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 Customer Reviews
Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value. 101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!
Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too. Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused. There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image. I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.
A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.
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Customer Reviews
Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value. 101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!
Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too. Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused. There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image. I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.
A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.
BEST YET, 11 Nov 2008
Delighted with this new book. Have always purchased them every year and this year is the best. Good large photos and covering many new areas of collecting. Excellent reference guide.
american version not uk version, 26 Oct 2008
Like other people who have written reviews for "Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (Miller's Collectables Price Guide)" I received American version not UK version. What a waste of time - why is it not stated in the title - If I purchase a book on Amazon UK site I would expect it to be a UK version and if it isn't then Amazon should advise so.
Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (US Version), 10 Oct 2008
I, like the other poor people that have made comment, have also received the US version - which is no good to man or beast or should I say English beast. The original top line description did not state that this was the US version. I ordered in haste, without reading all text..Buyer Beware.
US Edition beware..., 07 Oct 2008
I also bought both the Antique and Collectables Guide as a pressie for my Father's birthday and both were the US Editions! So annoying that he didnt get his pressie and i've had to send them back. Can't find the UK editions...
UK or US edition?, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a review of the book but just a warning that you need to check whether you are ordering the GB or the US edition. I unwittingly bought the US edition showing North American items and with all prices in dollars which is of no use so now I have to go to all the trouble of returning it.
For anyone in Amazon reading this - please take note and draw your customers' attention to this!!
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Customer Reviews
Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value. 101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!
Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too. Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused. There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image. I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.
A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.
BEST YET, 11 Nov 2008
Delighted with this new book. Have always purchased them every year and this year is the best. Good large photos and covering many new areas of collecting. Excellent reference guide.
american version not uk version, 26 Oct 2008
Like other people who have written reviews for "Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (Miller's Collectables Price Guide)" I received American version not UK version. What a waste of time - why is it not stated in the title - If I purchase a book on Amazon UK site I would expect it to be a UK version and if it isn't then Amazon should advise so.
Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (US Version), 10 Oct 2008
I, like the other poor people that have made comment, have also received the US version - which is no good to man or beast or should I say English beast. The original top line description did not state that this was the US version. I ordered in haste, without reading all text..Buyer Beware.
US Edition beware..., 07 Oct 2008
I also bought both the Antique and Collectables Guide as a pressie for my Father's birthday and both were the US Editions! So annoying that he didnt get his pressie and i've had to send them back. Can't find the UK editions...
UK or US edition?, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a review of the book but just a warning that you need to check whether you are ordering the GB or the US edition. I unwittingly bought the US edition showing North American items and with all prices in dollars which is of no use so now I have to go to all the trouble of returning it.
For anyone in Amazon reading this - please take note and draw your customers' attention to this!!
Excellent reference materials for French cuisine and other European, less so for cuisines outside Europe, 06 Sep 2008
I have no doubt members of the editorial committee that oversaw this revision (2001) are talented people and some of the best in the culinary scene in France. It has a wealth of classic haute cuisine and not so haute like sole menuiere, and how to prepare elaborate pigeon dishes. Summaries for other non-French cuisines vary in quality: the section on British cuisine(s) is rather brief and Austrian pastry excellent. The section on non-European countries cuisines are poor and brief: much of Chinese cooking is not covered well, Korean cuisine doesn't make it, the section on New Zealand ignores the current convergence towards Pacific Rim cuisine and explosion of Mediterranean-style food products, and Mexico is merged with other Latin American countries. I wouldn't blame the contributors because as French, they are less well exposed to culinary trends in much of East and Southeast Asia, and certainly NZ is rather remote from France.
I suggest you will be happy if you want to treat this as a reference for French or other "Old World European" cuisines, but deeply disappointed if you want this to be the only cookery reference ever needed. It is probably impossible to have one big book covering all cooking questions under the sun: you may need one for each big geographical region.
A feast of a book!, 03 Jan 2008
This is a gorgeous book - an absolute joy - and I wish I'd bought it years ago. (The price had always put me off but as far as I am concerned now, it is an investment - and had I known then what I know now, I would have bought fewer 'other' books and used the money saved to buy this one.) It is an absolute mine of information, and if you're interested in food, as I am (and you must be, or you wouldn't be reading this..), I am sure you will find yourself 'dipping' into this book constantly - it makes fascinating reading, and this version is beautifully presented. The pages are crammed with many tempting recipes - certainly, some of these are complicated and more suited to a professional chef, and perhaps this would not be the best choice for a 'first cookbook' for a novice - but there are so many recipes and cooking methods that would be suitable and appealing to anyone with a basic knowledge of cooking. Even the humble potato has a whole host of recipes devoted to it. I find the book to be an invaluable reference aid and now - having enjoyed cooking from an early age, and after 30 years as a 'home cook' - I find my enthusiasm rekindled and my horizons broadened. Nothing left to say really, except perhaps 'bon appetit!'
Excellent and comprehensive when it wants to be, 07 Dec 2007
Portrayed by some, including somewhat understandably the publishers, as 'the world's greatest cookery encyclopedia' this is a book which can justifiably try to claim that title. Whether it would win that title is debatable but it's certainly a strong candidate. It's excellent when it chooses to cover a subject but not comprehensive and not for the novice cook.
Cookery is just too large a subject to cover in a single volume so it's unreasonably to expect any single volume work to be encyclopedic so there are understandable gaps in Larousse's coverage of it's subject. This won't teach you how to cook from scratch, despite containing descriptions of many cooking techniques and recipes, but this is a reference work. This is the book you turn to after you've learned the basics of how to cook.
If you have reached that point of being confident in the kitchen and want to get more from what you've learned so far this is a book for you. If you're a gastronome and want a reference to tell you more about the background of what you're eating then this is for you. If you're just learning to cook and are looking for one book to cover everything then you're probably better off with Delia.
