Movies Books

A sneak peek behind the Green Acres phenomenon. Contains exclusive interviews, publicity photos, trivia & episode guide.

Once again Stephen Cox writes an amazing book! Like its "siblings", this book is full of incredible photographs, rare trivia and interesting tid-bits. The painstaking research is always evident in this author's books. If you love Oliver, Lisa, Fred Ziffel and gang, then you're going to love this book!

The Hooterville Handbook gives the reader unknown knowledge about the creation, and development of one of the kookiest sitcoms, "Green Acres". It supplies various essays regarding the impact of and interesting things about Hootervile (also Green Acres) and all of its locals. What was so special about Arnold the pig? WAS that salesman married or not? Such pressing questions are masterfully answered by Mr. Cox. Only one glitch, that seems to occur in most of Cox's Classic TV books; he doesn't seem to enjoy writing, watching, or doing anything involving his profession. He writes with a cold air of superiority, which could come across as professional, or rudely distant. Overall, however, this book was fascinating, a good read, and had the insights of the cast, crew, and random essay writers.

I saw Eddie Albert signing a copy of this book at a nostalgia event in Los Angeles in 1998 and I had to go out and buy this book. It's fantastic. You will need no other book to find out about this surreal and wonderful TV classic. Author Steve Cox has done a great job covering the bizarre characters and the exquisite cast of actors who made up this neat show. The photos are rare and presented in the book with a nice design and the Foreword by my favorite character, Hank Kimball, is hilarious. If you want a book about a Sixties TV show and you like Paul Henning's programs ( The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction) then you'll love this book. Don't pass it up.

I have had this book in my possession for a long time. It is a necessary tool for any one that wants to know all there is to know about "Green Acres". All of the episode descriptions, guest star information and original dates of airing are listed. There are also interviews with the cast members. Again this is a must have item.

I am watching the I Love Lucy DVD sets right now. I loved to watch the TV show when I was a little kid right up through adulthood. This book is a great help while watching the DVDs. I can look up an episode that I really loved and read more about it. Memories can be stirred up or I can find out more about the show for the first time. My only regret is that the book isn't comprehensive. It deals with the best episodes and not all of them. I would love a book that deals with all the episodes but maybe it would be too big.

This is a really nice look at I Love Lucy. The pictures are great. I just wish they would have been able to include more episodes.

" I LOVE LUCY " WAS 1 OF THE BEST TV SHOWS IN THE 1950'S AND IS THE BEST SHOW EVER." I LOVE LUCY" CLASSIC MOMENTS BOOK IS A MUST FOR ANY "I LOVE LUCY" FAN. IT SHOWS YOU THE CLASSIC MOMENTS IN WHAT THE BEST TV SHOW THAT WAS EVER MADE.LUCILLE BALL AND DESI ARNAZ MADE WHAT THE SHOW WAS,ALSO VIVIAN VANCE AND WILLIAM FRAWLEY WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS FRED AND ETHEL MERTZ AT 323 E.68TH ST. I FINSHED THIS BOOK AND I TRULY ENJOYED IT.

This is a great book for behind the scenes pictures of the cast and the stage they worked on. I have owned this book for about a year, and come back to look at it all the time. Lucille Ball is my favorite actress, and I just love her to pieces! This book contains photos of their set and everyday life. It also conatains some stories of their lives, so if you are a Lucy fan like me, don't miss this book!

this book is a must have for every LUCY-DESI fan all over the world. it contains beautiful pictures and a lot of information about each episode. it is part of my collection and I see myself coming back to it everytime to look something up.is one of the most complete books I have ever encountered.

WE ALL MAY HAVE OUR ADDICTIONS WHICH WE USE TO GET TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF ECTASY. WE ROMANCE READERS USE THE WRITINGS THAT COME FROM THE PEN OF MS FRANCIS RAY. GIRLFRIEND HAS ONCE AGAIN THRILLED US TO THE BOTTOM OF OUR TOES WITH "INCOGNITO." SHE'S GOT ME LOOKING FOR "HUNTER" WHEREVER I GO!! MS. RAY HAS ONCE AGAIN DELIVERED US TO THE "MOUNTAIN OF JOY," WITH THE STORY OF JAKE HUNTER (AKA "HUNTER") AND ERIN CORTLAND, THIS NOVEL SHOULD EASILY CLIMB THE LADDER AND HOLD THE #1 SPOT ON BLACKBOARD'S LIST OF NOVELS. MS. RAY, MS. RAY, MS. RAY, HOW CAN I TELL MY HEART "BE STILL" WHEN YOU CONTINUALLY KEEP IT PUMPING BEYOND ENDURANCE WITH THE BOOKS YOU KEEP PUTTING OUT? THIS BOOK WAS TOO GOOD TO PUT DOWN. THE EMOTIONAL UPHEAVALS I EXPERIENCED WERE WELL WORTH IT.

