Clubs Books

Given all the re-do, plastic, unimaginative film we see these days (hey, let's remake the Poseidon adventure and the In Laws?) -- it makes one wonder why these books aren't being perused for a movie. We have had great sucess recently in the Lord of the Rings, the X-Men and other Marvel comics. This story should be done as a first-time movie.

These books are fast-paced, way ahead of their time, and like nothing that has ever been done to date. That's right: Star Trek (all flavors), Babylon 5, Farscape, meet the Lensman series by E.E. Doc Smith. This epic is on an inter-galactic scale using a means of propulsion never seen before. The weapons and energies used (sun-beams, black holes, free motion planets, hyper spatial tubes) make everything we've seen look like tinker toys.

The writing was so advanced, you can barely notice the dated view of the sexes (after all, it IS pre-war) but a little modern rewriting will get around it with no effort at all.

So, say you read it before it gets to the screen. I read these as a 12 year old in the 60's, and I've had a copy of them ever since. I leant them to a friend.... I am so glad they are back in print.

Enjoy!

One of the best space, Drama/comedy series ever. E.E. (Doc) Smith was a man well ahead of his time; On the cutting edge of the future-space and the possibalities out there. A fabulous read for all, young and old.

Imagine an advanced human, space-faring civilization where there are no computers. Imagine a world where everything was larger than life, the good guys wear white and the bad guys are sufficently dastardly to deserve a hearty "booooo!" in the cinema. Imagine a world where anything is achievable with suitable will of men. Picture exploration, daring, immense battles between the forces of good and evil. EE "Doc" Smith did and wrote an incredible series of tales about it.

About the idea for a film - There is nothing wrong with having male heroes. It has happened in the past you know. Macho females are not an absolute necessity for a film. Also, the story line is about a breeding line that converges through history until Kimball Kinnison and his lady come along, the culmination of countless generations of planned evolution to counter the threat of the Eich. It would stretch suspension of belief well and truely beyond the already nonsensical sight of pint sized females beating up on huge guys twice their size. That's not sexist so don't, please, advocate a total re-write just for the unnecessary sake of 'modern thinking' (if people don't understand how things work today then they're already in trouble, I'd have thought! Leave well enough alone).

Change this and you change the entire story. Please, don't let political correctness alter the stories beyond recognition!

I'll agree absolutely that it is long past time that these incredible stories were made into the film they rightfully deserve - and I don't mean the feeble, forgettable effort that was made with animation (sorry, to those who worked on it - it just wasn't an adult's as opposed to adult entertainment). Why not - just for the sake of story integrity if nothing else, do the film if ever according to Doc Smith's vision rather than according to a non-entity of a censor who believes he/she knows what is best for the rest of us.

The first half of the exciting Lensmen Chronicles. An ancient race hates lawful society and attacks our galaxy. Another order loving society fights them by genetic manipulation of the human (and other alien) race. The book starts with Atlantis and goes forward in time until in the end technology has truly become frightening. The weapons continue escalating, until it seems anything is possible.

This book is pulp, no doubt about it. The characters are a bit too perfect. But, I enjoyed it none-the-less.

Smith's love of superlatives grates on occasion, but the basic storyline spans all of creation.

Two races, one altruistic and nurturing, one despotic and manipulative, have the briefest of encounters. The "good" race (the Arisians) determines almost immediately that they will never be able to best the "bad" race (the Eddorians) in any contest of force or will and, after masking the memory of the encounter in the mind of the representative of the lone Eddorian encountered, embarkes on a mind-blowingly long program to develop a race who can do so in their stead.

The first three books (not as written, but chronologically according to the storyline - Triplanetary was an afterthough in the series) presented here contain what I consider to be some of the most fun parts of the series as, particularly the last book (Children of the Lens - not part of this collection), seems to suffer pacing problems.

Four races are selected as candidates for the final attack on the Eddorians, these books concentrate almost exclusively on humanity, although the other races are encountered and the primary representatives of the penultimate breeding lines are introduced.

Much of this work is quite dated and there is a queasy sort of racism underlaying Smith's insistance that white, blue-eyed, apparently Aryan men represent the pinnacle of human genetic strength. There is an overt sexism in that (at least in the first three books) there are no female lensmen, by design.