For those who do want this as a reference then remember it is excellent but not comprehensive. When it chooses to cover a subject it is very good but what it chooses to cover is a bit random, for example the entry on croissants describes their history, the basic process to make them and gives half a dozen different recipes and variations but the entry for danish pastry rattles off a quick one paragraph description and mentions nothing more. Also the indexing is a bit disorganised so there is an entry for black pudding but nothing for white pudding, on the other hand though it has entries for boudin blanc but not boudin noir! The gaps in its coverage reflect its slightly francophile emphasis but the indexing is just one of those things that mean without a little food knowledge, in that case knowing that boudin noir and black pudding are pretty much the same thing, this won't be that useful.
This has a home in my kitchen as it sits among thirty or forty other cook books. If I was to just have three or four on the shelf then it wouldn't be one of those books but it is worth the money once you are buying you second or third set of cookbooks.
mammoth, 05 Dec 2007
the larousse gastronomique is a mammoth encyclopedia, and it makes fascinating reading and drooling. there are recipes galore, entries on the cuisines of various countries, cooking techniques, ingredients, restauranteurs, leading chefs, and more.
(having said that, i couldn't find a single entry on seafood chowder.)
and for those with serial killer tendancies, this is the book hannibal lecture uses in his recipe for human brain (although i presume he adapted).
hours and hours of use in this book.
"Umm, what is he talking about", 01 Nov 2007
So, you're in the kitchen planning (or heaven help you if you're mid way through cooking for) a dinner party and you look at the Celeb Chef's guidance and ask to the heavens "what is he on about". This is where Larousse comes in. This is not a cookery book by itself, it is a manual to food and drink of a kind that has no competitor. You need to know what an obscure ingredient is, and what you can replace it with if you can't trace it? Look in Larousse. You've got one of those complicated Rick Stein books and he's telling you prepare your vegetables à la Ménagère, and after you've scratched your head for a bit, you reach for Larousse and there you are. This book is amazing, but will not go into the finer details of all food stuffs as this is not what it's for, and there are loads of books on the market place on subjects such as soya and the like.
OK, so there have been some mixed reports on this book with some good and some bad. Take it for what it is; it's an encyclopedia after all, and should be THE standard book for any gastronome. Complaining about lack of in-depth knowledge on one food type, or lack of complex recipes is the same as grumbling about the Encyclopedia Britannica for not having enough of a story line or having an accurate description of the inner workings of a Ford Mondeo! Use it, embrace it, and live by it. Amen.
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Customer Reviews
Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value. 101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!
Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too. Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused. There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image. I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.
A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.
BEST YET, 11 Nov 2008
Delighted with this new book. Have always purchased them every year and this year is the best. Good large photos and covering many new areas of collecting. Excellent reference guide.
american version not uk version, 26 Oct 2008
Like other people who have written reviews for "Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (Miller's Collectables Price Guide)" I received American version not UK version. What a waste of time - why is it not stated in the title - If I purchase a book on Amazon UK site I would expect it to be a UK version and if it isn't then Amazon should advise so.
Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (US Version), 10 Oct 2008
I, like the other poor people that have made comment, have also received the US version - which is no good to man or beast or should I say English beast. The original top line description did not state that this was the US version. I ordered in haste, without reading all text..Buyer Beware.
US Edition beware..., 07 Oct 2008
I also bought both the Antique and Collectables Guide as a pressie for my Father's birthday and both were the US Editions! So annoying that he didnt get his pressie and i've had to send them back. Can't find the UK editions...
UK or US edition?, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a review of the book but just a warning that you need to check whether you are ordering the GB or the US edition. I unwittingly bought the US edition showing North American items and with all prices in dollars which is of no use so now I have to go to all the trouble of returning it.
For anyone in Amazon reading this - please take note and draw your customers' attention to this!!
Excellent reference materials for French cuisine and other European, less so for cuisines outside Europe, 06 Sep 2008
I have no doubt members of the editorial committee that oversaw this revision (2001) are talented people and some of the best in the culinary scene in France. It has a wealth of classic haute cuisine and not so haute like sole menuiere, and how to prepare elaborate pigeon dishes. Summaries for other non-French cuisines vary in quality: the section on British cuisine(s) is rather brief and Austrian pastry excellent. The section on non-European countries cuisines are poor and brief: much of Chinese cooking is not covered well, Korean cuisine doesn't make it, the section on New Zealand ignores the current convergence towards Pacific Rim cuisine and explosion of Mediterranean-style food products, and Mexico is merged with other Latin American countries. I wouldn't blame the contributors because as French, they are less well exposed to culinary trends in much of East and Southeast Asia, and certainly NZ is rather remote from France.
I suggest you will be happy if you want to treat this as a reference for French or other "Old World European" cuisines, but deeply disappointed if you want this to be the only cookery reference ever needed. It is probably impossible to have one big book covering all cooking questions under the sun: you may need one for each big geographical region.
A feast of a book!, 03 Jan 2008
This is a gorgeous book - an absolute joy - and I wish I'd bought it years ago. (The price had always put me off but as far as I am concerned now, it is an investment - and had I known then what I know now, I would have bought fewer 'other' books and used the money saved to buy this one.) It is an absolute mine of information, and if you're interested in food, as I am (and you must be, or you wouldn't be reading this..), I am sure you will find yourself 'dipping' into this book constantly - it makes fascinating reading, and this version is beautifully presented. The pages are crammed with many tempting recipes - certainly, some of these are complicated and more suited to a professional chef, and perhaps this would not be the best choice for a 'first cookbook' for a novice - but there are so many recipes and cooking methods that would be suitable and appealing to anyone with a basic knowledge of cooking. Even the humble potato has a whole host of recipes devoted to it. I find the book to be an invaluable reference aid and now - having enjoyed cooking from an early age, and after 30 years as a 'home cook' - I find my enthusiasm rekindled and my horizons broadened. Nothing left to say really, except perhaps 'bon appetit!'
Excellent and comprehensive when it wants to be, 07 Dec 2007
Portrayed by some, including somewhat understandably the publishers, as 'the world's greatest cookery encyclopedia' this is a book which can justifiably try to claim that title. Whether it would win that title is debatable but it's certainly a strong candidate. It's excellent when it chooses to cover a subject but not comprehensive and not for the novice cook.
