just enjoying cooking/gardening again or in a new light. A great read for anyone who cares about what they put in their body!

#Don t Believe the Hype (2008-10-27) While the author makes many valid points about the benefits of consuming locally grown food, she is guilty of one (literally) fatal error: eating animals for food is neither necessary nor healthy for humans, the environment, or, of course, the animals themselves. Moving from a vegetarian diet to a flesh-based diet is not progress, either physically or spiritually, and teaching children that slaughterhouses are bad, yet killing and eating animals whom they know is perfectly acceptable, is unconscionable. Not only is our flesh-based diet destroyi...

#Terrific book! (2008-10-24) Barbara Kingsolver has struck a wonderful balance among educating readers about gardening, slow food, food science and telling a great tale of a family s adventure of local eating. The recipes are great, too!What a revelation to learn that we have all been anesthetized by the large corporations, whether they be the corporations that produce processed food, or the seed companies with their genetically modified terminator genes in the seeds. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and we have already made changes in our food shopping. Wish this great book were still ...

For centuries, dogs have known that they, not humans, run the show. But not all dogs know how to get the best from their people. Finally, from the leading expert in the field comes a straightforward, easy-to-use manual that s written for dogs by a dog. This indispensable reference provides foolproof advice on obtaining everything a dog deserves, from the best food and exercise to grooming and chauffeur services. Here are all the tools a dog needs for selecting, training, and living with a well-behaved human.

#Child like literature (2008-08-30) I was totally disappointed with the context of this book. Misled by five star reviews. There are only a few funny lines in the book paired with cute dog photos. If not for the information about human sexuality this would be read by a seven year old child. I am sorry I spent my money on this worthless book.

#A Must for every Dog Owner (2008-08-25) If you own a dog, you must get this book. . . I have never laughed so hard reading a non-fiction book. . . Run don t walk to get this.

#doggie literature (2008-05-22) it is the funniest book written from a dog s perspective. If you love dogs it is just hilarious and you can see the logic

#Perfect Dog - Human Book (2007-12-09) Very funny book, and unique perspective on the dog-human relationship. Had me laughing out loud in several sections, especially as my own dog has trained me on some of Tess s same lessons. Also insightful to many human quirks, and how our habits are viewed from the dogs perspective. Great gift for dog lovers, and keep one for yourself.

#Too True (2007-12-07) This book is a tell all. Tess, a lab owned by Brian Kahn exposes the way she shamefully manipulates him. She shares all the well know secrets and some not so well known about how dogs, under the guise of being pleasers in fact run the homes they live in. I must concede she does so with wit and charm. This is a fun book.

It was within the pages of Richard Peck s Newbery Honor-winning A Long Way from Chicago that Mary Alice and Grandma Dowdel first made their captivating debut. Now they re back for more astonishing, laugh-out-loud adventures when fifteen-year-old Mary Alice moves in with her spicy grandmother for the year. Expect moonlit schemes, romances both foiled and founded, and a whole parade of fools made to suffer in unusual (and always hilarious) ways.Wise, exuberant, and slyly heartwarming, Mary Alice s story is a fully satisfying companion to the celebrated A Long Way from Chicago, which, in addition to receiving the Newbery Honor, was a National Book Award finalist, an ALA Notable Book, and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

#Wonderful (2008-09-25) I read this for a young adult lit class and absolutely fell in love with the blatant charm of the old-school small-town charm and the subtle heart that pervades even the brashness of the characters. This is for fans of all of Peck s coloquial writing, though I m sure it might annoy a few who would rather have their stories dark and serious. Still, I can t help but be fond of it, and it s hard to see a guy write a girl s mind as well as Mr. Peck can.

#Funny, Funny, Funny! (2008-09-14) My son and I read this book while he was in 7th grade. It was one of the funniest books that we had read in a long time. HIGHLY recommended, even for boys that hate to read!

#A Year Down Yonder (2008-06-13) While this is a sequel to A Long Way from Chicago, it can easily be read and enjoyed on its own. Richard Peck writes the adventures of Mary Alice, spending a year away from her home in depression-era Chicago at her grandmother s house in the country. While grandma Dowdel is gruff and no-nonsense, she soon enlists Mary Alice in her schemes to influence neighbors - some who are friends, some who are enemies. This hilarious book is great to read aloud, and it will leave both adults and kids in stitches.

#Very Nice (2008-02-28) This is one of the best books I have ever read, and cried at the end.