But, along with James Blish (see "Cities in Flight" with particular emphasis on his use of fields for both protection and propulsion), Smith pretty much gave birth to the modern space-based Science Fiction series with these books.

If you can get past the datedness of the material, it's both a fun read and an important one.

claudia's new passion for photography has her snapping pictures everywhere. at bsc meetings, breakfast and all over stoneybrook. one afternoon she uses up a whole roll of film in the stoneybrook bank. and that's where the mystery starts for Claudia only.

This is one of my favourite BSC mysteries, along with the first 3 Stacey mysteries. Basically Claudia has a passion for photography from taking it in summer school that she even photographs a bank, around the same time a robbery took place and she thinks there might be clues in the photographs. There is nothing at first, but then the "nancy drew of Stoneybrook" uses her creativity and logic to examine the pictures carefully and finds clues, read to find out what happens, it's written in a very suspensful manner as well. Well done Ann!

Claudia and the Clue in the Photograph is a good book. Claudia is taking photography lessons so she's become obsessed with taking pictures. She's taking pictures of the bank around the same time the bank was robbed. Claudia thinks her pictures contain some clues. They don't look like they do and the police sure don't think so, but Claudia won't give up til all the money is back in the bank!

Claudia And The Clue In The Photograph is a great book, it is about Claudia and she is taking pictures of the bank just because she likes the way it looks,then she finds out that the bank was being robbed the very same day she was taking pictures so she tries to find out who dit it. you will be pretty surprised when you found out who did it.

This book is extrodinary!!!!! I loved it. It took me 2 nights to read this book and on the first night I didn't put it down untill I was caught reading it at Midnight. I would definently recommend this book to others. Especially if you love mysterys, and stuff to do with camera's. Now, don't get me wrong the whole thing isn't about camera's, but you do learn a lot about camera's, since they find a lot of the clues in the pictures (okay, maybe it IS mostly about camera's, but not in a boring way). This book even got me interested in taking pictures.
This book is about a 13 year old girl named Claudia, who is a member of the BSC (baby-sitters club). She has to go to summer school, but her parents said that if she does well in math, she can take an extra fun subject. Claudia decides to take photagraphy class. She loves it soo much that her father makes her, her own darkroom in her and her sister's bathroom. Mary Anne is missing Dawn (her step-sister) and so are all the BSC member's and the kids,(she is in California for a while). So, they decide to make a book with photographs of Stonybrook, Conneticut (where they live) and then send it to Dawn, (hoping to make her miss StonyBrook and come back sooner). They make plans and one day set of with small groups all over StonyBrook snapping pictures. Claudia is fasinated by the bank and takes a whole roll and a half of just the bank. To be funny Mary-Ann takes pictures of Claudia taking pictures of the bank. Later on during a BSC meeting Claudia and the other members find out that the StonyBrook bank has been robbed of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Knowing that she was at the bank and taking pictures Claudia developes her film, but finds nothing. But, even later on she finds out that the robbery took place on the same day at almost the same time she was taking those pictures. You will have to read the rest to find out if she catches the robber or if she fails.

In the book, Claudia and the club create a play for The First Thanksgiving.

I like books in which kids know that discrimination and prejudice is ignorance unlike the adults in their lives. What the Anglos did to the Aboriginals during colonization was so sad and many generations of natives lost their culture and identity as a result of america the greedy and it's nice to know that today's generation of children are aware of the great people natives are instead of covering up their achievements

This is a very interesting book because for some people it is a real eye opener. It tells the truth about women's rights in those days and alot of extra info on the pilgram life that many people didn't know. For some reason, the parents belived this was wrong. Perhaps they got so caught up in turney and stuffing, they forgot the real thankgiving meaning. Being thankful.