Cookery is just too large a subject to cover in a single volume so it's unreasonably to expect any single volume work to be encyclopedic so there are understandable gaps in Larousse's coverage of it's subject. This won't teach you how to cook from scratch, despite containing descriptions of many cooking techniques and recipes, but this is a reference work. This is the book you turn to after you've learned the basics of how to cook.
If you have reached that point of being confident in the kitchen and want to get more from what you've learned so far this is a book for you. If you're a gastronome and want a reference to tell you more about the background of what you're eating then this is for you. If you're just learning to cook and are looking for one book to cover everything then you're probably better off with Delia.
For those who do want this as a reference then remember it is excellent but not comprehensive. When it chooses to cover a subject it is very good but what it chooses to cover is a bit random, for example the entry on croissants describes their history, the basic process to make them and gives half a dozen different recipes and variations but the entry for danish pastry rattles off a quick one paragraph description and mentions nothing more. Also the indexing is a bit disorganised so there is an entry for black pudding but nothing for white pudding, on the other hand though it has entries for boudin blanc but not boudin noir! The gaps in its coverage reflect its slightly francophile emphasis but the indexing is just one of those things that mean without a little food knowledge, in that case knowing that boudin noir and black pudding are pretty much the same thing, this won't be that useful.
This has a home in my kitchen as it sits among thirty or forty other cook books. If I was to just have three or four on the shelf then it wouldn't be one of those books but it is worth the money once you are buying you second or third set of cookbooks.
mammoth, 05 Dec 2007
the larousse gastronomique is a mammoth encyclopedia, and it makes fascinating reading and drooling. there are recipes galore, entries on the cuisines of various countries, cooking techniques, ingredients, restauranteurs, leading chefs, and more.
(having said that, i couldn't find a single entry on seafood chowder.)
and for those with serial killer tendancies, this is the book hannibal lecture uses in his recipe for human brain (although i presume he adapted).
hours and hours of use in this book.
"Umm, what is he talking about", 01 Nov 2007
So, you're in the kitchen planning (or heaven help you if you're mid way through cooking for) a dinner party and you look at the Celeb Chef's guidance and ask to the heavens "what is he on about". This is where Larousse comes in. This is not a cookery book by itself, it is a manual to food and drink of a kind that has no competitor. You need to know what an obscure ingredient is, and what you can replace it with if you can't trace it? Look in Larousse. You've got one of those complicated Rick Stein books and he's telling you prepare your vegetables à la Ménagère, and after you've scratched your head for a bit, you reach for Larousse and there you are. This book is amazing, but will not go into the finer details of all food stuffs as this is not what it's for, and there are loads of books on the market place on subjects such as soya and the like.
OK, so there have been some mixed reports on this book with some good and some bad. Take it for what it is; it's an encyclopedia after all, and should be THE standard book for any gastronome. Complaining about lack of in-depth knowledge on one food type, or lack of complex recipes is the same as grumbling about the Encyclopedia Britannica for not having enough of a story line or having an accurate description of the inner workings of a Ford Mondeo! Use it, embrace it, and live by it. Amen.
Simply the BEST, 24 May 2007
Well what can I say about this book? Brilliant is the first thing to come to mind, however, there is a "key" (I believe) to getting the most out of it. In fact it is quite startling at first! Now the key is really quite simple, you must read the book (as a book) from cover to cover and even if you come to a section which you don't find all that interesting, persist! It is well worth the effort to absorb all it has to tell you. Why is it important to read it all? Simple, you're feeding your subconscious! As you will learn from the book our dreams send messages with images and if we can understand these images then we can understand what the dreams are telling us. So feed your mind the images and their meanings, because it will change your dream life forever.
What I found was by persisting from page one right through to the very end I gave my subconscious new ammunition for my dreams. Almost right away my dreams changed? They started to talk to me is such a clear way I was able to understand all my dreams and it was spot on! What happened? Well I started to have dreams with the new understandings and instead of me trying to work out what was being sent I knew! I could quickly grab the book and go back to the part I had read and there is was, it was an amazing experience. But it is always getting better and clearer. Now I can wake up and start to understand what was going on and why.
A few other things must happen first however, you must train yourself to remember your dreams using the techniques outlined in the start of the book. Write everything down (as much as you can remember) and think carefully about ALL the possibilities. Once you start to master this it all falls together and it is amazing.
So my advice is get the book, read it from start to finish, learn the techniques and start to communicate with your dreams like you never have before! The rating would have to be 10 out of 10, persist and you will be rewarded, I was. There are lots of "Dream Bibles" and other such books out there, but this one is the Rolls Royce and in my opinion the best one to own if you want only one!
Very helpful, 15 Oct 2006
This is great to have by your bed so you can check first thing in the morning when you have dreams that you want explained quickly. It is written in clear and concise English and is also entertaining and beautifully illustrated. This book would make a great present and is an ideal coffee table book for guests to your house to browse.
Wow, 07 Oct 2006
Wow! What a fantastic resource. I'm using the encyclopedia to interpret my dreams but I'm also reading it like a book subject by subject and am learning so much about the wonderful world of dreams. I shall treasure this book for many, many years to come.
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Customer Reviews
Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value. 101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!
Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too. Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused. There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image. I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.
A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.
BEST YET, 11 Nov 2008
Delighted with this new book. Have always purchased them every year and this year is the best. Good large photos and covering many new areas of collecting. Excellent reference guide.
american version not uk version, 26 Oct 2008
Like other people who have written reviews for "Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (Miller's Collectables Price Guide)" I received American version not UK version. What a waste of time - why is it not stated in the title - If I purchase a book on Amazon UK site I would expect it to be a UK version and if it isn't then Amazon should advise so.
Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (US Version), 10 Oct 2008
I, like the other poor people that have made comment, have also received the US version - which is no good to man or beast or should I say English beast. The original top line description did not state that this was the US version. I ordered in haste, without reading all text..Buyer Beware.