I ENJOYED THIS BOOK SO MUCH THAT I POSTPONED READING THE LAST 20 PAGES UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING, IN ORDER TO PROLONG THE JOY!!. AND THEN AFTER READING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY, I REREAD IT AGAIN.

I THEN PICKED UP "SILKEN BETRAYAL" AND STARTED AGAIN ON AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER. EVERYTIME I SAY, "GIRLFRIEND CAN'T OUTDO THIS BOOK," SHE MAKES A LIER OUT OF ME.

NOW, I'M LOST IN THE PAGES OF "SILKEN BETRAYAL" WITH LAUREN BENNETT AND JORDAN HAMILTON AND BELIEVE ME READERS, RUN RUN RUN AND RUN GET THIS ONE ALSO. IF YOU'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED MS RAY, YOU'LL HAVE TO BEGIN IN SMALL DOSES AND WORK YOURSELF UP OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR MIND. THANKS AGAIN FOR SUCH A GREAT BOOK, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO AUGUST 1999 TO GET "UNTIL THERE WAS YOU."

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOUR PEN.

AGAIN, TO YOU ROMANCE READERS, TRY TO GET ANYTHING SHE'S PUT PEN TO PAPER ON, YOU TOO WILL BECOME A BELIEVER. SEE YA!

I purchased this novel after hearing that the BET cable station plans to adapt it to a made-for-tv movie. Money well spent! Excellent suspenseful story, strong unforgettable characters. I like Ms Ray's style and plan to go out and buy the rest of her novels.

First of all let me compliment Francis on a job well done. This book was a masterpiece. The storyline has shown that true love between two stubborn minded persons can develop into a beautiful, fun-filled relationship. Jake, better known as Hunter was willing to not let his feelings or his anatomy *wink* get in the way of his work. He was determined to solve the case without falling victim to the strong attraction between himself and Erin. Erin, determined not to let her pride be destroyed by Hunter's touch soon realised that it was no use hiding from the affectionate feelings towards Hunter growing inside of her heart. I also love the way the story ended, what Hunter was avoiding was exactly what happened...i.e the woman who cared for him was willing to risk her life to save his. I'm also glad that Hunter was able to react quick with Scanlon. Great story and i can't wait to watch in on film.

I am presently a member of the arabesque book club, I have several books written by Francis Ray, I loved them all. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to read Incognito, but I did get to see the Movie version on BET, and I enjoyed it just as much...Please continue to bring to life more of the wonderful arabesque love stories to your readers. "Keep up the good work". And please "Continue" writing those wonderful Novels.

WE ALL HAVE OUR DIFFERENT WAYS OF ATTAINING/ GETTING THERE, BUT MS. RAY HAS DEMONSTRATED A WAY IN WHICH YOU CAN REACH THE MOUNTAIN TOPS OF JOY BY JUST PICKING UP ANY BOOK SHE HAS WRITTEN.

WHEN YOU READ ABOUT HUNTER AND ERIN'S STORY OF LOVE YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THAT WORD CALLED ECTASY.

I'LL ADMIT THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS BOOK, I GOT ANGRY AT THE WAY HE CHOSE TO SHOW HIS ATTRACTION TO HER. I SAID THIS "_____" HAS GOT TO BE CRAZY.

THIS LOVE STORY IS ONE FOR THE "ARCHIVES OF LOVE." MS RAY SURE KNOWS HOW TO KEEP YOU BUYING HER BOOKS. HER LOVE SCENCES ARE INCREDIBLE AND SHE DOESN'T SPARE THE ASSAULT ON YOUR EMOTIONS. SHE IS A DIVA OF SUSPENSE/ROMANCE WRITING. HURRY HURRY PICK THIS ONE UP AND ASCEND TO THE MOUNTAIN OF E C T A S S S S S S Y!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