I am a history lover, and my opinion is, that when portraing a historical event or time, the two things that are most important, are respect, and accurasie. All Cladua and her friends wanted to do, is create a play accuratly and respectfuly portraning the First Thanksgiving. I would have loved to have seen, or been a part of somthing like the production they put on. I thought it sounded grate. That's why I was so suppriesed and angered bythe parent's reaction to the play. How could they say THAT was unAmerican? JUst becase they where not willing to accsept the truth about an event in America's past, doesn't meen there is anything unAmerican about portraying things as close to what they realy where as possible! On the contrary, I would have said there version of the story was MORE Patriotic then most, becase it showed the Pilgrems for what they realy where: human beings, people, just like you and I. I'm glad that Cladua and her friends stood up for themselves, and didn't let the insdent ruien there holiday. I have alredy given away to much of the story as it is, so I will refrain from saying more. I will close with this final word,though: Try this book. You will appriceate and enjoy this read, for more than one reason.Even if you didn't read BSC's before, or if you stoped reading them, (like I did) you should try this one. Thnk you, Ann M. Marten, for giving me reniewed fath in your books!

Claudia and the First Thanksgiving is a better book that what is sounds like. In it Claudia and her Short Takes Class are putting on a modern twist of the First Thanksgiving. They address many views and the parents get really mad. They refuse to let the kids put on the play. So Claudia, Abby, Stacey and the rest of her class have to find a way to get their play back. Also at the end of the book a really special vistor shows up! This is a good bookj and worth the money to buy it. P.S. This book brings back Betsy Sobak, remember from #19 Claudia and the bad joke???

Yeah!!! One of my favorite characters has a new cousin! How exciting! My two cousins were born last year and I'm soooo happy! I enjoyed spending my time with them and with my aunt and uncle. It was great. It's too bad that Claud fought with Peaches. She must feel upset. Do they get a long again? You'll find out when you read CLAUDIA AND THE WORLD'S CUTEST BABY. You'll love it!

I think it great she has every book on every day baby-sitting experence

Claudia's baby cousin is here! She is spending her time helping peaches and Russ in their house that she forgets to spend time with her family. And one day, Claudia finds out that Peaches is stressed out.

I really enjoyed this book, although it is not my favourite BSC book.I liked the way Ann Martin made Claudia's personal experience reflect her family expierience. Claud eventually realizes thet the way she feel s about a girl in her class is the way her Aunt,Peaches,feels about claud. Not the best BSC book i have read but still very very good. You'd be mad not to read it!

I loved this book, and have read it three times. Claudia's aunt Peaches is having a baby! Claudia is overjoyed when her little cousin Lynn born. And even happier that she's her godmother! A little too happy actually...Claudia is over at her Aunt Peaches house way too much. She keeps bringing over gifts, telling her aunt how to raise Lynn, and breaking things. Finally, Aunt Peaches cannot take it any longer, and blows up at Claud. She implies that Claudia is rude, and pesty. Claudia cannot believe her ears, and gets very angry and doesn't come over or speak to Peaches. Meanwhile, Claud, Stacey, and Abby's social studies class are taking a trip to Philadelphia! There, she finally understands why Peaches was angry at her due to Claudia's own experience in Philly. This book was totally cool, you've got to read it!

No food stylist here, real food cooked and shown by a chef who by the photos and the opening of each chapter loves what he does and cooks from the heart. I have many cook books being a fan of food and chefs and those TV chefs pump them out, doubt if they even write them on thier own.

By reading this book, cooking from it I can tell that it is a labor of love from a chef who truly cares, I did not know such top cuisine was served at private clubs as well.

I am use to this with books fom Europe so it is great to see a Amercian chef have so much heart and the ability to ceate good tasting food with flavors that make sense.

Jose K

This chef rocks. I have attended two of his lectures and demos with class mates on cooking and food. He has so much passion and love for what he does. He said to us in his class I cook with water I do walk on water we are here together to share and learn from each other with a simple thing called food. The man is full of talent, love for his craft and this book shows all of his. We love you chef!

Many recipes, I enjoy all of the day parts as many good books forget we eat breakfast and lunch at times. Many recipes complex but others simple and full of flavor. No doubt much passion and care from the author in regard to his craft. The forward if people read such things written by another chef is one of the best I have seen and really captures the author and what he is about, well done. Great photos and the chef displays a knack for plating and displaying food he should do a book just on this subject. It is a must book for the culinary libary.

