Love And War in the Apennines

Book Description

Eric Newby escapes through a hospital window to become a POW on the run in Italy in 1943. With the Nazis moving in from the north and no certain way back to England, his situation appears grim. But with the help of local farmers and villagers, who risk their lives to shelter him, he survives. Hiding in shepherds' huts and even a cave, he achieves three precious months of freedom - and meets the determined and courageous woman who would become his wife.

Love and War in the Apennines is an intimate account of the horror and surrealism of war, and of the heroism and selflessness of those caught up in its madness. Eric Newby creates an unforgettable record of the resilience of human nature in the face of despair, and forcefully remind us of the pointlessness of war.

Customer Reviews:

An Epic Adventure..........2007-02-24

Eric Newby knows how to tell a story. This is one of the few books that I started over again immediately after finishing it the first time. The insight into the minds of these extraordinary Italian farmers who hid prisoners of war without thought to their own lives and safety is one of the great adventure reads to come out of World War II. Having passed through this countryside so many times traveling between Milan and Florence, I know first hand how rugged it is. Just to get through these mountains by train is an adventure, as there are dozens of tunnels to pass through after one leaves Bologna. Newby brings the setting to life for the reader, and we walk in his footsteps as he falls upon adverture after another. There is almost an unreal quality to this story, expecially his meeting the wonderful mountain men who live in the most remote parts of these mountains. If you want a really good read, grab a copy of this book. You will not be disappointed.

endurance and inspiration.......2004-08-22

Newby's writing can be rather dry, but in this recounting of his escape from the Germans in WWII Italy, he strikes a fine balance between mawkish sentimentalism and tough-guy posturing. An engrossing narration about the extraordinary measures ordinary people can and will resort to, to stay alive and to do what they think is right. Encouraging, inspiring, and highly recommended.

Extraordinary.......2003-02-12

During World War II, the rural citizens of northern Italy vowed to assist Allied soldiers on the run in their mountainous region. They were operating on an informed heart, on the Golden Rule, wanting to give aid to those who opposed the hated Fascists and Nazis as they would hope someone would help their own sons. And while the Allies were protected by the Geneva Convention should they be captured, the citizens were not and they were subject to less humane punishment, sometimes torture and death, if their actions were found out. But they did it anyway. It is these people, who otherwise lived a pastoral, ancient way of life, whom travel writer extraordinaire Eric Newby profiles in his memoir, LOVE AND WAR IN THE APENNINES.

Those familiar with Newby's other books will find his signature wit, self-deprecating humor and descriptive powers at work here, but his curiosity and appreciation of other people and cultures is in highest gear. He comes to meet the peasantry of northern Italy after fleeing a prison during the chaos following the ouster of Mussolini in September 1943. He is helped by a succession of individuals and families, including the woman who would become his wife and companion in later adventures, the estimable Wanda. The book ends with his unfortunate recapture by the Germans and in an epilogue he revisits the people who took him in ten years after.

Newby is a hugely gifted writer, his sentences are knowing and clear as a bell. He orders information rhythmically, always knows when less is more and more is more. He never bows to sentimentality, never sells anyone out. He does a remarkable job of expressing the fear and dispiritedness that politics and war heave on a people, at the same time revealing their resilience. There is much to admire in this book.

One of Newby's best.......2001-02-13

The Italians Newby depicts in this memoir (and also in his "A Small Place in Italy") are often funny, but never buffoonish. Newby's warm admiration for country folk is always evident, as in this passage where a retired stonemason helps remove an enormous boulder from the hideout the locals are making for him:

"He went over it with his hands, very slowly, almost lovingly. It must have weighed half a ton. Then, when he had finished caressing it, he called for a sledgehammer and hit it deliberately but not particularly hard and it broke into two almost equal halves. It was like magic and I would not have been surprised if a toad had emerged from it and turned into a princess who had been asleep for a million years."

One of Newby's best.......2001-02-13

Readers familiar with Newby's travel writing will find all his strengths here: his eye for detail, his warmth of character, his humor (mostly self-deprecating). They will also find a love story -- one made all the more poignant by Newby's craftsmanlike selection of few but telling scenes.

