Clubs Books

The soft, simple city and country illustrations and the gentle rhythms and add-on patterns of the reassuring text make this warm and loving bedtime story a good choice for early readers and pre-readers alike. Since my toddler was 18 months old, this has been one of our favorites. We have fun adding our own animal sounds to the chain of events, and, of course our own nighttime snuggles and stuffed-animal cuddles at the end.

I am eight years old. My teacher read us this book when I was in first grade. I like the end when they are all in the bed. My teacher sings it to us like a lullabye. We like that.

This is sweet book with wonderful ryhmes.
The second page ties in with the first page's
ryhme and it does that throughout the book and at the end of the story you realize that the animals are the child's stuffed toys and that they were out in the places where the child's imagination placed them and that they are all home now because the child has gone to sleep.

This book was written by my pre-K teacher. I am now in third grade. This book is a story about a dog, a cat, a monkey, a camel, a seagull, and a brown bear. Each animal has its own page, but the author repeats certain words to give the book rhythm. This is a good book for a parent to read to a child to make the child feel comfortable and at home. By Zoe Jacobson, age 8.

Not only is this book fun to read for children, but enjoyable for an adult reader -- adding a little rhythm track to the text, and a pat-clap from the children, produced a wonderful lesson for my music students. They learned the text quickly and enjoyed the ending which reminded them of similar "toys come to life when you're not looking" stories.

J.J. Christopher is a breath of fresh air. Many authors come and go before we see one quite like this, but when it does... it makes it well worth the wait. To the author: Tremendous work, I hope you have many more to come.

I am not a well known book critique but, I have read alot of books. I am not really into the whole sci-fi act because fantasy is more my thing. But this book really caught my attention. J.J. Christopher has awoken in me a urge to find out more about the Complex, the Wolf Boys and anything secretive about the government. The Wolf Boys relate to me and my friends so I can understand how important it is to "run with the pack" so to speak. This book is packed with action, and heart. I would say it is not for the faint of heart . But I could not put it down. This book is a great example of imagination and perfect writing.The plot was well thought out and the placement of words created a vivid picture in my mind. It took me a while to find the climax of the story because of all the action, and suprises. It was an excellent read and I am proud to say that I consider J.J. Christopher to be a good friend of mine. Soon to be author, J.D.E.

I'm 15, a high school student in Kansas City. My English teacher was reading this book and it looked cool so I got it, and you know what? I couldn't put it down! JJ Christopher's gonna be the next Stephen King, for real! Peace!

I read this book in about four days. I just couldn't put it down. The plot was enticing and well-thought out and the book flows well because of it. My only suggestion to the author would be to proofread for spelling and grammatical errors a little more carefully. All-in-all, a must read!

This book is absolutely riveting. It GRRRRRRabs you by the jugular from the first page and doesnt let go. The characters are stunningly vivid.I have not read such a captavating story in years and I can't wait for J.J. Christopher's next book. The next King?, I think not....This author has already surpassed King. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone, In fact I have already started my campaign...The Wolf Boy's Club in every household library!!!!

It's the start of sixth grade, and Zibby Payne is convinced that this is going to be the Absolute Best Year Ever. All of that changes on the first day when Amber and Camille show up wearing teeny little miniskirts and "Groovy Grapilicious" lip gloss. What's worse is that Zibby's Best Friend on the Entire Planet, Sarah, wants to sit on the benches with them at recess and talk about boy bands and "do" hair. Zibby can't stand the boredom, and decides to play soccer with the boys instead.

When Matthew begins referring to her as a "tomboy," Zibby gets one of her Very Good Ideas. Tomboys never have to sit at recess and wear lip gloss or skirts. She makes up her mind to become a real tomboy.

The tomboy life suits her just fine, but everyone else seems to have a problem with it. Her mom won't let her give away all her old girly clothes or burp the ABCs at the dinner table. Her brother, Anthony, stops letting her borrow all of his old shirts. And Sarah starts ignoring her and hanging out only with Amber and Camille. Finally, Zibby decides to start a "Tomboy Club" at school, but will any of the other girls make the grade?

This first book about a girl who has stubbornly decided to maintain her individuality begins a promising, light-hearted series.

Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose

I really loved this book and so did my children. The story is lots of fun... Zibby is a spunky girl who is making the transition to middle school. It doesn't exactly go as planned! But she comes through it in the end with heart and humor. The book is great for girls who are starting middle school and younger girls who are looking ahead. It also touches upon the problem of dealing with cliques and changing social roles...but does it with a light touch and a really funny plot.

I LOVE Zibby -- she reminded me of myself and many other girls I have observed over the years. I have met many a Zibby, hurtling toward the teen years while grappling with what it really means to be a girl. Thanks to Alison Bell, we can now read her mind, and we see a strong, sassy, smart, and loyal girl who finds a way to be true to herself. I wish I had had Zibby to read when I was in sixth grade -- it might have made a lot more sense!

Betsy Kahn, Middle School Librarian

Zibby Payne is psyched to start the sixth grade with her best friend Sarah. They have always been close and have lots in common, from head to toe. They like many of the same things and often trade shoes so that they have mismatched pairs.

Unfortunately, her first day of middle school does not completely go as she had planned. Sarah and Zibby's friends start talking about boy bands, comparing lip gloss flavours, doing each other's hair, and giggling when boys from their class walk by. Zibby can't believe her eyes or her ears.

At least she still has Sarah. Right? Well, kind of. Sarah's still her friend, but she's interested in this new recess routine.

Zibby would rather go play soccer with the boys than talk about them. She decides that she's a tomboy and starts wearing her older brother's T-shirts so she can kick the soccer ball around at recess. She then founds an Ultra-Exclusive Tomboy Club. Sadly, one other girl is declared fit to join, and the club is short-lived. Meanwhile, Zibby is shocked to discover that her older brother has a girlfriend. What is going on with everyone lately?

As the self-proclaimed tomboy continues to play soccer with the boys, she watches Sarah and her other friends chatting away. She truly misses talking to Sarah. Zibby realizes that although she and Sarah each have new interests, they still share other things, and the two can remain friends.

Alison Bell has created an outstanding character who sticks to her guns and trusts her instincts. Zibby is extremely loyal and very aware of the power of words. She apologizes when she gets too loud or overworked about something. Young readers will learn some important lessons from her, including two very big ones: you don't have to change for others to like you, and you should be proud of who you are. I highly recommend Zibby Payne and the Wonderful, Terrible Tomboy Experiment because it is absolutely adorable and true-to-life.

I look forward to reading Zibby Payne and the Drama Trauma, the second book in this series. If it's anything like the first book, it will have kids relating to and laughing along with Zibby from start to finish.

My daughter who is actually a seventh grader just finished this book -- she's a little of a tomboy too, so she related well even though the story is about a sixth grader. I also read it and I liked the Zibby character. She's an independent thinking girl who doesn't allow peer pressure to steer her towards stuff she's not interested in or ready for. The story moves along nicely -- lots of believable kid interaction. Very fun story -- the next one in the series looks very fun too!

This is an adventure that will keep you on your toes. You never know what will happen. Garth Nix develops the characters in detail and describes so well that you can almost feel what the characters are going through. It is a well balanced series that contains just the right amount of adventure, magic, and suspense.

I really enjoyed the trilogy, but it's my in my preferred genre of fantasy. This trilogy is great and throroughly recommended if you also like fantasy, especially young adult fantasy. There's tons of action, coupled with the coming of age stories of two girls which are quite compelling.

It's not as strong as His Dark Materials trilogy (which I recommend to everyone). I wouldn't recommend this to all adults regardless of their interests. I wouldn't even recommend this to all adults who are interested in fantasy, because it really does read like a children's book (things I know are supposed to be revealed in the end were predictable because of foreshadowing). I would however recommend this to all children.

For those of you who feel that dragons, unicorns, and bards are a bit overdone nowadays, this fantasy trilogy offers up a heroine who binds the dead with a bandolier of bells. The Geography of Death is lovingly delineated, from the prologue where Sabriel is born and dies and is rescued from the First Gate of Death by her father, to the third book in the trilogy, where the new Abhorsen braves Death in the form of a river, a waterfall, pools of black water, strange currents that suck the spirit from the flesh.

Sabriel herself is an English schoolgirl, recently graduated from Wyverley Academy with a "first in English, equal first in Music, third in Mathematics, seventh in Science, second in Fighting Arts and fourth in Etiquette. She had also been a runaway first in Magic..." A visitation from the Dead sends Sabriel on a quest through the magical Old Kingdom, in order to reunite her father's body with his spirit which is trapped within the Fourth Gate of Death. She has to do battle with a really nasty necromancer-Adept, and rescue a prince who is a bit of a figurehead at first but who finally develops into a memorable character in his own right. Sabriel is both helped and hindered by a very non-cuddly cat named Mogget.