US Edition beware..., 07 Oct 2008
I also bought both the Antique and Collectables Guide as a pressie for my Father's birthday and both were the US Editions! So annoying that he didnt get his pressie and i've had to send them back. Can't find the UK editions...
UK or US edition?, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a review of the book but just a warning that you need to check whether you are ordering the GB or the US edition. I unwittingly bought the US edition showing North American items and with all prices in dollars which is of no use so now I have to go to all the trouble of returning it.
For anyone in Amazon reading this - please take note and draw your customers' attention to this!!
Excellent reference materials for French cuisine and other European, less so for cuisines outside Europe, 06 Sep 2008
I have no doubt members of the editorial committee that oversaw this revision (2001) are talented people and some of the best in the culinary scene in France. It has a wealth of classic haute cuisine and not so haute like sole menuiere, and how to prepare elaborate pigeon dishes. Summaries for other non-French cuisines vary in quality: the section on British cuisine(s) is rather brief and Austrian pastry excellent. The section on non-European countries cuisines are poor and brief: much of Chinese cooking is not covered well, Korean cuisine doesn't make it, the section on New Zealand ignores the current convergence towards Pacific Rim cuisine and explosion of Mediterranean-style food products, and Mexico is merged with other Latin American countries. I wouldn't blame the contributors because as French, they are less well exposed to culinary trends in much of East and Southeast Asia, and certainly NZ is rather remote from France.
I suggest you will be happy if you want to treat this as a reference for French or other "Old World European" cuisines, but deeply disappointed if you want this to be the only cookery reference ever needed. It is probably impossible to have one big book covering all cooking questions under the sun: you may need one for each big geographical region.
A feast of a book!, 03 Jan 2008
This is a gorgeous book - an absolute joy - and I wish I'd bought it years ago. (The price had always put me off but as far as I am concerned now, it is an investment - and had I known then what I know now, I would have bought fewer 'other' books and used the money saved to buy this one.) It is an absolute mine of information, and if you're interested in food, as I am (and you must be, or you wouldn't be reading this..), I am sure you will find yourself 'dipping' into this book constantly - it makes fascinating reading, and this version is beautifully presented. The pages are crammed with many tempting recipes - certainly, some of these are complicated and more suited to a professional chef, and perhaps this would not be the best choice for a 'first cookbook' for a novice - but there are so many recipes and cooking methods that would be suitable and appealing to anyone with a basic knowledge of cooking. Even the humble potato has a whole host of recipes devoted to it. I find the book to be an invaluable reference aid and now - having enjoyed cooking from an early age, and after 30 years as a 'home cook' - I find my enthusiasm rekindled and my horizons broadened. Nothing left to say really, except perhaps 'bon appetit!'
Excellent and comprehensive when it wants to be, 07 Dec 2007
Portrayed by some, including somewhat understandably the publishers, as 'the world's greatest cookery encyclopedia' this is a book which can justifiably try to claim that title. Whether it would win that title is debatable but it's certainly a strong candidate. It's excellent when it chooses to cover a subject but not comprehensive and not for the novice cook.
Cookery is just too large a subject to cover in a single volume so it's unreasonably to expect any single volume work to be encyclopedic so there are understandable gaps in Larousse's coverage of it's subject. This won't teach you how to cook from scratch, despite containing descriptions of many cooking techniques and recipes, but this is a reference work. This is the book you turn to after you've learned the basics of how to cook.
If you have reached that point of being confident in the kitchen and want to get more from what you've learned so far this is a book for you. If you're a gastronome and want a reference to tell you more about the background of what you're eating then this is for you. If you're just learning to cook and are looking for one book to cover everything then you're probably better off with Delia.
For those who do want this as a reference then remember it is excellent but not comprehensive. When it chooses to cover a subject it is very good but what it chooses to cover is a bit random, for example the entry on croissants describes their history, the basic process to make them and gives half a dozen different recipes and variations but the entry for danish pastry rattles off a quick one paragraph description and mentions nothing more. Also the indexing is a bit disorganised so there is an entry for black pudding but nothing for white pudding, on the other hand though it has entries for boudin blanc but not boudin noir! The gaps in its coverage reflect its slightly francophile emphasis but the indexing is just one of those things that mean without a little food knowledge, in that case knowing that boudin noir and black pudding are pretty much the same thing, this won't be that useful.
This has a home in my kitchen as it sits among thirty or forty other cook books. If I was to just have three or four on the shelf then it wouldn't be one of those books but it is worth the money once you are buying you second or third set of cookbooks.
mammoth, 05 Dec 2007
the larousse gastronomique is a mammoth encyclopedia, and it makes fascinating reading and drooling. there are recipes galore, entries on the cuisines of various countries, cooking techniques, ingredients, restauranteurs, leading chefs, and more.
(having said that, i couldn't find a single entry on seafood chowder.)
and for those with serial killer tendancies, this is the book hannibal lecture uses in his recipe for human brain (although i presume he adapted).
hours and hours of use in this book.
"Umm, what is he talking about", 01 Nov 2007
So, you're in the kitchen planning (or heaven help you if you're mid way through cooking for) a dinner party and you look at the Celeb Chef's guidance and ask to the heavens "what is he on about". This is where Larousse comes in. This is not a cookery book by itself, it is a manual to food and drink of a kind that has no competitor. You need to know what an obscure ingredient is, and what you can replace it with if you can't trace it? Look in Larousse. You've got one of those complicated Rick Stein books and he's telling you prepare your vegetables à la Ménagère, and after you've scratched your head for a bit, you reach for Larousse and there you are. This book is amazing, but will not go into the finer details of all food stuffs as this is not what it's for, and there are loads of books on the market place on subjects such as soya and the like.
OK, so there have been some mixed reports on this book with some good and some bad. Take it for what it is; it's an encyclopedia after all, and should be THE standard book for any gastronome. Complaining about lack of in-depth knowledge on one food type, or lack of complex recipes is the same as grumbling about the Encyclopedia Britannica for not having enough of a story line or having an accurate description of the inner workings of a Ford Mondeo! Use it, embrace it, and live by it. Amen.