I am a fan of the man no doubt.
This chef has done much for the profession, gives back and now shares his cuisine at the club he works at. He has made club cuisine come alive and be noticed. I am a chef in a club and Chef Leonard has helped club chefs all over the country.
Bravo

This is a fist class cook book. With so many out there, this book has a nice designe, great pictures that show food you want to eat! It even has breakfast and lunch items, not all meals revolve around dinner.
The chef knows his stuff and knows how to harmonize flavors while show creative food that works.
Good cooking Chef

As the international director of the campaign to stop one of the dirtiest oils in the world from perpetuating the American oil addiction (i.e., tar sands oil from Alberta, the second largest oil reserve in the world), I'm constantly reading books on coal, oil, and global warming. This book by Michael Brune is one of the first that I've read that is actually a pleasure to read (despite the subject matter). Michael's writing style is crisp with active tense, great little vignettes, and a little humor thrown in to keep you from getting depressed. Each chapter contains the juiciest and most relevant facts, great examples of what other countries or industries are doing to end the fossil fuel habit, and very specific ways to learn more and take action. I highly recommend this book! Michael Marx, Executive Director, Corporate Ethics International.

Coming Clean hits all the right notes. In his first book, Michael Brune meets the challenges of a climate in crisis and an imperiled environment head on. Brune offers hope to those feeling helpless and overwhelmed by climate change and our global addiction to fossil fuels. More than just another primer on the most urgent environmental issues of the day (though it fills that niche effectively), Coming Clean offers easy steps that any citizen can take to help usher in a clean energy economy.

Coming Clean isn't another environmental treatise accessible only to the academic elite. This book is for the rest of us. Every chapter engages the reader by putting a human face on complex issues ranging from oil and coal to biofuels to building a safer, more efficient mass transit system.

If you ever wanted to make a difference but weren't sure how to get started, pick up a copy of Coming Clean and create an environmental legacy you'll be proud to leave to the next generation.

"Coming Clean" offers real solutions to our current energy crisis. It should be required reading of ALL corporate CEO's and politicians. If only we, as a nation, would heed the warnings and act on the sound advice offered by experts, we could lead the world in use of clean energy and in making the billions that would be connected to the new industries created. I will be leaving this book out for any of my guests and friends to see and comment upon.

I thoroughly enjoyed Coming Clean! Michael Brune writes about complex issues of climate change and energy in an accessible, engaging way. The book is chock full of information - it clearly presents the problems we're facing, but it doesn't make you feel hopeless. Brune tells fascinating stories with an insider's view of past activism to stop major corporations from destroying our environment, as well as stories of regular people taking action in their communities. Every couple of pages, I found myself jumping out of my seat to share something with my boyfriend or whoever happened to be nearby at the time. I love that every chapter gives you things you can do right away to address the issues raised in that chapter. It's a very empowering and affirming read!

Coming Clean is an important book that is a really great read for anyone who wants to understand why America is addicted to oil and coal, and more importantly, learn how people are fighting for a clean energy future that will be good for our country, our economy, and the planet as a whole. Even more importantly, you'll learn about many ways you can get involved and be a part of the solution yourself.

I really liked Coming Clean's focus on vision and action, combined with its hopeful tone giving a sense of what is possible and plenty of inspiration and tools as promised on the cover. I started using the Take Action and Resources sections before I even finished the book. I also found there to be a lot more useful nuts and bolts and thought-provoking information and statistics in this book than other more challenges-focused books that tend to be overloaded with less essential info (and that for me usually start to feel onerous around the halfway to 2/3 mark).

In contrast, Coming Clean is lean and focused with clarity of purpose. There's great use of humor and engaging stories of people making a difference that make it an enjoyable, quick read. But once you are finished, you will likely be inspired enough to return to it often to utilize its many tools for taking both individual and collective action.

First of all I would like to say that I'm a interested and concerend parent. This book would be a great addition to a school libary. I've read all the harry potters and I have talked to my kids about what and how they feel about them. we understand the mystical and unreal type of books they are,
yet this book is real and mysticial at the same time. I really feel that this book taught my childern and made them interested in our history. I would really recomend this to all grade school kids!