"Lirael" is the middle book this remarkable fantasy series. If I ever die and go to fantasy heaven, I hope it resembles Nix's immense library beneath glacier and mountain, where each door opens into a separate mystery. In the catacombs beneath the library, Lirael discovers how to turn herself into an ice otter or a barking owl, reads "The Book of Remembrance and Forgetting", and duels with the monstrous Stilken.

However, "Lirael" isn't just about Lirael. Prince Sameth, heir apparent to Sabriel as the Old Kingdom's champion against evil necromancers, also comes of age in this volume. There are plenty of evil necromancers to go around. In fact, at the end of this book, it appears as though they are winning the war to turn the Old Kingdom into a kingdom of the dead.

"Abhorsen" is a direct continuation of "Lirael," with the ex-assistant librarian and her companion, Prince Sameth carrying on the battle against Hedge and the evil he is digging up at Red Lake. Although Prince Sameth was meant to be the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, heir to the powers of 'The Book of the Dead' and the seven bells, Lirael now takes up that role, and Sam seeks his destiny as a descendant of the mysterious Wallmakers, who built the barrier between the magical Old Kingdom and the mundane kingdom of Ancelstierre. The two will need all of the magic they can conjure up against an enemy that threatens not only the Charter, but all living beings.

The swirl and cross-currents of life gradually ebb as the dead pass through gate after gate on Garth Nix's nameless river--a river like Styx or Lethe that runs through each of our subconscious underworlds as a legacy of our water-bound gestation. It is an eerie experience to remember that journey of birth--only this time in the wake of the dead--in this marvelous fantasy trilogy.

Garth Nix delves into the dark heart of high fantasy in the Abhorsen Trilogy, three interconnected fantasies about a strange family of necromancers who lay the dead -- and forces of evil to rest. With detailed writing and nuanced, likable characters, this is a modern fantasy classic.

"Sabriel" is the story of a teenage girl living happily at a girl's school, while her necromancer father (the Abhorsen) roams around putting the dead to rest. All that changes when a sending brings her father's sword and bells, meaning that he is dead or incapacitated. So Sabriel takes on her father's duties... and the specter of a horrible evil creature that is reaching out from death to snare her.

"Lirael" takes us to the cold citadel of the Clayr, a race of seers. Young Lirael is depressed because she doesn't have the gift of Sight yet, even though everybody else her age does. But things take a sinister turn when she sets a horrifying, bloodthirsty creature loose, and must work (with the help of the mysterious Disreputable Dog) to get rid of it. But what Lirael doesn't know is that the outside world is in danger too -- from a new evil threat.

"Abhorsen" brings the series to an explosive conclusion. Lirael and her nephew Sameth (along with "cat" Mogget and the Disreputable Dog) are in danger from the Dead. What's more, the Destroyer Orannis has escaped from his prison and is being assisted by an evil necromancer and the Dead called Chlorr -- and a pal of Sameth's. Now Lirael has to stop the Destroyer before he... well, destroys all life in the world.

The Abhorsen Trilogy is a perfect example of dark fantasy, with its grotesque dead, magical bells, enchanted and shadowy beasties. It takes the trappings of high fantasy and lets us see them through a mirror darkly. Not to mention that the characters are likable -- especially the gutsy Sabriel -- and the acid-tongued animals and black humor add a wry spin to the fantasy stories. "Lirael" is a bit limper than the first and third books, since it takes a long time to get going, but it's still a worthy and spellbinding book.

Garth Nix's Abhorsen Trilogy is a thrilling fantasy epic, and not to be missed by anyone who enjoys a little chill down their spine. A must-read for fans of fantasy and horror.

This books captures the spirit, the history and the grandeur that is Cypress Point Golf Club. Alister Mackenzie was a golf architect extraordinaire. The black and white photo's capture the essence of a dream and the genesis of one of the foremost courses ever built. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone that has a deep and abiding appreciation of the game and it's history. Makes a great "Coffee Table" book.

if you have ever visited the monterrey peninsula and are a golfer, you should read this book. great history. amazing stroy.