If you were born in the 1950's this book is for you! All the great shows are here (U.N.C.L.E., Wild, Wild West, Mission Impossible, etc) The book is nicely illustrated and features the author's incredible collection of props from many different shows. Much of the author's prose illustrates his considerable knowledge and love of the subject. I wonder if the former Soviet Union has books like this one? It is my theory that the Soviet Blok collapsed because it simply wasn't very fun. This book is fun. Buy it, or you will be shot with a sleep dart (while you are sleeping, of course, so you will never know that you have been shot with a sleep dart)

Danny Biederman is the actual author--the forward was by Robert W. Wallace. Biederman's collection of fictional spy artifacts is interesting to both movie buffs and to those involved in real-world espionage. I hadn't heard of most of the movies in "the Incredible World of Spy Fi," so I'll be looking them up on DVD. The spy gadgets and props are almost as important as the actor--the gimmicks are characters, too! Who can forget John Steed's steel-lined bowler, Maxwell Smart's shoe phone, the U.N.C.L.E. Special, James Bond's PPK and tricked-out sports cars, or Jim Phelp's self-destructing tape recorders? I enjoyed reading this book and it will be a valuable reference in my personal library.

This book should be in the library, or, more likely, on the coffee table of every aficionado of espionage. Most of us of a certain generation were weaned, so to speak, on the exploits of the imaginative and edgy TV spy series of the 1960s, so there's much here to bring one back to one's formative years. Danny Biederman gives it all his intelligent, informed, and indulgent commentary. There is simply no book like this.

Christmas present, birthday present, valentine's present, no-special-occasion present: this book makes me HAPPY! I can't imagine anyone not falling in love with it. It brought back floods of ecstatic memories -- and of course, I had to read it while drinking a shaken/not/stirred martini! BRAVO! MORE BOOKS from Mr. Biederman's archives -- and WOW, can he write! Wry, witty, charming, impeccably researched -- 10 STARS!

Danny Biederman's THE INCREDIBLE WORLD OF SPY-FI is not only the perfect coffee table book for those of us who grew up wanting to be James Bond (and maybe still DO want to be James Bond), it's also a brilliant and deeply enjoyable work of scholarship and pop-culture history. Biederman's personal collection of props, costumes, and other arcana from the Bond films, TV shows like THE MAN FROM UNCLE, and even spoofs like AUSTIN POWERS, has been justifiably legendary for years; now he's given us the gift of an intense look at just a fraction of that collection. One word of warning: Don't just get lost in the incredible photos, because Biederman's insightful, humorous, and intelligent prose (which accompanies the pics) is every bit as pleasurable as the visuals. My only complaint? I just wished this book was six times longer. Can we hope for a SPY-FI 2 sometime in the future, Mr. Biederman? Sure hope so.

This book will encourage young girls to think of themselves as capable of becoming & doing anything their hearts' desire. Each Jane the Dragon book has a moral lesson, and the lesson in this book is "be true to yourself" and "each person has unique & special qualities."

This is a great story for girls (and boys) because it tells the story of a girl who follows her dream regardless of what the people around her say. Jane perservered even though she was told "girls can't be knights". The story is told lightly and the drawings are sweet.

My two and a half year old does not watch much TV but she loves Jane and the Dragon on Saturdays (she also likes Jacob Two Two and we have ordered those books as well). She was very excited when she saw the books as well. In a time when TV execs could not allow Dora to be on top (by giving Diego his own show) it is nice to have a female lead that is strong and brave but also sometimes makes mistakes and learns from them.

The stories are interesting enough for older kids too.

As the mother of a young daughter, I am always aware of how hard I must work to ensure that she sees herself as a person and not an object. I absolutely love how this book turns convention upside down and how Jane is true to herself even when everyone else--her parents included--is trying to tell her to conform. This book served as an excellent introduction to a brief discussion with my daughter as to how she can be anything she wants to be, no matter what others tell her.

This is such a special and unique book. It has a great message, especially for girls. It challenges stereotypes and convention in such a sweet way. Enjoy!

Mary-Kate wants to throw a surprise party for Michelle but Ashley is having one for Jennifer the same day. Mary-Kate invites all of her friends and the same wiht AShley but then something bad happens for the both of them and they need help fast.

Mary-Kate and Ashley are in big trouble. Mary-Kate planned a surprise party for her friend which is great, but unfortunately Ashley planned a surprise party for her best friend the same night at their house. They came for the biggest surprise. A great book!

Ashley is throwing a party for her friend, Jennifer Dilber but Mary Kate wanted to throw a party for her best friend, Amanda Bennet. Her friend, Amanda got mad at her for not calling her back when Mary Kate's supposed to. In the ending, they both got a surprise party for their friends and everyone felt happy!