I couldn't put this book down. Wonderfully written to capture the adult, teen, and younger generations. Although you might think going back in time is a stretch to overcome in your mind, by the time I got to that part, I was hooked. Suspenseful, mysterious, educational, and just plain fun to read. I look forward to reading more of Mrs. Ritt's works. This is an especially great book for kids. She made real history come to life in a very sneeky way. Kids won't even realize until it's too late, that they are actually reading a lot of real history joined seemlessly with fictional fun. Loved it.

Historically accurrate and wonderfully ingrained with the fantasy that resides in most of us....what if... . Imagination and determination, courage and more are conveyed to the reader as something innate in these children. A wonderful adventure that bridges cultural and ethnic differences to show what we are meant to be ... each for the other. Also a great tool to integrate history and literature in elementary and middle school.

My youngest grandaughter (12years old) came home with this. Reading isn't her favorite time consuming thing in life but she began spouting off all of these history facts that caught me somewhat off guard. I inquired about her recent knowledge find and she told me about this book and how she thought it was so fun to read. Naturally, I then had to have one for myself. I couldn't hardly put it down. It was a fun mixture of Paul Revere, facts about him that I would have never known and a group of kids finding themselves forced into using their skills and witts to get out of some pretty tough situations.
I'm 56 and it just goes to show, no matter what your age learning can still be fun.
I hope Mrs. Ritt gets to read this because I would like to thank her for her efforts to bring this story to life.

First of all I would like to say that I'm a interested and concerend parent. This book would be a great addition to a school libary. I've read all the harry potters and I have talked to my kids about what and how they feel about them. we understand the mystical and unreal type of books they are,
yet this book is real and mysticial at the same time. I really feel that this book taught my childern and made them interested in our history. I would really recomend this to all grade school kids!

I remember being drawn into this book as a young teenager. The writing was outstanding. It sat on my bookshelf for a few months before I finally got around to reading it, but once I started I could not put it down. The only difference between my review and the others, is that I was reading it in the mid '90s. Even so, the book was incredibly relavent despite the year. I got the book as a library throw-away, and it was one of my prized possessions. Later, I talked to my father about the book, and was suprised... not only did he know about the book, but he had other Henry Gregor Felsen books (Hot Rod and Street Rod) which he loaned me. I must say, this story has definately stood the test of time. When one can read the book 40 years after it was written and still relate truly shows the masterful writing of a brilliant author. I would recommend this book to anyone bitten by the automotive bug.

I, like most of us read this book in Grade school. I have never, even after 45 years forgotten the book or the authors' name. This book spurred me on to become a voraciuos reader of all types of books, and opened up many new adventures for me. The narrative is excellent, and I have lost count of how many times I read it as a boy.

I first read this book in high scholl, and have had two personal copies that have fallen apart. The internal struggles of the characters, as well as their conflicts with each other, are ageless. Four of my teenagers have read and enjoyed this book.

I also read this book in high school about 10 times. It was one of the reasons I bought a 58 FI Vette when I was 18, wish I had the Book and the Vette back. To my surprise my son did a book report on this book and got an A. I'm going to get another copy and read it to my 4 grand-sons who also loves cars. This is a GREAT book for young boys to read and get lost in their Dreams... Sometimes those Dreams come true !!

I read this book numorous time while I was in high school. Since the first time I read it, it was more like watching a movie. The authors descriptiveness of the events occuring you can see them as if they were right their happening around you. If possible to get a copy of this book I would highly recommend it to any one of all ages. To me it was a book that no matter how much time goes by or what has happened in your life you will always remember the Crash Club.

Incredible new page turner by a very talented new author. This book keeps you entertained from the first page to the last! This mystery/thriller really gets under your skin and makes you think, much like Stephen King novel. I really look forward to seeing what Schleicher write next.

Incredible new page turner by a very talented new author. This book keeps you entertained from the first page to the last! This mystery/thriller really gets under your skin and makes you think, much like Stephen King novel. I really look forward to seeing what Schleicher write next.