An excellent read, great historical pictures, this documentary of the building of Cypress Point takes one back to another era of golf deveolpment. If you are a historian of the golf course, this piece of history is a must, Geoff has done a great job of putting it together. The book is timeless.

If you have any interest in Alister MacKenzie's genius, or the great golf architecture of the 1920s, you must have this book. Called by many the Sistine Chapel of Golf, Cypress Point is one of the most exceptional courses on the planet. This book is an exceptional document of how it began. Magnificent full page b&ws show every hole of the early Cypress Point Club, while the text, much from the contemporaneous hand of Robert Hunter (MacKenzie's partner), tells how the course design and construction came together. Shackleford has done a wonderful service for golf historians everywhere by compiling this masterpiece.

Accessibly written by Janice Kathleen Farley (a high school English teacher of fourteen years' experience), All Eagles Are Supposed To Soar is a practical and "real world" guidebook to using patience, positive language, compassion, encouragement within a classroom context in order to motivate students to reach their highest potential. A dedicated self-help guide to improving teaching, and divided half into upbeat exhortations and anecdotes, and half into consumable pages allowing the reader to take notes on observations concerning positive and negative teaching styles ("Positive teachers listen" versus "Negative teachers turn away") All Eagles Are Supposed To Soar is especially recommended reading for novice instructors and has much of enduring value for more seasoned classroom teachers as well.

Janice Farley's book title "ALL EAGLES ARE SUPPOSED TO SOAR" is another way of repeating the much-used political cliché, "No Child Left Behind." Her book chronicles the teaching paths of two people -- one has tenure and the other is newly on the job. Farley advances the story line with six sub-themes, each of which is the mark of a Positive Teacher. Each trait promotes the student to learn to soar. The book also contains a self-analysis section for the instructor, suggesting over forty ways to gauge and enhance the teacher-student relationship.
As a longtime volunteer in an adult education school, I have tutored many students in math and reading. Most learned the hard way that they need an education. Hearing opportunity knock from behind a locked door, they return to gain a key to open that door, their graduate equivalent diploma. If every teacher, either new or tenured, read and apply the basics that Farley itemizes in her book, fewer people would need this subsequent one-on-one tutoring.

I THINK THE BOOK IS VERY WELL WRITTEN AND PROVIDES SOME POSITIVE POINTS FOR TEACHERS. IF ALL TEACHERS WERE TO HAVE THE SAME TEACHING TECHNIQUES AS THE INDIVIDUAL IN THIS BOOK OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE. I THINK THAT ALL TEACHERS NEED TO READ THIS BOOK. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK, THE AUTHOR DONE A TERRIFIC JOB IN WRITTING THIS BOOK.

I THOUGHT THE BOOK WAS WELL WRITTEN. I THINK THAT IF ALL TEACHERS HAD THE SAME POSITIVE ATTITUDE AS THE TEACHER IN THIS BOOK OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE. I THINK THE AUTHOR DID AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK VERY HIGHLY TO ANY ONE WHO IS THINKING OF PURCHASING IT.

This is new author, Vicki Williamson's, newest book and it is so awesome. It starts out with Danny Kingston and Serena Davidson in their senior year of high school. Danny, who has had a thing for Serena since 9th grade, begins to tutor her. They immediately hit it off and marry soon after graduation. The story then takes you through the next twelve years of their life together. They have to endure a lot of the most common trials of life as newlyweds and new parents which makes them seem all the more real, but they also have to endure things that most couples will never have to deal with. Vicki obviously has a very good sense of humor because there are a lot of funny parts but don't leave the tissue to far from you when you read because when you get to the climax you'll need it. In the climax there is a group of 5 Muslim terrorists who are out to rid the world of Christians and they barge in to a revival that Danny, now an evangelist, is preaching. They put a gun to his head but then think better of it when they realize his wife, Serena, is sitting right before him. They tell Danny he has to choose between renouncing Jesus and bowing down to Allah, or a pregnant Serena will be shot and killed. I will not tell you what transpires but sit tight and hang on for the ride of your life. This author has so much potential that I can't wait for her next book. I'm am so serious when I say that if you get a chance to read this book then do! I can not stress how good it was. I have read it four times already!