Simply the BEST, 24 May 2007
Well what can I say about this book? Brilliant is the first thing to come to mind, however, there is a "key" (I believe) to getting the most out of it. In fact it is quite startling at first! Now the key is really quite simple, you must read the book (as a book) from cover to cover and even if you come to a section which you don't find all that interesting, persist! It is well worth the effort to absorb all it has to tell you. Why is it important to read it all? Simple, you're feeding your subconscious! As you will learn from the book our dreams send messages with images and if we can understand these images then we can understand what the dreams are telling us. So feed your mind the images and their meanings, because it will change your dream life forever.
What I found was by persisting from page one right through to the very end I gave my subconscious new ammunition for my dreams. Almost right away my dreams changed? They started to talk to me is such a clear way I was able to understand all my dreams and it was spot on! What happened? Well I started to have dreams with the new understandings and instead of me trying to work out what was being sent I knew! I could quickly grab the book and go back to the part I had read and there is was, it was an amazing experience. But it is always getting better and clearer. Now I can wake up and start to understand what was going on and why.
A few other things must happen first however, you must train yourself to remember your dreams using the techniques outlined in the start of the book. Write everything down (as much as you can remember) and think carefully about ALL the possibilities. Once you start to master this it all falls together and it is amazing.
So my advice is get the book, read it from start to finish, learn the techniques and start to communicate with your dreams like you never have before! The rating would have to be 10 out of 10, persist and you will be rewarded, I was. There are lots of "Dream Bibles" and other such books out there, but this one is the Rolls Royce and in my opinion the best one to own if you want only one!
Very helpful, 15 Oct 2006
This is great to have by your bed so you can check first thing in the morning when you have dreams that you want explained quickly. It is written in clear and concise English and is also entertaining and beautifully illustrated. This book would make a great present and is an ideal coffee table book for guests to your house to browse.
Wow, 07 Oct 2006
Wow! What a fantastic resource. I'm using the encyclopedia to interpret my dreams but I'm also reading it like a book subject by subject and am learning so much about the wonderful world of dreams. I shall treasure this book for many, many years to come.
Excellent, 19 Sep 2008
In our house it's called the Great Big Book of Everything. My son is five and we have this book for a couple of years. Thoroughly recommended.
Feed Their Minds, 23 Mar 2006
It is amazing just how often we under-estimate the young mind's hunger for knowledge and their ability to understand. My 4 year old son is vey curious about the world around him, everything from planets to electricity. We now read the 'stories'in this book on a daily basis and he always insists on 'just one more'. It is easy to read with complementary graphics and is therefore a great way to introduce them to facts. I would strongly recommend it for parents who find themselves providing information to their children.
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Customer Reviews
Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value. 101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!
Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too. Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused. There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image. I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.
A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.
BEST YET, 11 Nov 2008
Delighted with this new book. Have always purchased them every year and this year is the best. Good large photos and covering many new areas of collecting. Excellent reference guide.
american version not uk version, 26 Oct 2008
Like other people who have written reviews for "Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (Miller's Collectables Price Guide)" I received American version not UK version. What a waste of time - why is it not stated in the title - If I purchase a book on Amazon UK site I would expect it to be a UK version and if it isn't then Amazon should advise so.
Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (US Version), 10 Oct 2008
I, like the other poor people that have made comment, have also received the US version - which is no good to man or beast or should I say English beast. The original top line description did not state that this was the US version. I ordered in haste, without reading all text..Buyer Beware.
US Edition beware..., 07 Oct 2008
I also bought both the Antique and Collectables Guide as a pressie for my Father's birthday and both were the US Editions! So annoying that he didnt get his pressie and i've had to send them back. Can't find the UK editions...
UK or US edition?, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a review of the book but just a warning that you need to check whether you are ordering the GB or the US edition. I unwittingly bought the US edition showing North American items and with all prices in dollars which is of no use so now I have to go to all the trouble of returning it.
For anyone in Amazon reading this - please take note and draw your customers' attention to this!!
Excellent reference materials for French cuisine and other European, less so for cuisines outside Europe, 06 Sep 2008
I have no doubt members of the editorial committee that oversaw this revision (2001) are talented people and some of the best in the culinary scene in France. It has a wealth of classic haute cuisine and not so haute like sole menuiere, and how to prepare elaborate pigeon dishes. Summaries for other non-French cuisines vary in quality: the section on British cuisine(s) is rather brief and Austrian pastry excellent. The section on non-European countries cuisines are poor and brief: much of Chinese cooking is not covered well, Korean cuisine doesn't make it, the section on New Zealand ignores the current convergence towards Pacific Rim cuisine and explosion of Mediterranean-style food products, and Mexico is merged with other Latin American countries. I wouldn't blame the contributors because as French, they are less well exposed to culinary trends in much of East and Southeast Asia, and certainly NZ is rather remote from France.
I suggest you will be happy if you want to treat this as a reference for French or other "Old World European" cuisines, but deeply disappointed if you want this to be the only cookery reference ever needed. It is probably impossible to have one big book covering all cooking questions under the sun: you may need one for each big geographical region.
A feast of a book!, 03 Jan 2008
This is a gorgeous book - an absolute joy - and I wish I'd bought it years ago. (The price had always put me off but as far as I am concerned now, it is an investment - and had I known then what I know now, I would have bought fewer 'other' books and used the money saved to buy this one.) It is an absolute mine of information, and if you're interested in food, as I am (and you must be, or you wouldn't be reading this..), I am sure you will find yourself 'dipping' into this book constantly - it makes fascinating reading, and this version is beautifully presented. The pages are crammed with many tempting recipes - certainly, some of these are complicated and more suited to a professional chef, and perhaps this would not be the best choice for a 'first cookbook' for a novice - but there are so many recipes and cooking methods that would be suitable and appealing to anyone with a basic knowledge of cooking. Even the humble potato has a whole host of recipes devoted to it. I find the book to be an invaluable reference aid and now - having enjoyed cooking from an early age, and after 30 years as a 'home cook' - I find my enthusiasm rekindled and my horizons broadened. Nothing left to say really, except perhaps 'bon appetit!'