Crematorium is a well written story based on the human madness of a serial killer. Schleicher exposes the killer's insane motives and the terror he invokes on his victims; and explores the total breakdown of the human character in the wake of this madman's killing spree. As disturbing as this subject is, I encourage the reader to finish the story in its entirety. You will be rewarded with a truthful and insightful interpretation of the human spirit and the unbreakable bond between mother and child.

"Crematorium" is an exceptional book on an unpleasant subject and I initially feared that I might be put off. I need not have worried: Schleicher has crafted an interesting, unexpected and intelligent reflection on a serial murderer and the persons whose lives he affects.

Most impressive is the way Schleicher structures and controls the plot: the time skipping (flashbacks, flash forwards), the multiple narrators and enough events to fuel three novels made it a little confusing at first. But soon everything starts to click and I found myself enjoying the anti-chronological tag-team narration of it all. Every conceivable loose end, every incident of plot (some of which I had forgotten) are tied skillfully together by the end.

Characterization is excellent. There are enough characters for a much longer work, but Schleicher gives each of them such strong individual characteristics that they each become memorable. The only character who isn't extensively drawn for us is Detmer the killer, and keeping him a mystery is entirely appropriate.

This may be the only crime novel in existence that combines bloody murders with reflections on the nature of God, an explanation of the appeal of contemporary rock music and a truly original (to me) interpretation of reincarnation. As I think you know, I personally don't believe in reincarnation, but what a wonderful dramatic device it makes here! Schleicher's take on it could fuel a whole series of novels. Anyone who reads this will be getting as much philosophy as titillation.

In short, this book is a truly impressive first work that deserves a wide readership. It reads not like a first novel, but like the product of an experienced, confident writer.

Some may think that crime thrillers about serial killers and the media's obsession with violence have been done to death...but when done well they can make for the best kind of suspense. This new author (who writes in a blunt, no-nonsesnse manner that makes even the dull parts page-turning) explores well-tread ideas and issues, but does so with just enough pizzaz and unique touches to allow it to break away from the pack. A little bit mystery, a little bit horror, a little bit spiritual, a little bit social commentary, and good doses of surrealism juxtaposed wih gritty realism all help this tale rise above most others in the genre. The only complaint is there could have been more in depth character development with some of the major players, and there seemed to be too many characters over-all to be occupying a novel that clocks in at under 200 pages. Also, some of the dialogue seemed forced and unreal. But I'll give Schleicher the benefit of the doubt and assume that it was all meant to go along with one of the novel's major motifs: memories play like badly edited movies. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys this type of stuff.

don't miss this one...excellent read. a truly interesting & exciting story from start to finish. i enjoyed it very much. happy reading!

This was a great legal thriller. It kept you guessing throughout as to what was going to happen next. This book was hard to book down and is a very quick read. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves legal thrillers and/or mysteries!

I found this book while browsing through my favorite book store. The synopsis sounded intriguing so I decided to purchase it. I am not sorry that I did. I have not had the pleasure of reading any of the previous novels by this author but I will soon remedy that. This story was suspenseful yet with a very believeable quality about the story. Once you start reading and discover the killings it intigues so much so that you HAVE to continue to find out who and why. It also had a great twist at the end because I pride myself on being somewhat of an amateur detective but I was not prepared for the ending.If you are looking for a great book to read that you CAN'T put down until the end this is definitely one of them! Kudos Mr. Flowers, I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.

This is a story of surprising results to the various investigations. It is full of twists and turns which have the reader guessing. This book caught my attention from the beginning and held it throughout. It is well-written, fast moving, suspenseful. There are a number of explicit sex episodes. The details of Victoria's murder are gruesome. The scenes portraying the serial killer are particularly blood-curdling. Despite this I would not hesitate to recommend Damning Evidence and I eagerly look forward to his second thriller.

Kate, a single mother of two teenage children finds herself in an awful situation, her son is charged with murdering a young couple. Kate's love, Simon, defends her son but to Kate it seems that Simon himself is not all that innocent...all those twists and turns in the plot make this book a real enjoyment. Absolutely worth reading. When I started reading this book it was just impossible to put it down, had to read it all the way till the very last page.