I was so into this book.....I just didn't want it to ever end!!! Just like a great movie...you hate to see it finish. I can not wait to read more from this author. Several late nights reading and wanting more and more. How wonderful to see romance written like this.....where the couple remains pure. Thanks for the awesome read!!! Sherry

The book Allegiance is well written with likeable characters and real life situations. The love story does not just end with the marriage but starts the beginning of a stronger love. The author incorporates a modern situation that tears at the heart strings and makes the reader wonder about being in the same circumstance. This is a feel good book that leaves you with a smile.

Let me start by saying; I could not put this book down. I absolutely loved this book. Allegiance was so well written that it is really hard to believe that this is only the third book from this author. It is very difficult to say what my favorite part is, because there were so many great parts. I laughed and cried a lot. Vicki managed to tug at my heart strings the most when Sarena gave her life over to God. Thank you for reminding me just how wonderful it was when I gave my life to God. I look forward to reading every book that Vicki can write. Please don't stop writing, you have a wonderful gift from God.

Alex Kosseff has written a fine guide to all aspects of outdoor leadership, with outstanding sections on risk management and the consensus method of decision-making. An important purchase for trip leaders whether new or experienced and definitely worth the wait caused by the delay in publication.

Alex Kosseff's AMC Guide To Outdoor Leadership is a solidly presented and thoroughly "user friendly", 280-page instructional guide to being a competent leader for outdoor excursions, up to and including activities with the potential to be life-threatening. Emphasizing necessary qualities in leadership and character, and taking into awareness the importance of group cohesion, balanced decision-making, keeping a cool head in a crisis and more, the AMC Guide To Outdoor Leadership is an excellent interpersonal guide offering principles applicable to all walks of life, not just the walks through a wilderness.

Alex Kosseff's Outdoor Leadership is a thoughtful and thorough review of the leadership qualities required for safe, fullfilling outdoor adventure. The book presents a balanced emphasis on the leader's need for hard or technical skills and soft skills such as dealing with group dynamics and caring for the participants. I read this book from the view of a parent who led his family on many wonderful wilderness adventures for which we were not completely prepared and found innumerable ideas that would have made the trips even more rewarding. Kosseff's use of stories from his own experiences and those of others tranforms a potentially dry subject into thoroughly enjoyable reading. The stories clearly illustrate the major points of the book.
Outdoor Leadership has a wealth of knowledge that will benefit an audience from adventuresome parents to professional guides.

I've been working as an outdoor leader and whitewater guide for three years, first with kids on summer programs and currently with a variety of age groups year-round. This book helped me to evaluate the way I work with trip participants and co-workers. It opened my eyes to new ideas and has greatly expanded the bad of tricks I use in the field. I appreciated the safety-first focus and the author's friendly tone. Also, the stories, some of which are classics, made the book entertaining. It is unfortunate I didn't read this book a couple of years ago when I was launching into this line of work. If you don't have a lot of education in this field (I was a biology major) but you're involved in some outdoor leadership role this book can be a great help to you. Personally I'm loaning it to all the guides I work with.

This is my five-year-old daughter's absolute FAVORITE book. A teacher suggested it; we fell in love with a borrowed copy. I purchased our own copy (library binding) and gave it to my daughter as a Christmas present. We've read it several times a week since then.

A Summary: The story is about a girl's (Annabelle's) first day of kindergarten. Annabelle struggles to overcome her nerves and find her niche in the classroom. It's a very empowering story for my little girl!

Why I Love the Book: Annabelle is a little girl who loves math. Through Annabelle's story, many academic concepts are introduced (adding money, first-second-third, etc.) Social skills are also taught (making friends, sibling interaction, meeting teachers, etc.) It is an entertaining and educational book. I actually enjoy reading it aloud.

I recommend it for all kindergartners and pre-kindergarteners!!

Brief Synopsis: Annabelle is all ready for kindergarten. Her 3rd grade sister, Lucy, has taught her geography, counting, and colors. Lucy, also, made a name tag for Annabelle to wear on the first day of school. The name tag says: Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner. Annabelle's teacher is Mr. Blum. Annabelle arrives at school feeling confident as she meets him and her classmates. She is confident because of Lucy's good advice and training. It turns out that all of Lucy's advice isn't good. However, Annabelle winds up that first day as a success in her class.

Note to Teachers: The children's book would be wonderful to read on the first day of school. Children in grades K-3 would really love the story. It contains humorous passages and witty pictures. The book teaches the importance of being prepared for school. It teaches the importance of color distinction and the importance of counting. It,also, emphasizes the closeness between siblings.