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Love and War in the Apennines
Eric Newby
Manufacturer: Recorded Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: B000VCAWSW

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Love and War in the Apennines
Eric Newby
Manufacturer: Pan Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OUGHSU

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Love and War in the Apennines (Penguin Travel Library)
Eric Newby
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ7AO6

Book Description

In her own words, here is the captivating story of Julia Child’s years in France, where she fell in love with French food and found ‘her true calling.’

From the moment the ship docked in Le Havre in the fall of 1948 and Julia watched the well-muscled stevedores unloading the cargo to the first perfectly soigné meal that she and her husband, Paul, savored in Rouen en route to Paris, where he was to work for the USIS, Julia had an awakening that changed her life. Soon this tall, outspoken gal from Pasadena, California, who didn’t speak a word of French and knew nothing about the country, was steeped in the language, chatting with purveyors in the local markets, and enrolled in the Cordon Bleu.

After managing to get her degree despite the machinations of the disagreeable directrice of the school, Julia started teaching cooking classes herself, then teamed up with two fellow gourmettes, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, to help them with a book they were trying to write on French cooking for Americans. Throwing herself heart and soul into making it a unique and thorough teaching book, only to suffer several rounds of painful rejection, is part of the behind-the-scenes drama that Julia reveals with her inimitable gusto and disarming honesty.

Filled with the beautiful black-and-white photographs that Paul loved to take when he was not battling bureaucrats, as well as family snapshots, this memoir is laced with wonderful stories about the French character, particularly in the world of food, and the way of life that Julia embraced so wholeheartedly. Above all, she reveals the kind of spirit and determination, the sheer love of cooking, and the drive to share that with her fellow Americans that made her the extraordinary success she became.

Le voici. Et bon appétit!

Download Description

Julia Child was born in Pasadena, California. She was graduated from Smith College and worked for the OSS during World War II in Ceylon and China, where she met Paul Child. After they married they lived in Paris, where she studied at the Cordon Bleu and taught cooking with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, with whom she wrote the first volume of Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961). In 1963, Boston’s WGBH launched The French Chef television series, which made her a national celebrity, earning her the Peabody Award in 1965 and an Emmy in 1966. Several public television shows and numerous cookbooks followed. She died in 2004.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Missing Julia.......2007-08-05

I just finished this book, and I am unashamed to say I have shed tears for the loss of this great woman. I am discovering the art of cooking later in life, as Julia did, and she has helped give me the courage I am needing to change careers and attend culinary arts training this spring. What a marvelous book, I felt that I was there with her in her "la belle France" and wish that I could have had the opportunity to spend time in the kitchen with her. You will not be disappointed in this fantastic read.

Great Read.......2007-07-27

This book was so enjoyable to read! I was fascinated by this look into post-war France, and into Julia's world there. It made me wish I would have know her and understand why it seems that everyone who knew her, loved her.

One thing I thought was fun was her encyclopedic recall of various meals they enjoyed, including the wine vintage.

You'll also love hearing how she came to write her first cookbook and become a host of her own show on PBS. For those of us who are over 40, it's also great to note that the most interesting parts of her life didn't even begin until then.

French Food as Accessible Art Form Thanks to Julia.......2007-07-20

My Life in France gives the reader a glimpse into the extraordinary and elegant life of Julia Child. The memoir adds another dimension to Julia the TV persona and looks beyond the lighthearted image. Indeed, beyond Julia's fun spirit was an unbelievable level of meticulous research and above all, fearlessness and stamina. My Life in France is a delight to read for anyone who wishes to understand the origin of Julia's passion for French cooking and her ability to transform one's vision of and taste for fine food. My Life in France

A must-read for any foodie.......2007-07-15

This has risen to the top of my favorite books list. It's so well written, with plenty of imagery and descriptive language that I felt I was in Julia's kitchen with her. I learned quite a bit about her relationship with her husband and both their careers. The best was reading about how the recipes and the books were written.

If you are planning to write a cook book or are very interested in cooking and chefs, you should definitely buy this book.

