Joan TapperCritiques

California is my adopted state and combines the best of my two worlds: Europe and Australia. The Bay Area down to the Middle Kingdom and Santa Barbara is Europe and everything below (SoCal) is Oz. Thanks to my family being kicked out of the other countries, the Golden State became our home...because Cali accepts anyone. Bear Flag Rising, baby.

So, how amazed was I that I hadn't seen some of the towns and villages listed in this book! Ballard? Say what? Yes, I always see the signs to Los Olivos, but never have I taken the road. That changes right now because of this book! A true coffee table volume (lots of color photos), I had a hard time putting this book down when it came to the rest of my reading rotation. By the time I finished the book, I already had my list of next-travel-destinations, readily assisted by the map at the end.

Fun to read and a reminder of my parents' good fortune to have been born poor. Thank you, Cali.

Book Season = Year Round (car or Amtrak)

A guidebook to the American West, presented as if it were written in 1880 (although it often can't resist coyly alluding to "future" events). It's not terribly in-depth, and I imagine it's likely to be of somewhat limited use to any actual time travelers, although it does include useful tips on subjects such as where to get a decent meal in Tombstone. But it captures the enthusiastic tourist guide sensibility amusingly well, and it's a fun way to learn a little about a colorful period in US history.½

Not too long ago a lady came into my bookshop and bought a pile of books. She said that she was reviewing islands for one of the big guides and I was definitely the best bookshop and cafe she had seen in her whole trip. All puffed up, I asked her what was so special about my place. She said it was because I had her book, Island Dreams, in my window :-)

So I get a great entry into a guide because of my good taste and timing putting Joan's wonderfully-photographed book on display.

This was like getting a free pass into the lives of many different fiber artists.

Much more about the whole process of raising the animals to shearting, spinning and final products. More a book to read than a pattern book. The patterns are interesting and the hats are really wonderful.