Excellent and comprehensive when it wants to be, 07 Dec 2007
Portrayed by some, including somewhat understandably the publishers, as 'the world's greatest cookery encyclopedia' this is a book which can justifiably try to claim that title. Whether it would win that title is debatable but it's certainly a strong candidate. It's excellent when it chooses to cover a subject but not comprehensive and not for the novice cook.
Cookery is just too large a subject to cover in a single volume so it's unreasonably to expect any single volume work to be encyclopedic so there are understandable gaps in Larousse's coverage of it's subject. This won't teach you how to cook from scratch, despite containing descriptions of many cooking techniques and recipes, but this is a reference work. This is the book you turn to after you've learned the basics of how to cook.
If you have reached that point of being confident in the kitchen and want to get more from what you've learned so far this is a book for you. If you're a gastronome and want a reference to tell you more about the background of what you're eating then this is for you. If you're just learning to cook and are looking for one book to cover everything then you're probably better off with Delia.
For those who do want this as a reference then remember it is excellent but not comprehensive. When it chooses to cover a subject it is very good but what it chooses to cover is a bit random, for example the entry on croissants describes their history, the basic process to make them and gives half a dozen different recipes and variations but the entry for danish pastry rattles off a quick one paragraph description and mentions nothing more. Also the indexing is a bit disorganised so there is an entry for black pudding but nothing for white pudding, on the other hand though it has entries for boudin blanc but not boudin noir! The gaps in its coverage reflect its slightly francophile emphasis but the indexing is just one of those things that mean without a little food knowledge, in that case knowing that boudin noir and black pudding are pretty much the same thing, this won't be that useful.
This has a home in my kitchen as it sits among thirty or forty other cook books. If I was to just have three or four on the shelf then it wouldn't be one of those books but it is worth the money once you are buying you second or third set of cookbooks.
mammoth, 05 Dec 2007
the larousse gastronomique is a mammoth encyclopedia, and it makes fascinating reading and drooling. there are recipes galore, entries on the cuisines of various countries, cooking techniques, ingredients, restauranteurs, leading chefs, and more.
(having said that, i couldn't find a single entry on seafood chowder.)
and for those with serial killer tendancies, this is the book hannibal lecture uses in his recipe for human brain (although i presume he adapted).
hours and hours of use in this book.
"Umm, what is he talking about", 01 Nov 2007
So, you're in the kitchen planning (or heaven help you if you're mid way through cooking for) a dinner party and you look at the Celeb Chef's guidance and ask to the heavens "what is he on about". This is where Larousse comes in. This is not a cookery book by itself, it is a manual to food and drink of a kind that has no competitor. You need to know what an obscure ingredient is, and what you can replace it with if you can't trace it? Look in Larousse. You've got one of those complicated Rick Stein books and he's telling you prepare your vegetables à la Ménagère, and after you've scratched your head for a bit, you reach for Larousse and there you are. This book is amazing, but will not go into the finer details of all food stuffs as this is not what it's for, and there are loads of books on the market place on subjects such as soya and the like.
OK, so there have been some mixed reports on this book with some good and some bad. Take it for what it is; it's an encyclopedia after all, and should be THE standard book for any gastronome. Complaining about lack of in-depth knowledge on one food type, or lack of complex recipes is the same as grumbling about the Encyclopedia Britannica for not having enough of a story line or having an accurate description of the inner workings of a Ford Mondeo! Use it, embrace it, and live by it. Amen.
Simply the BEST, 24 May 2007
Well what can I say about this book? Brilliant is the first thing to come to mind, however, there is a "key" (I believe) to getting the most out of it. In fact it is quite startling at first! Now the key is really quite simple, you must read the book (as a book) from cover to cover and even if you come to a section which you don't find all that interesting, persist! It is well worth the effort to absorb all it has to tell you. Why is it important to read it all? Simple, you're feeding your subconscious! As you will learn from the book our dreams send messages with images and if we can understand these images then we can understand what the dreams are telling us. So feed your mind the images and their meanings, because it will change your dream life forever.
What I found was by persisting from page one right through to the very end I gave my subconscious new ammunition for my dreams. Almost right away my dreams changed? They started to talk to me is such a clear way I was able to understand all my dreams and it was spot on! What happened? Well I started to have dreams with the new understandings and instead of me trying to work out what was being sent I knew! I could quickly grab the book and go back to the part I had read and there is was, it was an amazing experience. But it is always getting better and clearer. Now I can wake up and start to understand what was going on and why.
A few other things must happen first however, you must train yourself to remember your dreams using the techniques outlined in the start of the book. Write everything down (as much as you can remember) and think carefully about ALL the possibilities. Once you start to master this it all falls together and it is amazing.
So my advice is get the book, read it from start to finish, learn the techniques and start to communicate with your dreams like you never have before! The rating would have to be 10 out of 10, persist and you will be rewarded, I was. There are lots of "Dream Bibles" and other such books out there, but this one is the Rolls Royce and in my opinion the best one to own if you want only one!
Very helpful, 15 Oct 2006
This is great to have by your bed so you can check first thing in the morning when you have dreams that you want explained quickly. It is written in clear and concise English and is also entertaining and beautifully illustrated. This book would make a great present and is an ideal coffee table book for guests to your house to browse.
Wow, 07 Oct 2006
Wow! What a fantastic resource. I'm using the encyclopedia to interpret my dreams but I'm also reading it like a book subject by subject and am learning so much about the wonderful world of dreams. I shall treasure this book for many, many years to come.
Excellent, 19 Sep 2008
In our house it's called the Great Big Book of Everything. My son is five and we have this book for a couple of years. Thoroughly recommended.