It's a Wonderful Life in France!.......2007-07-04

'My Life in France' is a superb book that effuses with that wonderful endearing quality we have all come to know and love in Julia Child. The book focuses mainly on the early years of developing her first cookbooks and television show.

The book begins when she and her husband, Paul, make their first trip to France because of his new job assignment. You feel her giddy excitement upon landing on the shores of a place she had for so long desired to go. We hear in minute detail the look, smell and taste of her first French meal, and from there we are introduced to "La Belle France". Before I began the book, I wondered for how long I could sustain reading each night about a person's breakfast, lunch or dinner meal that had been eaten 50 years prior, but Julia has such an adorable way of speaking, and her sometimes child-like observations of life and people around her are so heartwarming, you just wish you had been there. As the book progresses, she speaks about her collaboration with two women for her first book, and sometimes the claws come out. You're thinking, "Julia!" But, as with all friendships, there are things that agree with us and things that don't. Without some of these tidbits, the book may have been too trite, or frankly boring. Subsequently, it was interesting to hear of the minor squabbles that occurred between the women and the simple controversies concerning her husband and his role as a "diplomat". Paul and Julia Child made many friends overseas, whom they adored and loved. The majority of these people stayed in her inner circle until the end of their lives. For me, night after night, I couldn't wait to sit down and read about so many dinner parties with simmering meats and side dishes, lovely conversations, and eccentric friends. The only thing I didn't like about the book is that it ended too quickly, and I found myself missing the evenings with Julia.

Humble Bumbles' Baby Journal: A Keepsake Journal for Baby's First Three Years (featuring the adorable Humble Bumble characters)

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great baby journal!
This book is great!
Great overall baby journal
Very cute with great pages
WARNING

Humble Bumbles' Baby Journal: A Keepsake Journal for Baby's First Three Years (featuring the adorable Humble Bumble characters)
Alex Lluch
Manufacturer: Wedding Solutions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 1887169318

Book Description

A beautifully illustrated journal to record special moments and memories in a baby's first three years.

Customer Reviews:

great baby journal!.......2007-08-28

This is a great journal. So cute. I looked at and bought many of these and this is the best one. Not too much detail but enough..easy to write it. Pockets for keepsakes. Came with scrapbooking picture frames for photos. I can't say enough good things!!

This book is great!.......2007-08-27

I was looking for a baby book that would provide some versatility with what could be written. This book delivered. The pages had things like "some thoughts about before you were born" as opposed to "this is how I found out I was pregnant" - etc. It gives you a lot of room to write, but isn't overwhelming. It is cute, fun, and a great value for the price. Highly recommend!

Great overall baby journal.......2007-08-20

i was skeptical about buying this because of what i read from the reviews about it having bible versus and being a somewhat religious baby journal. i do not consider myself religious by any means and none of the versus or quotes bothered me at all. yeah it does say a few things about heaven and being gifts from god and such but its nothing too extreme. if you're a pessimist when it comes to religion then you might not approve. it had places for everything i had wanted to remember for my daughter, and overall i like it very much.super cute.

Very cute with great pages.......2007-08-13

I have enjoyed this book very much so far. There are all the "good" pages for baby memories and none of the frivilous ones, plus it goes out a few years.

WARNING.......2007-08-07

Please be warned about shipping if you need this item fast!!! Normally when I have chosen super saver shipping, they actually ship the item within 1-2 business days of the order if it is in stock. This appears not to be their policy anymore, so if you want the book fast go to another web site!!!

Average customer rating:

Alex from bookrescue
Not easy...
God Bless Alex
Loved it and hated it
excelant and touching

Alex: The Life of a Child
Frank Deford
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1558535527

Book Description

Alexandra Deford, a precious and precocious girl, was just eight years old when she died in 1980 following a battle against the debilitating effects of cystic fibrosis, the number-one genetic killer of children. Her poignant and uplifting story touched the hearts of millions when it was first published and then made into a memorable television movie. A new introduction contains information on the latest cystic fibrosis research, and a touching postcript reveals how the Deford family came to terms with the loss of Alex.