Sometimes having an older sibling to show you the ropes on the first day of school can be an advantage -- and sometimes it can be a liability! Annabelle's big sister, Lucy, is determined to teach her little sister all the insider secrets. Using their mom's make-up, Lucy teaches Annabelle the real names of the colors, like Raving Scarlet and Blue Desire. Having already taught her sister how to count past one hundred, Lucy seeds Annabelle's mind with the really important issues of math, like "[a]re there numbers less than zero. . . what's the number after infinity?" Armed with an extra dose of Lucy's advice and the admonition, "Remember, you're my sister," Annabelle sets out to conquer kindergarten. Somehow, the strategy doesn't quite work. No one else answers roll the way Lucy taught her to, or calls any of the colors anything even close to "Blue Desire." When Mr. Blum, the teacher, says it's time to do math, Annabelle isn't about to mention zero or infinity. But when Annabelle is the only kindergartner who can count the milk money, Lucy's lessons finally pay off. Annabelle gets to be milk monitor and deliver the money to the cafeteria. When the cafeteria lady asks her name, she proudly proclaims it the way Lucy taught her, "Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner!" Amy Schwartz does as good a job illustrating this story as she does writing it. I especially liked the interaction between the two sisters: Lucy wise in the ways of the world, lathering on her mother's "Blue Desire" eye shadow, and Annabelle gazing up at her in rapt attention.

This is a classic Kindergarten book worth reading on the first day of school...helps those little ones relate to each other and to Annabelle Swift! You may also like the "Miss Bindergarten" books!

Stories in the Signet 1960 edition: 1. The Confession 2. He Understood 3. At Sea - A Sailor's Story 4. A Nincompoop 5. Surgery 6. Ninochka - A Love Story 7. A Cure for Drinking 8. The Jailer Jailed 9. The Dance Pianist 10. The Milksop 11. Marriage in Ten or Fifteen Years 12. In Spring 13. Agafya 14. The Father 15. In Exile 16. Three Years 17. The House with the Mansard -- An Artist's Story 18. Peasants 19. The Darling.

This collection of stories and tales are drawn from the years 1883-1898 and offers the reader a good sampling of Chekhov's prose style, as well as his insight into the nineteenth century Russian character. The characters that occupy places in these stories represent every segment of Russian society: from land owner to peasant, from the scholar to the merchant, from the honest to the perfidious. Chekhov was a doctor by education and training, and this scientific background allowed him to approach his subjects with an objective detachment with little inclination to make his characters "grow." Therefore, Chekhov portrays his characters as they actually were, and never makes a moral judgement as to any weaknesses that might be uncovered.

Chekhov wrote hundreds of these stories and tales in addition to his work as a dramatist, and this element of detachment runs through both genres. If, however, the author assumes a detachment from his characters, he never loses hope for a better day when poverty and ignorance will be eliminated. This theme is also repeated in his dramatic works.

The translation by Ann Dunnigan is a good one and enables the non-Russian reader to fully enjoy Chekhov's simple but beautiful style.

Chekhov may have been from a different culture and era, however, his legacy still leaves an impact on millions of readers and writers worldwide. No storyteller thus far, has been able to blend humor and tragedy in the fashion that made Chekhov so universally loved. Selected Stories is a sampling of some of his finest works. With compassion and delicacy, Chekhov writes of the lives of ordinary people who are struggling to overcome conflict, however trivial their problems may be. One story deals with a man who must teach his young son not to smoke even though he himself is a smoker. Another story describes how a middle-aged man is thought peculiar by family and friends because he has never married. These are just a few examples of how this century-old Russian literature is still relevant to today's frame of mind. Chekhov's talent cannot be overstated. His life was short but what he left behind was majestic and grand.

In the introduction to this book, some compare Chekhov's writing to lace: the beauty of his stories are as much about what's left out as what's left in. Indeed, to a certain extent, that is true. In this book you will find some of the most gently funny and heartbreakingly poignant stories ever written. His writing is almost that of a parish priest recounting the tales of his town, in that he passes no judgement on even the most vile of the characters he has created, but instead allows us to judge each character for ourselves. It's a wonderful glimpse, not only at late-Czarist Russia, but at humanity in general. I highly recommend this book.