Another pretty cool Two of a Kind novelette.Mary-Kate and Ashley are planning a party each,for the same night.Now the competition is on as to who will recieve the most guests!

Mary-Kate plans a suprise party for her best friend Amanda on the same night Ashley plans a suprise party for her best friend Jennifer. Even though Mary-Kate and Ashley are twin sisters, they have totally different personalities so major arguments arise, not only with each other but with their best friends. I'd have to say this is the best book in the whole series that I've read so far because these kinds of problems are what everyday kids would probably have.

This book is awesome!!(although im biased, my uncle wrote it..

wo

This book totally kicks butt dudes !!!!! Specially if you are a true Ghostbusters fan or should I say Ghosthead !!!!!!!!! It has like a hundred pictures in it !!!!! I recommend this book to all Ghostbusters fans around the WORLD !!!!!!!!!

Imagine yourself back in New York in 1983. It's about 5:30 in the morning. You're a regular pedestrian walking down the street near the New York Public Library. A large crowd of people are gathered there. Equipment such as cameras, lights, and microphones are everywhere. Soon you find yourself standing next to Bill Murray.

You ask, "What's this production?"

Bill says, "Production? This is a madhouse! These cameras are just getting in the way!"

You step back and see odd statues and robots crafted into obscene and terrifying figures. Suddenly, a voice shouts, "Action!" and you're pushed aside while Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd walk into the magnificent library with a huge camera dolly following them.

Finally, you spot a small card table packed with coffee, donuts, and Styrofoam cups. Tired and thirsty, you pour yourself some hot coffee from an electric pot hooked up to a small generator. As soon as you touch the pot, a kid jumps from behind the shadows and screams, "Don't move!"

"I just want a sip of coffee!"

"This is Dan Aykroyd's coffee table. Only he gets anything on it, ya' hear? I'm his assistant!"

"You've got to be kidding!"

The kid whips his arm from the shadow of a tall streetlight and points with a shaking hand, "And that table is Bill Murray's!"

Not willing to argue with this crazed assistant, you begin to walk away from the mass of moviemaking paraphernalia and out of the area. Before leaving, you spot a short, nerdy man sitting at a small card table by some sound equipment. The table is filled with art supplies, and the man works on carefully molding a green goblin the shape of a spud. "I've got to get out of here," you think to yourself as you skip over a roadblock and scuffle back into the reality of non-fiction.

In 1984, the next summer, not knowing what to do with your friends, you go to a movie called GHOSTBUSTERS, for it's been getting a lot of hype in the media and you want to see what the fuss is about. As the first scene comes into focus, you let out an involuntary shout of amazement. That was the New York Public Library! Soon enough, the pieces fall into place. You had witnessed the partial filming of one of the greatest comedy films in history!

After the movie, as you walk into a bookstore to kill time before a party, there in front of you is a large book entitled, "Making Ghostbusters: The Screenplay." Ecstatic, you pass up cab fare to attend your party and buy this magnificent book, pouring over it until dawn. You realize that you're a Ghostbuster fan for life. The book is a possession you cherish, for it's like a souvenir of time you spent unknowingly with some of the greatest moviemakers in film history, not including that overprotective assistant.

The movie GHOSTBUSTERS means a lot to many people. One way to sum up their incredible fondness of the movie is "pure cinema magic." Most first impressions of the movie quantify its resounding quality: the wizardry of the special effects, the amazing cast, and the taught, well-written script. And it's largely a comedy! How many comedies have accumulated such a fan base? It's almost unheard of! How many comedies are enjoyed as thoroughly and extensively fifteen years after their original release? Almost none, I'd bet.

Here, in Making Ghostbusters: The Screenplay, the behind-the-scenes secrets and the complete shooting script are here, but the book is more than that. It's a complete sentimental scrapbook that materializes the movie's greatness and encapsulates its craftsmanship and artistry like a time capsule of moviemaking blood, sweat, tears, and creativity.

What this classic volume needs badly is a reprint, but for now, Amazon.com is probably your only hope. With the magnificent re-release of the movie on DVD, this book in its entirety would be a wonderful companion. So let's get this message out; let this be the manifesto! Hear that? Get those printing presses cranking, and bring back the magic!