Whenever he speaks, sportswriter Frank Deford knows people will bring articles for him to sign. But what makes him happiest is when someone attends a sports-oriented lecture and brings a copy of Alex: The Life of a Child for him to sign. "Invariably, and happily, there's usually someone at each appearance who either brings that book or wants to talk about their connection to cystic fibrosis." Deford says. "It's tremendously gratifying to me. Rarely does a week go by that I don't get a letter about that book. People leave things at her grave. They really do. I have people tell me that she changed their lives. It's terribly dramatic, but they literally say that. I heard from a woman who became a pediatric nurse after reading the book. Hearing from people like that means more to me than anything."

Customer Reviews:

Alex from bookrescue.......2007-07-03

excellent service. book received in excellent condition, just as described. would definitely order through bookrescue again.

Not easy..........2007-05-30

As the father of an 8 year old daughter with CF (who even sorta looks like Alex), you can imagine that this is not an easy read for me. I read it once 8 years ago, when she was diagnosed, and it was bad....I have tried to re-read it again 8 years later and it's even harder to get through. Not a day goes by where I don't think about that I most likely will have to go thru what Frank did.
I"m not sure i'll be able to handle it. My optimism that there will be a cure in time has dwindled to stark reality that it's not likely to happen soon enough. Thank you Frank for writing this, at least I know i'm not alone.

God Bless Alex.......2007-01-28

After supporting Cystic Fibrosis as one of my personal charities for many years, I saw this book in a used book store and bought it. I didn't read it for some time. In fact, it was after I met a family who had a son with CF. I became friends with him - and only a few months later, close to his 21st birthday, he was gone. Then I read the book.. I must say, this is a heartbreaker - but Alex is such an amazing young girl! Written from the experiences of a father watching this terrible disease take his little girl. I strongly recommend reading - and then reaching out to your local Cystic Fibrosis Chapter.

Loved it and hated it.......2006-09-13

My daughter was diagnosed with CF 4 months ago at the age of 2.5 yrs. I was immediately drawn to books written from the parent perspective (it seems most are written by young adults who have it), and I first read "From a Taste of Salt" and then "Alex".

I mostly loved this book; I love how well Deford delves into the psychological aspects (of ALL the family) of having a child in the house with this disease. I can easily picture in my dealings with my own daughter many of the conversations with Alex he relates.

There are two things I disliked. One is that he really over-makes Alex to be a saint. Everyone says my daughter is so sweet and so good at taking her medicines and therapy and yadda yadda, but would you ever say the OPPOSITE to a parent with a sick child? My daughter is still a toddler and no saint, but Deford leaves out most of the day-to-day "normal" parts of her life that would show her regular humanity instead of her sainthood.

Secondly, It became obvious at times that Deford was, unfortunately, projecting some of his own thoughts, feelings, and memories onto Alex's actions. I do not blame him for this one bit, considering the great devistation it is to lose a child and then try to write about it. But for some reason it really annoyed me.

Overall an excellent book, and I recommend it to any parent with a newly diagnosed child struggling through the emotional and psychological steps of accepting CF. You find out that you are not alone in your many confusing thoughts. I only wish he had perhaps been a more religious man, and touched on the acceptance of this disease from God.

excelant and touching.......2006-03-29

i bought this book because my best friend also had lost her life struggling with cf at the young age of 19.i always knew what cf was but never new how life threating it really was.this book was touching and reminded me of my memories with phylicia (1986-2005) she lived life in such a fullfilling way.she qouted in her year book her senior yr of high school one year before she passed "living life as if you are dying is never acually living at all".this book was very touching and i hope other people get a chance to read this book also.

Average customer rating:

A Painful and Very Truthful Read

Alex The Life of a Child
Frank Deford
Manufacturer: Potomac Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000DEMYEI

Customer Reviews:

A Painful and Very Truthful Read.......2007-04-21

I think every parent's nightmare is to lose a child, but Frank Deford points out what it would be like if Alex had never been a part of their lives. What a beautiful child with an ugly disease. This is not a tear-jerker you will actually grieve the Defords, as they watch Alex fade away painfully, but leave them with important joy, gifts and unshakable memories along the way. It is an important book to read.

