Nonfiction Book Reviews
Page Two of TwoThe Millennium Champagne & Sparkling Wine Guide by Tom Stevenson
DK, October 1998.Trade Paperback, 224 pages.
ISBN: 0789435616.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
What must any wine lover have before the dawning of the new
Millennium? Why, an excellent Champagne and sparkling wine
guide compiled and
edited by Champagne critic and
expert Tom Stevenson,
who edited the Sunday Telegraph
Good Wine Guide for five years.
Stevenson's handy guide book contains Champagne and sparkling wine
listings, advice on how to serve wine and
a list of North American vineyards
and wineries. Each Champagne and
wine listing contains the name,
the price range, the right time to drink
the wine and a ranking of the wine with
the guide's 100 point system.
The book also includes a history of
champagne, reviews and pictures of
the best Champagne houses and blank
forms for making tasting notes and instruction
on how to use them. A comprehensive resource which no Champagne
and sparkling wine lover should be without.
Stars and Planets by Ian Ridpath
DK, September 1998.Trade Paperback, 224 pages.
ISBN: 0789435217.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Stars and Planets is a comprehensive reference
guide to the night sky for both beginning and advanced amateur
astronomers.
The book is divided
into three sections: the solar system,
the constellations
and a monthly sky guide.
The solar system section contains
descriptions of the planets,
the Sun and the Moon, and information
about asteroids and other heavenly bodies.
It also includes advice on how and
where to find them. The constellation
section contains charts and descriptions
of 88 constellations and highlights
important features of each. It also
details the equipment needed to view
the constellations and the best times
of the year for observation. The
monthly sky guide section contains
charts and descriptions of what to
look for during each month of the
year. Additional charts show the sky
as seen from Northern and Southern
latitudes. The book also includes
a reference on binoculars and telescopes
and a glossary of astronomy terms.
Stars and Planets is full of space facts, detailed colored charts, pictures and photographs. An excellent and indispensible resource for star gazers, students and lovers of astronomy.
Who Ordered the Jumbo Shrimp? by Jon Agee
Harpercollins, October 1998.Hardcover, 80 pages.
ISBN: 0062051598.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Who Ordered the Jumbo Shrimp? is a very funny collection
of Far-Side style cartoons based
on oxymorons.
Each oxymoron has been captured
in a hilarious cartoon by cartoonist,
Jon Agee. The cartoons mimic the
convoluted nature of the oxymoron including
well-known oxymorons such as
daybed, rock opera, poor little rich
girl, working vacation and summer school.
For example, the cartoon for the
"Poor Little Rich Girl" oxymoron pictures
a rich girl sitting on a stool reading a
copy of Vogue. Next to here is a sign
stating "Haven't had decent caviar in
two days...Please help. $50, $100,
$500. Visa & Amex accepted."
A great gift for lovers of cartoons
and of the English language.
Nonfiction Page One | Nonfiction Page Two
Return to the December 1998 issue of The IWJ.
More from Writers Write