Making Ghostbusters contains hundreds of exclusive concept sketches (many by legendary horror artist Bernie Wrightson), details of which scenes were deleted and why, color photos (though not nearly enough), and more. The book is built around an annotated script, with enlightening comments from Harold Ramis, Ivan Reitman, and others from the creative team. Few hit movies have had their creative process so wonderfully documented from genesis to box office--for Ghostheads, it's a must-have.

This is a classic. It is the first book of its kind, and probably the first book about Star Trek at all. But The Making of Star Trek is much more than any of the later books with similar names. This book doesn't idealize or simplify the making of the series. It doesn't enthusiastically praise everything and everyone involved in its production. It is an authentic and meticulous report on how TOS in particular and a TV series in general comes to life. It shows that it is a process of try and error, that aspects have to be taken into account the viewers wouldn't think of, and that the responsible persons don't always know exactly what they want ("I need some device that does something...").

The story how Stephen E. Whitfield (aka Stephen E. Poe) asked Gene Roddenberry if he could write a book about the series sounds like a fairy tale, but is true. The Great Bird was very forthcoming, and Whitfield was granted access to everything behind the scenes of the still running show, seemingly without any restriction. The book shows production schedules, budgets, private notes, script drafts, production sketches, all things that are usually kept secret or simplified for a larger public. I don't think that something like this would be still possible today. Compared to The Making of Star Trek, Whitfield's last book (he passed away in 2000) on Voyager seems rather superficial.

The Making of Star Trek may be over 30 years old, but it is of more than only historical value. It demonstrates that TV is a business that sometimes doesn't allow technical or artistic perfection. It also shows how many things we may take for granted and that are essential parts of the Star Trek Universe today have taken a rather surprising course change. Who would like Vulcans with names like "Spook, Spork, Splak, ..." as frequently suggested in the early days, or who would think that one race was originally described with the words, "Honor is a despicable trait.", namely the Klingons?

There are probably loads of 'Making of Star Trek' books out there, but this is particularly interesting as it was written in 1968, between the second and third series, before the show had become a phenomenon. Which is odd at first - everything is in the present tense, and there's nothing about the cultural impact of the show because that was all in the future. Doubly odd is the fact that all of the many quotes from Gene Roddenberry are reported IN BLOCK CAPITALS, giving the bizarre impression that he is not a television producer, but God Himself.

It's extremely detailed, and is as much about the making of any TV late-60s series as it is 'Star Trek'. There are bits from shooting scripts, set plans, photographs of noted theatre actor William Shatner in old-age makeup (looking nothing like he looks in genuine old age), profiles of production staff, and programme budgets which, translated dollar-for-dollar, would just about cover the catering bill on 'Star Trek : The Next Generation'. It's worth it for the stream of memos about Vulcan names alone.

Back when there was little else written about Star Trek, before David Gerrold's great "World of Star Trek" analysis or Franz Joseph's blueprints, "The Making of Star Trek" was the ultimate. I devoured it as a boy in the early '70s. To this day I don't think anyone can consider themselves a true original series die-hard without having read this book. It really does take you inside the making of the show, but keeps it on a professional level, without salaciousness. That's because the book wasn't written as something for the few Star Trek fans that were known of then, but as a book about how to write for TV, as older printings stated on the cover. That does leave some things out, but those details have been covered since by other books and memoirs.

Since this was written while the series was in production, it's a good view into how people felt then, even refreshing because Trek had yet to become a pop culture colossus, so the book doesn't have any of that built-in reverence. They were making a good TV show that aspired to be something better than most everything else on then, but in the end it was considered just another TV job, certainly not anything that would become legendary.

For instance, "The Defenders," one of the highest praised, most thoughtful and well-written dramas of the '60s, is scarecely remembered by anyone not old enough to have seen it. Part of the issue with that series had to do with rerun-rights issues, but another part had to do with the times then, when TV was still rather young, and shows were thought of as rather disposable, coming and going without much of an afterlife except for "Lucy" and "Honeymooners" reruns. When you think of it in that context, it's easy to see why Gene Roddenberry bailed on Star Trek after it became clear NBC was out to kill it, even though the letter campaign forced them to bring it back for a third year.

The pics and blueprints within the book are cool but may not be as impressive today. At least the blueprints, while not "accurate" by today's standards, were drawn by Matt Jefferies himself. Remember, though, for a long time this was all the reference stuff available. However, if you want what is still a good insider's look into the making of the show, plus Gene Roddenberry's take before even he got sucked into the myth, this is a must-read.

hey Spouk

the capitalization of quotes from Roddenberry (aka the Great Bird of the Galazy) give one "the bizarre impression that he is a god" because for the series, he was :-)

i have a copy of the original publication, read it then and howled, still think it is a great read.

