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Okay, I admit it. I'm a sucker for golf stories. This is the first one I've ever seen dealing with the college golf scene, which all by itself practically guaranteed I'd read it through no matter how rough the mechanics of the writing were. Happily, the author is very competent. Errors were few and far between, and none were of the "I'm a rank beginner" variety.
The narrator, whose name is Otis, is also on the team and his acute eye for detail drew me in from the first word. This opening is long on tell and short on show, but what the hey, Otis is watching the final holes of a qualifying round preceding the weekend's match, and the players aren't saying much. They're too busy trying to win.
On the green is Otis' friend and roommate, Roberto. Roberto lost confidence in his putter and hasn't made the last three matches, but here he somehow drops his lame duck putt to win by a stroke and it's off to Las Vegas for the weekend match.
To date, the entire cast hasn't been on stage, but those who have are well drawn. There's arrogant team captain Paul Sloan, whose convertible has a motorized trunk and who's as obnoxious as you'd expect a rich preppie to be; laid back coach Stony, whose idea of how to settle conflict is to drop two balls and whoever hits it closest gets things his way; and of course Roberto and Roberto's club pro brother Cesar.
The excerpt ends too soon, but I'd bet a bundle John Ochwat has a sizzler of a plot waiting for his readers. I'd definitely pick this one up if I saw if on a newsstand.

because I want to keep reading this this elegant, spare novel that probes the emotional costs of class in the U.S. during late capitalism. The gaming tables and the game of golf represent two faces of class mobility (or the lack thereof). Will Roberto golf his way out of the working class? If so, will his victory ring as hollow as the trunk slamming on the narrator's aged Honda? The American Dream is alive, but not well.

While not a golfer myself, I find the sport interesting to watch and enjoyed the characters here. The words are well-written and the story is engaging. It was descriptive enough to put me into the story while using my own imagination, too. I look forward to being able to read the entire novel.

Not being a die hard golfer like so many, I was a bit apprehensive about what the book would be about. But love the writing style (love the wit)and has already made me smile. Looking forward to reading more as the characters are amusing and seems that this will be a fun read.

I was intrigued by the title of John Ochwat's novel and expected to read about society mavens in search of the ultimate clubbe experience. Of course, the title refers to a golfer who hasn't got the exact club for the precise distance needed to reach the green on his/her next shot. The particular golfers involved, Otis and Roberto, are presented in opening paragraphs in a way that makes the reader want to know more about them and be a part of their efforts. Trapped 'between clubs' requires adjustment to achieve a goal...perhaps Ochwat's metaphor for the struggles Otis and Roberto face in their young, uncertain lives. The writing style is flowing, natural and women readers will not be put off by a lot of posturing and testosterone one might otherwise associate with male athletes whose efforts (early on) simply 'skate past the hole' like a wayward three-foot putt. I look forward to learning more about how their lives unfold and the game of golf is Ochwat's perfect venue from which to view a well-written 'slice' of life!

BOUND FOR CANAAN should be required reading for every American! Every American! This is one of the most important books about our history and who we are and where we came from.

Bound for Canaan is a fascinating, engaging, book on the "Underground RR" written from primary sources. It describes in vivid, first hand detail the flight of slaves from the south and the changing attitudes of the northern and southern states on the slave issue from the 1820's to the eve of the civil war. Wonderful book.

I listened to the abridged audio version on CD and thoroughly enjoyed it. Read by the author, it is in interesting study that contains a number of riveting stories.

I have two minor complaints about this audio version. One is that the author's voice sometimes drops into a range that can be inaudible if you are listening in a vehicle with traffic noise around you. The other is that maps are not included in the CD set. Fortunately my public library had a copy of the book so that I was able to examine the maps and various illustrations. The maps were of interest to me since a couple of my great-great-grandfathers supposedly sheltered escaped slaves, one near the Ohio River and another in Philadelphia.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and inspiring book that raises questions about civil disobedience that we must ponder in order to understand the complexity of our history. I wholeheartedly recommend the audio version to those who like audiobooks. It is as exciting as an adventure novel, and you can supplement it with a hardcopy if you want.

Harriet Tubman was a great lady, and she did not simply help the slaves to freedom -- she helped move America to a better place. Growing up, whenever I heard or read of the Underground Railroad, Ms. Tubman's name came up again and again. This book expands the vision of the Undergound Railroad and shows it as a part of something much bigger in our history.

First, the book does discuss the railroad and how it works. The reader gets an idea of the perils involved and the logistics behind helping a slave to freedom. This was no easy task, and this books shows the reader not just how brave the conductors were, but how brave the "passengers" were.

Second, the book discusses the fortitude and determination of the different people who tried to make America better by fighting the injustices of slavery. We learn of the battles of the press as well as the battle of the gun. This was a dark time in our history, and the author does a good job in illuminating us to the various people that tried to illuminate their time.

Lastly, the book explains what else happened. In school, we learned that the Underground Railroad helped slaves to freedom. That was about it. There is more to the story, and the author explains this to us. We also see that just getting to the North didn't make things better. There were still things that needed to happen to help the slaves create their new life.

In all, I would highly recommend reading this book. It brings a much more enlightened perspective to this part of American history.