Human Growth: Assessment and Interpretation

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Human Growth: Assessment and Interpretation
Alex F. Roche , and Shumei S. Sun
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Methods in Human Growth Research (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology)

ASIN: 0521782457

Book Description

This complete reference to the field for researchers and professionals includes methods to measure size and maturity; the judgement and interpretation of recorded data; evaluations of influences on growth and the significance of abnormal growth. It is an essential source of information for pediatricians, human biologists, health workers, nutritionists, epidemiologists and others responsible for the health and welfare of children.

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Wonderful story of family strength and courage!
Proud mom of a Preemie
Brave and honest
This is a very accurate account of what it's like ...
Compelling account of raising a very tiny preemie

Alex: The Fathering Of A Preemie
Jeff Stimpson
Manufacturer: Academy Chicago Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 0897335287

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful story of family strength and courage!.......2007-01-11

I loved this book. It puts everything about life into perspective. I found myself checking my own life - am I doing the best I can as a father? Am I truly supportive of my family in the things that matter? Do I see the best in my children? This book challenged me to grow. I found too that I felt inspired after reading. It is an awesome source of hope for families.

Proud mom of a Preemie.......2005-11-09

I can say I'm the proud mother of a preemie - 22 wks, weighed 397 grams (14 ounces) and 11 1/2 inches long. He spent the first 5 months of life in the NICU. He (Zuri - Kiswahili for 'beauty') is doing well now. He's 2 1/2 yrs old and is a strong toddler. He has some minor developmental delays but otherwise he's here and healthy! Hang in there parents and read all these stories. You ARE not alone...you didn't BRING this on yourself and you WILL survive it!

Brave and honest.......2005-09-29

Having an ex-preemie myself, I was so relieved to find the truths in this book, the ones the Hallmark Card Preemie Books don't say: what it's like to bring home a sick child, what it's like not to know his future, what it's like when the doctors turn out to be wrong or to have lied. Many many preemies end up like Alex with disabilities (mine did) and it's so important for their stories to be told. Right on, Jeff.

This is a very accurate account of what it's like ..........2005-09-05

I am a grandparent of preemies, so I know that Jeff Stimpson's book is an honest and moving account of what it's like to watch a brave tiny baby go through medically necessary procedures that you can't bear to watch, and then what it's like to take a preemie home who is extremely fragile and on various medical equipment. Coming through an experience like the one related in "Alex: The Fathering of a Preemie" is something that changes your perception of the world forever, and makes you acutely aware of the fragility of life, and how poignant every day is that we have with our loved ones.

Compelling account of raising a very tiny preemie.......2005-02-23

Alex, The Fathering of a Preemie is the compelling first hand account of raising child who was born extremely premature. Alex was born weighing only 23 ounces and spent one year in Neonatal Intensive Care in the hospital. As you might expect his time in the hospital was rocky, a wild ride on the often frightening preemie roller coaster. Once he came home from the hospital he still needed oxygen and feeding assistance for several years. Even as he began to get stronger, concerns were raised over developmental issues as he moved through preschool.

Jeff Stimpson skillfully describes in intimate and accurate detail the emotional and practical impact of raising a very small preemie. The ups and downs, the joys and grief, the worries and just pure frustrations are beautifully elaborated. For most people who face this reality, life is an exhausting and apparently never ending blur, filled with emotional highs and lows. Jeff shows that parents can not only survive this journey, but maintain their hopes and sense of humor. His love for his son shines through on every page.

Bon Appetit: My Life in France with Paul

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Bon Appetit: My Life in France with Paul
Julia Child , and Alex Prud'homme
Manufacturer: Books On Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 1415927235

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Alex The Life of a Child
Frank Deford
Manufacturer: New Amer Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000OM9CCG

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Alex the Life of a Child
Frank Deford
Manufacturer: UNSPECIFIED VENDOR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UDW1J0

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Alex The Life of a Child
Frank Deford
Manufacturer: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000O02IHE

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