BTW Terry Pratchett uses the same literary device of all caps for Death, in the Discworld series.

Harlan Ellison's memories of the show are fascinating reading as well. As are David Gerrold's.

I read this in the Seventies and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I've bought it again and enjoyed it all over again. Fascinating behind-the-scenes look at TOS. You have to read this book to understand what a groundbreaking series Star Trek was. You also learn how grueling a TV series is to work on. This book is fascinating, and sometimes hilarious!

DJ's and Chowder's life was simple. They woke up, had breakfast, went to school, came home, ate dinner and did homework. But DJ had better things to do than homework. Across the street from him was a shattered, non-painted old house. And in it was an old man know as Mr. Nebbercraker. One day DJ and Chowder where spying on Mr. Nebbercraker when a girl named Jenny came into the scene. She was about their age and was pulling a red wagon full of cookie boxes. She was probably selling them as a fundraiser for her school. She walked up to Mr. Nebbercraker's door and was about to ring the doorbell when DJ and Chowder came running down after her screaming not to. As she rang the doorbell a low echoing sound that seemed to go miles into the center of the earth boomed and the two large parallel windows above her turn bright red and turned into a pair of evil red glowing eyes. The door swung open and razor sharp shards of wood came out of the top and bottom of it, and then the rug leading to the back of the house turned into a tongue and soon it looked much like a face. All of the sudden the walkway to Mr.Nebbercraker's front door turned into an inclined plane and then Jenny started to almost roll down right to the razor sharp teeth. Just as she was about to be devoured by this "monster house" DJ and Chowder caught her and ran back across the street and back to their room. Of course Jenny was stunned and knew they had to stop this evil house. Ever since that day DJ watches Mr. Nebbercraker's house to get some proof that this house is... ALIVE! But Halloween was coming up and all of the people that trick-or-treated Mr.Nebbercraker's house will be eaten. So begins a battle of three kids and a living house nightmare!





Opinion
Monster House was a fun and entertaining book about three kids and a living nightmare. I recommend Monster House for people who like suspenseful, action scenes. It was a very good book, and every night I was tempted to read more and more of it. It was just like I was watching the movie right in my bed!

DJ's and Chowder's life was simple. They woke up, had breakfast, went to school, came home, ate dinner and did homework. But DJ had better things to do than homework. Across the street from him was a shattered, non-painted old house. And in it was an old man know as Mr. Nebbercraker. One day DJ and Chowder where spying on Mr. Nebbercraker when a girl named Jenny came into the scene. She was about their age and was pulling a red wagon full of cookie boxes. She was probably selling them as a fundraiser for her school. She walked up to Mr. Nebbercraker's door and was about to ring the doorbell when DJ and Chowder came running down after her screaming not to. As she rang the doorbell a low echoing sound that seemed to go miles into the center of the earth boomed and the two large parallel windows above her turn bright red and turned into a pair of evil red glowing eyes. The door swung open and razor sharp shards of wood came out of the top and bottom of it, and then the rug leading to the back of the house turned into a tongue and soon it looked much like a face. All of the sudden the walkway to Mr.Nebbercraker's front door turned into an inclined plane and then Jenny started to almost roll down right to the razor sharp teeth. Just as she was about to be devoured by this "monster house" DJ and Chowder caught her and ran back across the street and back to their room. Of course Jenny was stunned and knew they had to stop this evil house. Ever since that day DJ watches Mr. Nebbercraker's house to get some proof that this house is... ALIVE! But Halloween was coming up and all of the people that trick-or-treated Mr.Nebbercraker's house will be eaten. So begins a battle of three kids and a living house nightmare!





Opinion
Monster House was a fun and entertaining book about three kids and a living nightmare. I recommend Monster House for people who like suspenseful, action scenes. It was a very good book, and every night I was tempted to read more and more of it. It was just like I was watching the movie right in my bed!

