Leather Books

"Ageless Warrior" is a definitive account on the life of boxing legend Archie Moore. Author Mike Fitzgerald masterfully weaves Moore's 200-plus fights and his personal life into an engaging and evenly-tempered biography. Until now, most books written on Moore tended not to let the facts get in the way of a good story. Fitzgerald, with the cooperation of Archie Moore and his immediately family, finally tells the true story of the "Old Mongoose" with pleasing results. If you're an Archie Moore or boxing fan, this book's for you.

This is simply but a great book on Moore.
The best one out there on this great champ.

Considered by many MacDonald's best novel, Alec Forbes of Howglen contains a diversity of characters, personalities, and locales, yet maintains an unstrained and unforced continuity in that there appears no attempt to contrive or incorporate that which is ill-suited or unbelievable. The plot and various subplots flow, commingle, diversify, and rejoin with no break in the natural stream of the story line. Whereas in many novels of such diverse and complex characterization, the reader is forced to backtrack or rethink that which has gone before, there are no such obstacles placed in the road of those who journey alongside Annie and Alec.

This is an absolutely wonderful tale of the lives of two children, Annie and Alec, as they grow into adulthood. Although from two distinct social classes, which occurrence provides ample and diverse challenges for our beloved hero and heroine, Alec and Annie find, after considerable difficulty, trials innumerable, soul-rending afflictions, natural disasters, and, in general, some rather horrific catastrophes, a slender, yet all-powerful, thread which binds them together.

Upon the death of her parents, Annie, who has known nothing but the idyllic life of the small farm, awakens to find everything that she has known and loved gone; her sole childhood companion and dear friend, Brownie-the family cow, as well as the remainder of the livestock, farm implements, furniture, and accessories sold, and she, poor little soul, on the way to live with her father's miserly, mean, hypocritical cousin, Robert Bruce, and his family of ill-bred mongrels, above their shop in town. She and a very small trunk, which contains her meager belongings, are unceremoniously stowed in an attic room which contains no curtains, no lights, holes in the floor, and is shared by rats.

Grieved by the loss of her parents and her home would seem misery enough for one small child, but she is further tormented throughout the day by the Bruce children, and throughout the night by her fear of the rats. School is no sanctuary, for it is ruled by a petty tyrant who holds the firm, unequivocal belief that "to spare the rod is to spoil the child," and he cannot abide a spoiled or disobedient child.

Alec, although far from wealthy, lives with his mother in a modest, but quite comfortable home near the edge of town. It is here that Annie eventually is driven to seek refuge from the countless horrors that stalk her days and nights. It is here, through the eyes of a mother, that Annie sees love sparkle and shimmer as it gently caresses, nurtures, and develops the soul of young Alec.

Follow Annie and Alec, as well as all who cross their paths and touch their lives, in this compelling narrative of real life. For life is not without its trials and tribulations, sorrows and sadness, pains and afflictions, yet it is by and through all such as these,-the manner, means, and motives by which we face and overcome all such obstacles-, that we grow into the men and women that God would have us to be. As a muscle will atrophy if it never meets resistance, so then will a soul wither and die unless forced to encounter the oppressive weights of affliction, self-sacrifice, and self-denial.

We, not unlike water, ever seek the path of least resistance. In this book, MacDonald adeptly illustrates that the best laid plans of men may not provide that which is best for men. God will pursue His plan regardless of our idle hopes, dreams, and speculations. As a result, we often find life, at best, difficult and trying, while, at worst, it may appear all but unbearable. There is, of course, a simple means by which we may "make the way smooth," and that is by doing as Jesus did-the will of His Father.

This novel is quite different than the rest of George MacDonald's adult novels. It has more laughs by far, though the story as a whole tends tward the melodramatic. It is George MacDonald's most complex work, intricately weaving together the stories of the two main characters: Annie Anderson (approx. 10 years old) and Alec Forbes (approx. 13 years old) as they meet and grow up to young adulthood. Annie looses her father and is forced to move in with her miserly cousin Robert the Bruce, one of the town's shop keepers. Alec eventually goes off to the big city to medical school and is forced to decide whether he will face life's disappointments or dissapate his life away with alchohol.

The first half of this book is too sentimental and bucolic for my tastes and seems geared more tward an adolescent audience. However, the action in the second half more than makes up for it. I would caution the reader that this book has much more Scots dialect in it than some of George MacDonald's other popular works like "David Elginbrod" and "Donald Grant" and you would probably do better to tackle one of these first, so that you don't get too discouraged.

This book stresses character development and has little or no sermonizing. Much of the first half of this book is taken up with the experiences of the two main characters in the town's one room school house and the overly strict disipline meeted out by the school master. His favorite method of disipline is the tawse (a small leather wip flung down from the shoulder) and indeed in one instance he almost beats young Alec to death. The apex of the novel is a tremendous flood, and you will find your eyes filling with tears as your favorite characters struggle for their lives. And you will be satisfied when your least favorite character gets his just deserts.

Few texts boast completeness as this book can. It is so well written that it is hard to put down. What is amazing is that as useful, informative, and complete as this book is, no one has bothered to arrange with the Reed family to republish it. It is a standard work by this time yet almost impossible to own...a sad state of affairs.