Feed Their Minds, 23 Mar 2006
It is amazing just how often we under-estimate the young mind's hunger for knowledge and their ability to understand. My 4 year old son is vey curious about the world around him, everything from planets to electricity. We now read the 'stories'in this book on a daily basis and he always insists on 'just one more'. It is easy to read with complementary graphics and is therefore a great way to introduce them to facts. I would strongly recommend it for parents who find themselves providing information to their children.
Love it!, 21 Nov 2008
My first of a series of Harry Oliver books with great information on everyday expressions and brilliant illustrations. I recommended it to my whole office who swarmed to buy copies and have been great followers of every sequel since. I think it makes for a great gift for all those inquisitive minds out there but don't forget to buy a copy for yourself. You're going to love it too!
funny and very distracting, 20 Nov 2008
i don't understand what the other reviewers are trying to say. This book does exactly what it says on the tin. i received March Hares as a gift last year and it has constantly provided intrigue and often laughter during trips to the loo! A great toilet book full of memorable facts about the words and phrases we all use so often.
Don't bother, 13 Mar 2006
If you really are interested in the origin of phrases, you would do better to have a look at one of the many websites on this subject. If you are unable to work out for yourself that the phrase "Mission Impossible" comes from the TV series of the same name, then this is the book for you. Other phrases are not particularly well-researched and the author seems to have plumped for the obvious meanings rather than looked at the origins in any depth. I have given the book one star for it's presentation - nice cover, but don't judge the book by it. (Can anyone tell me the origin of that phrase - it's so obvious I'm suprised it's not in Mr. Oliver's book).
Disappointing, 28 Nov 2005
This book is badly named. Its subtitle is 'Origins of the words and phrases we use every day' - not strictly true. I started reading this last night and most of the time it tells you what the phrases/words mean and not the origin of them. It is quite interesting though but would be very useful if it told you the whole story
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Customer Reviews
Interesting, useful and funny, 15 Dec 2007
I'm not a French speaker or learner myself, but bought this as a gift for a friend who is tackling the language. I'm sure they'll enjoy it as it's quite fun compared to the dry language texts I had to wade through at school. It's interesting to see that some French idioms are quite similar to ours but have an unusual slant. For example, where we have 'Pushing up the daisies', they have 'Eating the daisies from the roots up'; we write 'Rubber cheques', and they write 'wooden' ones (like taking a 'wooden nickel'?). Others are quite surreal 'Falling backwards into apples' sound quite painful, but to the French this is a soft landing. Although it's amusing, the text is scholarly enough to be useful to the serious student and the cartoons are excellent. You can't argue with the price either: great value. 101 French Idioms, 03 Jun 2007
I totally agree with the other reviewers (on whose recommendation I bought this book). I am a 'returner' to French, having learned it at school and college, but not having actively used the language for several years. I have also bought another, advanced French course, but wanted something else that would be fun to learn; this is certainly it!
Although it is both funny and witty, it is not only that. As well as a literal and figurative translation, the book gives a typical dialogue of how each idiom may be used. I have already learned some excellent phrases, which should liven up my dialogue when I visit France. I am also thinking of buying a copy for my French friend who's learning English, as it would also be good for a learner from the French person's perspective too. Well done Jean-Marie Cassagne on a first class product. I am now going to purchase the accompanying volume, French Proverbs and hope to enjoy that, too. Fun and useful!, 15 Mar 2006
I *love* this book. I bought it because of a recommendation by another reader and it's everything they promised. It had me in fits of laughter and I started using the idioms immediately because the pictures and the explanations show you the circumstances where the idiom is appropriate. I surprised the French speakers I know by my sudden use of apt figurative language. It really is fun to be able to use these sayings. The cartoons are amusing and each one is followed by a dialogue where the saying is used so you can see how it will fit into a conversation. I couldn't stop using them but luckily the people I was addressing were tolerant and highly amused. There are 101 idioms with cartoons, followed by a dialogue or a description. At the back are translations of the dialogues and a list of the idioms in alphabetical order and by key images. So, if you know you want to something to do with 'dogs' for example, you can look up dog and find the idioms associated with that image. I can't recommend this highly enough. It helps you practise your French without even realising that's what you are doing. I'm intending to order the proverbs as well! it is a real bargain. It was worth that just for the laughter it brought.
A fun way to improve understanding of the French language, 07 Mar 2001
This book is a fun,entertaining book that helps learners of the language grasp colloquialisms that they wouldn't understand otherwise e.g.-(to fall into apples)means to faint!The idiom is given in a conversation to help understand what context it should be used in and these conversations are translated at the back of the book.But the best thing about this book are the comical drawings that illustrate each idiom.This gives the impression that the book has a more lighthearted approach to understanding and teaching French.A refreshing book for those wanting to speak more like a native or those who just want a more enjoyable way to improve their French.
BEST YET, 11 Nov 2008
Delighted with this new book. Have always purchased them every year and this year is the best. Good large photos and covering many new areas of collecting. Excellent reference guide.
american version not uk version, 26 Oct 2008
Like other people who have written reviews for "Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (Miller's Collectables Price Guide)" I received American version not UK version. What a waste of time - why is it not stated in the title - If I purchase a book on Amazon UK site I would expect it to be a UK version and if it isn't then Amazon should advise so.
Miller's Collectibles Price Guide 2009 (US Version), 10 Oct 2008
I, like the other poor people that have made comment, have also received the US version - which is no good to man or beast or should I say English beast. The original top line description did not state that this was the US version. I ordered in haste, without reading all text..Buyer Beware.
US Edition beware..., 07 Oct 2008
I also bought both the Antique and Collectables Guide as a pressie for my Father's birthday and both were the US Editions! So annoying that he didnt get his pressie and i've had to send them back. Can't find the UK editions...
UK or US edition?, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a review of the book but just a warning that you need to check whether you are ordering the GB or the US edition. I unwittingly bought the US edition showing North American items and with all prices in dollars which is of no use so now I have to go to all the trouble of returning it.
For anyone in Amazon reading this - please take note and draw your customers' attention to this!!