I read the book "Monster House", adapted by Tom Hughes. This story takes place in a neighborhood in the town of Mayville. A kid named DJ knew something was wrong with the house across the street. The house was alive and would eat anything or anyone that stepped on its lawn. When the house came alive, the front door was its mouth, the porch was its teeth, the foyer rug was its tounge, the upstairs windows were its eyes, and the trees on the side of the house were its arms. The biggest problem was DJ and his friends were the only ones that could see the house alive. DJ and his friends, Chowder and Jenny, were going to spy on the house and find out what was going on with it. They also wanted to find out why the house became alive after its owner, Mr. Nebbercracker disappeared. After spying on the house with their telescope, the 3 friends realized that the house was really alive and the furnace was the heart and soul of the house that kept it alive. The friends made a plan to get inside the house and put out the fire in its furnace.
The three friends went onto the lawn and up to the house. When the house "woke up" it stared to chase them. DJ, Chowder, and Jenny ran down the street and the house chased after them. They led the house to the back of the neighborhood to a construction sight they called "The Danger Zone". While the house chased the kids, Mr. Nebbercracker showed up. He had been sick and was at the hospital. Mr. Nebbercracker was trying to calm the house down. DJ finally climbed to the top of a crane and dropped dynamite into the house's chimney. The house exploded and destroyed the furnace. While the house was burning, the kids and Mr. Nebbercracker saw a spirit floating up from the ashes. It was Mr. Nebbercracker's wife, Constance, who had died years before. Her spirit was trapped in the house and when Mr. Nebbercracker went to the hospital, she thought that he had died and left her alone. She was released when the kids destroyed the house. Mr. and Mrs. Nebbercracker were able to say good-bye and Mrs. Nebbercracker's spirit was finally free.
I loved this book because its details. The description of the house was great. I could actually envision the house in my mind. I also loved the suspense.

I read the book "Monster House", adapted by Tom Hughes. This story takes place in a neighborhood in the town of Mayville. A kid named DJ knew something was wrong with the house across the street. The house was alive and would eat anything or anyone that stepped on its lawn. When the house came alive, the front door was its mouth, the porch was its teeth, the foyer rug was its tounge, the upstairs windows were its eyes, and the trees on the side of the house were its arms. The biggest problem was DJ and his friends were the only ones that could see the house alive. DJ and his friends, Chowder and Jenny, were going to spy on the house and find out what was going on with it. They also wanted to find out why the house became alive after its owner, Mr. Nebbercracker disappeared. After spying on the house with their telescope, the 3 friends realized that the house was really alive and the furnace was the heart and soul of the house that kept it alive. The friends made a plan to get inside the house and put out the fire in its furnace.
The three friends went onto the lawn and up to the house. When the house "woke up" it stared to chase them. DJ, Chowder, and Jenny ran down the street and the house chased after them. They led the house to the back of the neighborhood to a construction sight they called "The Danger Zone". While the house chased the kids, Mr. Nebbercracker showed up. He had been sick and was at the hospital. Mr. Nebbercracker was trying to calm the house down. DJ finally climbed to the top of a crane and dropped dynamite into the house's chimney. The house exploded and destroyed the furnace. While the house was burning, the kids and Mr. Nebbercracker saw a spirit floating up from the ashes. It was Mr. Nebbercracker's wife, Constance, who had died years before. Her spirit was trapped in the house and when Mr. Nebbercracker went to the hospital, she thought that he had died and left her alone. She was released when the kids destroyed the house. Mr. and Mrs. Nebbercracker were able to say good-bye and Mrs. Nebbercracker's spirit was finally free.
I loved this book because its details. The description of the house was great. I could actually envision the house in my mind. I also loved the suspense.

The book Monster House is really cool, it's all about these three children spy on the house next door. The house is alive and lots of things happen to the kids, if you want to know you could read the book. There are three main characters, they are DJ, Chawder, and Jenny. If you like action books you will like this. The book is not really scary. The auther is Simon Spotlight. Good work Simon! I hope you like it.

Beautifully written novel about fame and it's price. Clementine is sent on her final assignment for Flame magazine about the rise of current 'hot' actress Allegra Coleman. The car carrying the two women, which Allegra is driving, is involved in an accident. Clementine loses an eye and Allegra disappears. The resulting media frenzy that follows is deeply explored, Allegra is hotter than ever and Clementine, being the last human to see her alive, is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, eye patch and all.
Sherrill writes with such intelligence and insight on the evanescence of celebrity that I came to look at this Hollywood hyped world in a different way. Heavy quotes such as "Every star is born of a conspiracy of sorts." stick with me still.
The inclusion of ghosts of movie stars past is deftly executed and adds glamour and intrigue and got me interested in these women (Loretta Young, Tallulah Bankhead, Myrna Loy, Mae Busch) and their movies.
A finely crafted novel you won't regret spending time with.