#Wonderful book (2008-02-12) My daughter had to read A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck for her 8th grade English class. We both read the book and both enjoyed it. We loved the characters, especially the grandmother. This is a wonderful book for young readers!

From one of the finest nature writers at work in America today-a lyrical, dramatic, illuminating tour of the hidden domain of wild animals. Whether recalling the experience of being chased through the Grand Canyon by a bighorn sheep, swimming with sharks off the coast of British Columbia, watching a peregrine falcon perform acrobatic stunts at 200 miles per hour, or engaging in a tense face-off with a mountain lion near a desert waterhole, Craig Childs captures the moment so vividly that he puts the reader in his boots.Each of the forty brief, compelling narratives in THE ANIMAL DIALOGUES focuses on the author s own encounter with a particular species and is replete with astonishing facts about the species behavior, habitat, breeding, and lifespan. But the glory of each essay lies in Childs s ability to portray the sometimes brutal beauty of the wilderness, to capture the individual essence of wild creatures, to transport the reader beyond the human realm and deep inside the animal ki...

#Grateful I picked it up (2008-10-03) I just picked it up to thumb through because I liked the cover photo, I didn t think I d read it let alone love it as much as I did.

#Wonderful writer, amazing stories (2008-04-10) Childs has created a beautifully written book about animals and journeys into their abodes. He lashes a poet s equipoise to an adventurer s rugged wagon and traverses stories that are breathtaking both in their raw facts and in their telling. A wonderful book.

#Excellent personal account (2008-03-27) I have greatly enjoyed reading this naturalist s account of personal encounters he has had with animals in the wild. He demonstrates a respect, as well as a healthy fear, of the big predators such as mountain lions, bears, and jaguars. Intertwined with the adventures, Craig Childs provides details and meaningful information on creatures as diverse as mosquitos and Blue Sharks. It is a personal account which is accurate and does not romanticize the animals he describes.

#Animal Dialogues - great read (2008-03-03) I purchased The Secret Knowledge of Water by Craig Childs, and picked up the Animal Dialogues at the same time. After reading both books, I will buy more by this author. Vivid descriptions of places and happenings make his experiences come alive. The short chapters on each species give his own story and some scientific information on the animal as the story unfolds. I have learned much, and enjoy his take on the face to face encounters with some of the animals. We can identify with the cat and mouse tales in the Tipi. The Mountain Lion e...

#wonderful book (2008-02-28) This book tops my list of favorites. Childs skillful use of languge not only brings his encounters to life, but revels in the mystical aspects of the wilderness. It is as close to poetry as prose can get, it s simply stunning.

Superb photographs and a fascinating cast of people and dogs make this book irresistible to anyone who is moved by the human-animal bond. Contributions by such celebrities as Jamie Lee Curtis and Al Gore enhance this delightful collection that captures the bond between people and the dogs they love. 45 photos.

#Kismet without connection (2008-06-22) These are without a doubt heartwarming stories that leave the reader thinking What if that person hadn t been at that spot at that time, or other mind-bending questions, but all in all, the lack of detail provided in the stories fails to draw the reader into them, leaving a choppy feel to the whole book. This, in turn, fails, to do what the writer hoped to accomplish, which was to show the fantastic chemistry between people and dogs, and demonstrate that dogs are capable of thinking and emotions far more complicated than humans have believed ...

#Awesome, heartwarming stories for any age :-) (2008-01-07) I purchased Second Chances last year for my 9 year old son so I knew this book would be just as good. If you want to read very short stories about stray dogs who found loving homes, this is the book. It will make you laugh, cry, and just feel good all over. Everyone should adopt a shelter or stray once in their life. There is is no better feeling. . . they seem to have a way of finding you.

#really heartwarming (2007-08-26) I loved this book so much. I recently adopted a dog after many years of only pedigree versions. I will always save a life and adopt from now on! My other 3 dogs with papers aren t so sure of this decision!

#Found Dogs (2007-07-10) As a dog lover and a current owner of 4 dogs (2 of whom were rescues) I applaud each and every pet owner in this book and I thank Elise Lufkin for putting these stories together so that they may be enjoyed by the people who rescue any animal or is thinking about rescuing. The joy and love these pets bring into a home is unbelievable.

#Second Chances (2007-05-07) As the mama of an adopted stray dog from the ASPCA I am very interested in saved cats and dogs,(I have also taken in a stray cat). To me rescued animals are the best pets. The books that I have read are all happy books, there may be a lot of saddness in them, but for the most part they have a happy ending. Amazon is full of books on cats and dogs, the selection can t be beat!