Excellent reference materials for French cuisine and other European, less so for cuisines outside Europe, 06 Sep 2008
I have no doubt members of the editorial committee that oversaw this revision (2001) are talented people and some of the best in the culinary scene in France. It has a wealth of classic haute cuisine and not so haute like sole menuiere, and how to prepare elaborate pigeon dishes. Summaries for other non-French cuisines vary in quality: the section on British cuisine(s) is rather brief and Austrian pastry excellent. The section on non-European countries cuisines are poor and brief: much of Chinese cooking is not covered well, Korean cuisine doesn't make it, the section on New Zealand ignores the current convergence towards Pacific Rim cuisine and explosion of Mediterranean-style food products, and Mexico is merged with other Latin American countries. I wouldn't blame the contributors because as French, they are less well exposed to culinary trends in much of East and Southeast Asia, and certainly NZ is rather remote from France.
I suggest you will be happy if you want to treat this as a reference for French or other "Old World European" cuisines, but deeply disappointed if you want this to be the only cookery reference ever needed. It is probably impossible to have one big book covering all cooking questions under the sun: you may need one for each big geographical region.
A feast of a book!, 03 Jan 2008
This is a gorgeous book - an absolute joy - and I wish I'd bought it years ago. (The price had always put me off but as far as I am concerned now, it is an investment - and had I known then what I know now, I would have bought fewer 'other' books and used the money saved to buy this one.) It is an absolute mine of information, and if you're interested in food, as I am (and you must be, or you wouldn't be reading this..), I am sure you will find yourself 'dipping' into this book constantly - it makes fascinating reading, and this version is beautifully presented. The pages are crammed with many tempting recipes - certainly, some of these are complicated and more suited to a professional chef, and perhaps this would not be the best choice for a 'first cookbook' for a novice - but there are so many recipes and cooking methods that would be suitable and appealing to anyone with a basic knowledge of cooking. Even the humble potato has a whole host of recipes devoted to it. I find the book to be an invaluable reference aid and now - having enjoyed cooking from an early age, and after 30 years as a 'home cook' - I find my enthusiasm rekindled and my horizons broadened. Nothing left to say really, except perhaps 'bon appetit!'
Excellent and comprehensive when it wants to be, 07 Dec 2007
Portrayed by some, including somewhat understandably the publishers, as 'the world's greatest cookery encyclopedia' this is a book which can justifiably try to claim that title. Whether it would win that title is debatable but it's certainly a strong candidate. It's excellent when it chooses to cover a subject but not comprehensive and not for the novice cook.
Cookery is just too large a subject to cover in a single volume so it's unreasonably to expect any single volume work to be encyclopedic so there are understandable gaps in Larousse's coverage of it's subject. This won't teach you how to cook from scratch, despite containing descriptions of many cooking techniques and recipes, but this is a reference work. This is the book you turn to after you've learned the basics of how to cook.
If you have reached that point of being confident in the kitchen and want to get more from what you've learned so far this is a book for you. If you're a gastronome and want a reference to tell you more about the background of what you're eating then this is for you. If you're just learning to cook and are looking for one book to cover everything then you're probably better off with Delia.
For those who do want this as a reference then remember it is excellent but not comprehensive. When it chooses to cover a subject it is very good but what it chooses to cover is a bit random, for example the entry on croissants describes their history, the basic process to make them and gives half a dozen different recipes and variations but the entry for danish pastry rattles off a quick one paragraph description and mentions nothing more. Also the indexing is a bit disorganised so there is an entry for black pudding but nothing for white pudding, on the other hand though it has entries for boudin blanc but not boudin noir! The gaps in its coverage reflect its slightly francophile emphasis but the indexing is just one of those things that mean without a little food knowledge, in that case knowing that boudin noir and black pudding are pretty much the same thing, this won't be that useful.
This has a home in my kitchen as it sits among thirty or forty other cook books. If I was to just have three or four on the shelf then it wouldn't be one of those books but it is worth the money once you are buying you second or third set of cookbooks.
mammoth, 05 Dec 2007
the larousse gastronomique is a mammoth encyclopedia, and it makes fascinating reading and drooling. there are recipes galore, entries on the cuisines of various countries, cooking techniques, ingredients, restauranteurs, leading chefs, and more.
(having said that, i couldn't find a single entry on seafood chowder.)
and for those with serial killer tendancies, this is the book hannibal lecture uses in his recipe for human brain (although i presume he adapted).
hours and hours of use in this book.
"Umm, what is he talking about", 01 Nov 2007
So, you're in the kitchen planning (or heaven help you if you're mid way through cooking for) a dinner party and you look at the Celeb Chef's guidance and ask to the heavens "what is he on about". This is where Larousse comes in. This is not a cookery book by itself, it is a manual to food and drink of a kind that has no competitor. You need to know what an obscure ingredient is, and what you can replace it with if you can't trace it? Look in Larousse. You've got one of those complicated Rick Stein books and he's telling you prepare your vegetables à la Ménagère, and after you've scratched your head for a bit, you reach for Larousse and there you are. This book is amazing, but will not go into the finer details of all food stuffs as this is not what it's for, and there are loads of books on the market place on subjects such as soya and the like.
OK, so there have been some mixed reports on this book with some good and some bad. Take it for what it is; it's an encyclopedia after all, and should be THE standard book for any gastronome. Complaining about lack of in-depth knowledge on one food type, or lack of complex recipes is the same as grumbling about the Encyclopedia Britannica for not having enough of a story line or having an accurate description of the inner workings of a Ford Mondeo! Use it, embrace it, and live by it. Amen.
Simply the BEST, 24 May 2007
Well what can I say about this book? Brilliant is the first thing to come to mind, however, there is a "key" (I believe) to getting the most out of it. In fact it is quite startling at first! Now the key is really quite simple, you must read the book (as a book) from cover to cover and even if you come to a section which you don't find all that interesting, persist! It is well worth the effort to absorb all it has to tell you. Why is it important to read it all? Simple, you're feeding your subconscious! As you will learn from the book our dreams send messages with images and if we can understand these images then we can understand what the dreams are telling us. So feed your mind the images and their | | |