My Last Movie Star by Martha Sherrill is a clever, funny send-up of Hollywood that will suit those who've succumbed the glamour of Tinseltown, as well those cynics that view Hollywood Fame as a force wholly independent of the deserts of its victims.

Elements of the book read as truth. Sherrill presents an authentic insider's view of the star-making machinery that occasionally turns interesting, quirky personalities into genuine Hollywood Stars. The story line and characters are as real as anything you might find in the magazine racks at the grocery store checkout line. Lest the reader confuse Hollywood truth with reality, however, the book is punctuated with supernatural visits from Stars of the past, providing an effective and comical vehicle for examining the nature of Fame.

For those that revel in the fiction of the real Movie Star world, Sherrill is respectful of history, and pays homage to the oeuvres of forgotten Stars. For those who choose to laugh at the self-importance of Hollywood, the story is told through the jaded eyes of an outsider journalist that cuts through sycophantic phoniness like a laser. And provides plenty of belly laughs along the way!

Truth or fiction, Hollywood idol or idiot, My Last Movie Star will appeal to just about anyone the relishes a good story well-told.

My Last Movie Star by Martha Sherrill is a clever, funny send-up of Hollywood that will suit those who've succumbed the glamour of Tinseltown, as well those cynics that view Hollywood Fame as a force wholly independent of the deserts of its victims.

Elements of the book read as truth. Sherrill presents an authentic insider's view of the star-making machinery that occasionally turns interesting, quirky personalities into genuine Hollywood Stars. The story line and characters are as real as anything you might find in the magazine racks at the grocery store checkout line. Lest the reader confuse Hollywood truth with reality, however, the book is punctuated with supernatural visits from Stars of the past, providing an effective and comical vehicle for examining the nature of Fame.

For those that revel in the fiction of the real Movie Star world, Sherrill is respectful of history, and pays homage to the oeuvres of forgotten Stars. For those who choose to laugh at the self-importance of Hollywood, the story is told through the jaded eyes of an outsider journalist that cuts through sycophantic phoniness like a laser. And provides plenty of belly laughs along the way!

Truth or fiction, Hollywood idol or ..., My Last Movie Star will appeal to just about anyone the relishes a good story well-told.

Clementine James, journalist to the stars, embarks on her last celebrity interview with up-and-comer Allegra Coleman. After the interview, Clementine has plans to retire from movie star journalism and live with her stable, steady boyfriend Ned on his farm in Virginia.

But her plans go awry when Allegra crashes the car they're driving in - Clementine winds up in the hospital minus an eye, and Allegra disappears. Instead of going to Virginia to mend, Clementine becomes wrapped up in Allegra's disappearance and southern California culture, attending vigils and having one night stands with TV sitcom stars. Meanwhile, she's getting visits from yesterday's silver screen sirens - Myrna Loy, Loretta Young and Gloria Swanson, just to name a few.

Sherrill really seems to know this territory - stars and the culture of fame - and she writes very believably and farcically about it. Mostly, I found this to be an enjoyable read about the cult of celebrity, but after a while I grew tired of her "encounters" with dead movie stars; it was just kind of annoying quirk that didn't really move the story along. And if you're not familiar with old movies, you may have no idea who most of these women are. But the back of the book does include a cheeky "filmography" that offers a brief synopsis and critique of the movies mentioned throughout.

...and it turns out it goes down a little too smoothly. If you've ever wondered what it might be like to suddenly have the world's celebrity spotlight searching you relentlessly out, My Last Movie Star is a must read.

This book, about a cynical celebrity journalist who accidentally crosses over to become a celebrity in her own right, gives hilarious insight into the seductive but ephemeral allure of sudden fame.

My favorite sub-theme is the author's biting description of the self-important self-adulation of movieland's beautiful elite. The story's protagonist, Clementine James, ends up making some surprising choices when she is thrust into the glare of Hollywood's klieg lights.

One of the inventions that makes this book an original and a great read is the way the writer effortlessly weaves in appearances from the spirits of formerly-exalted-but-now-forgotten movie divas. You'll find out why Demi Moore named her unfortunate daughter Tallulah, among other tidbits.

MLMS will appeal to the serious movie buff, as well as anyone who has wondered about the ridiculous--and lucrative-- conniving that goes on behind the fame-making machine.

Hilarious. Entertaining. Soon to be made into a major motion picture, no doubt directed by Robert Altman, with Renee Zellweger cast as Clementine and Tim Robbins as the manipulative publisher Ed.