When I became interested in calligraphy and illumination (and leather history), I went looking for books at the local library. That's where I found Reed's Ancient Skins... I believed that a good part of the fun of recreating illuminations was researching historical methods, and understanding the science behind making parchment. Since finding Ancient Skins..., I keep running into Reeds book as references and in bibliographies of papers on topics of leatherwork, ancient / medieval books and parchment making. It is a standard text in leather and parchment circles. This book would also be a handy reference to any librarian who deals with the care and preservation of older books.

I found this book to be a very interesting accounting of the war in Vietnam through the eyes of airborne advisors and Vietnamese airborne soldiers. Having been there as an advisor to an airborne battalion, the recollections of others reminded me of many events that occurred while performing those duties. I thank Mr. Strode for putting together a book that will preserve some of the history of Americans and Vietnamese.

The best book available in English on the elite of the Republic of Viet Nam Armed Forces. Though it lacks informatio on the last two years of the war like the hard fought battle of Hill 1062 in the First Corp in 1974. Also lacking was the biography of all Airborne Division battalion commanders. Still it deserve high praise for giving credit long overdue to the heroic ARVN paratroop soldiers. The best fighters in the Viet Nam War.

Compiled by the daughter of a mother lost to breast cancer, Around My Mother's Table: Stories and Recipes Celebrating Lives Lost to Breast Cancer is a unique cookbook that embraces the connection between mothers and daughters. Each recipe has been contributed by a different daughter, in loving memory of a beloved mother whose life ended too soon. From Beef Brisket to Cranberry Salad, Blueberry-Banana Muffins, Almond Rocha, Peanut Blossoms, and more, these delicious time-tested and love-tempered recipes invoke flavors and textures worthy of transcending generations, and accompanying each is a brief, bittersweet memory of the beloved mother who taught it. A treasury to be cherished.

Lisa has done a beautiful work with recipes of Moms who have succumb to breast cancer. The love and care she put into this book is very evident. I love it! I am so touched that she took the time and great effort to accomplish this very special book.

For me it is a special keepsake for my children. It has recipes from both there grandmothers (Kathleen Zinkgraf and Sylvia Poad) that died one day apart in their early 50's. To have a treasure like this is just wonderful.

Getting the recipes together made me think of my Mom and MIL as Mom's happily cooking in the kitchen rather than of the breast cancer.

Lisa--I cannot thank you enough for this book. I thank you...my family thanks you. It was a beautiful idea and the result is a precious book. So many of us have faced that terrible loss of premature death of our Mom by breast cancer. It made me feel I was not alone.

I can't wait to try the other recipes and read all the stories.

Far from being the gloomy Ars moriendi one might expect based on the title, this classic work provides readers with everyday, ordinary advice on how to lead moral, upright, Christian lives and thereby find peace and comfort in life and death. A review of this work would not do it adequate justice for its power and historical significance as well.

As a Catholic priest, I have found this to be an excellent book; it is rich in Sacred Scripture and in the teachings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church and is a wonderful explanation of Catholic spirituality. St. Robert Bellarmine is very clear in his presentation of how we should live if we are to be ready for eternity.

This book takes the ordinary tree stump and turns it into an adventure to remember. Ashley's character is generous and caring, similar to Dorthy in the Wizard of Oz, another Kansas classic. The characters Tork and Marie are loving and need the help of Ashley to grow special edible mooncorn seeds. These seeds will help the undersized characters grow to their normal size. This adventurous tale is full of fun and excitment as Ashley and the Mooncorn People discover the magic of Kansas.

Ashley and the Mooncorn People is a magical story. It contains adventure, excitment and suspence. For a children's book, thats a lot! In reading this book, several times over, I find hidden details each time I read it.
Being from Kansas, I know all about the magic of the state. After reading this book my eyes catch more magic things than they used to. I LOVE the book, Ashley and the Mooncorn People!!!

It's about someone who cares more about doing a good job then worrying about how much money he can make. If it wasn't easy to verify his many far out actions it would seem like fiction. He takes lots of chances.

"The Battle Behind the Badge" takes you on the streets of Kansas City with Captain Heinen as your partner. BEWARE! On your shift you'll not only encounter dangerous street thugs, but high-powered organized crime figures. When you return to the station house to file your reports, be prepared to battle corrupt police officials and egocentric city hall politicians. "The Battle Behind the Badge" is an excellent hardball account of Kansas City during a time when it was difficult to tell who the bad guy was. Captain Heinen is an honest cop who pays for his integrity by being yo-yoed up and down the ranks. He is Kansas City's "Serpico." This is a very good read that took a lot of guts to write.

This is easy to follow. It provides a chronology table with each book of the bible, and character profiles. Complete introduction of the Bible's 66 books with background and a biblical narrative. There is a column running down the center of each page which cross references linked words or phrases in the text. This makes it particularly easy to reference like passages. A dictionary is provided for any unusual terms.

Over all this is a very practical bible for today's english language.

The Pomise keeper's guide throughout the bible functions as an excellent tutor pointing out essential passages and how they can be applied specifically to a man's life.

It is a bible anyone can read. It really helps me understand God's word. I love it!

This particular edition of the Bible allows one to fully understand each particular passage. It uses color coding to set apart the different subjects to which each passage pertains, whether it be God, sin, witnessing, prophecy, love, family, etc. If you have had trouble reading the Bible before, get this book!