I really enjoyed this book, which fleshes out for the first time, based on significant new research, the numerous heroes and participants who risked their lives for freedom from slavery. A few insights in the book were new to me:

1. I had no idea how crippling and discriminatory the laws were against blacks who lived in "free states." Most of the time they could not vote, own property, needed affidavits in order to move or get a job, were subject to kidnapping by freelance slave catchers -- it was pretty horrible.

2. I did not realize the critical role that radical, truth-to-power religion, in particular but not exclusively the Quakers, played in ending the evil practice of slavery. These folks risked financial ruin, stonings, beatings, and criminal charges to put in practice their moral view -- based on their faith -- that slavery in all forms must end. They deserve our thanks and praise, and we should remember them as we are faced with current moral conflicts that call out for action based on our beliefs.

3. I found especially interesting the debates in Congress in the 1850s in support of the federal Fugitive Slave Act, and the justifications used by supporters of slavery to denigrate the abolitionists. Indeed, Mr. Bordewich makes the point that even in "free" states, a measure of your worth as a politician was how "tough" you were on abolitionists, in the same sense that today politicians are expected to be "tough" on communism.

But what was interesting to me was that slave supporters like Daniel Webster justified the practice based on the Bible (cherry picking quotes that supposedly support the practice); science (blacks were intellectually inferior and like animals who require our feeding and care); inalienable property rights (the slaves were chattel and were necessary in order for owners to make productive use of their land); and also anti-Europe prejudice (the abolitionists are getting all of their crazy ideas from Europe). These concepts are still being used today to justify social policies that may in the distant future seem equally morally bankrupt.

I did think, however, the book could have used a little editing. I found it a bit difficult to keep up with so many historical figures, and perhaps some of their activities could have been trimmed in the interests of narrative flow.

But in all, a highly readable book and a substantial step forward in terms of historical scholarship.

I was supposed to read one of Jordan Sonnenblick's books this summer as he is coming to visit next year. I wasn't too excited at first as I had never heard of him and that usually means a red "X" in my book. But this book is one the best I have read so far this summer. I almost cried several times, like when Jeffy sent Steven that note and when Samantha had died. Jeffery was such a cute and generous brother, yet I still understood how he was annoying. Steven was an engaging character with a ton of wit and sarcasm up his sleeve. I enjoyed how he and Annette got together at the end(but who didn't see that coming?)and liked how Renee (who had a really big ego)became friends with Steven and cared about him. I found the scenes where Steven was suffering and crying the most painful to read, and I began to ponder about life and how lucky we all are. This book really opened a window for me, and I'm thankful for that. I only have one problem,and that is how much the author uses "rents" in his book. I have never heard any kid my age use that in reference to their parents. But I think that Mr. Sonnenblick caputured the speech and actions of the teenager well, so that's a plus, considering how little I can relate to a lot of the teen/real-world fiction books that pervade the market. In all, this book was so enjoyable and so good that I'll probably read all his other books. Well done!

Sorry, I just didn't find this book realistic at all. The author tries very hard, but does not succeed in writing a well written book about childhood cancer.

It is extremely hard to do and the author was very unsuccessful with this book.

Skip it!

This book is about an 8th grade kid trying to deal with life: school, girls, and playing in the band. He is the lead drummer for the all-city band. However, this all changes when his brother gets cancer. His whole life is turned upside-down. now he has to deal with school, girls, band, and a brother with cancer. It is an intriuging book and easy to read. I would reccomend it to someone in middle school or, maybe, in the early years of high school.

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie is a realistic- fiction book where a kid named Steven finds out his little brother has leukemia. On top of that Steven has school, drums, and girls to think about. I gave Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie a rating of 5 out of 5 stars because it was one of the best books i have ever read. It makes you cry and laugh at the same time. I like books were i can not predict the ending and this was definitely one of those books. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is a heartwarming book that left me thinking about the difficulties of having someone with cancer in your family. I mean imagine having cancer or the medical bills that need to be paid. What about the family falling apart? Find out about this and much more in Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick.

As if being a 13-year-old, eighth grade male isn't bad enough, (there's girls to impress, homework to catch up on, drums to practice), try finding out your five-year-old brother has leukemia. It started the morning Steven left his little brother, Jeffrey, on a stool while he made his "moatmeal." Jeffrey fell and the bleeding started. Their mother races out the front door to take Jeffrey to the emergency room with an ice pack on his nose. Steven dreads the lecture he knows he'll get once he's home from school. Instead he's told his mother and brother will be leaving for Philadelphia and tests.

Steven tries to hold it together. But before long, he's feeling invisible, left out, guilty, angry. lonely, helpless, and wondering "what's the point?" His mother is totally wrapped up in caring for Jeffrey, his dad has become a worried zombie, and there's nothing Steven can do to help. Or is there?

For me, the single most important criteria for a gold star book is that it must make me "feel". It must make me reevaluate life as I see it, and wonder if I'm doing all I can to 1)appreciate my own blessings, and 2)make life better for others. This book does that and more. Jordan Sonnenblick gives the reader an honest, gritty look into the life of a family dealing with childhood cancer. He does it with amazing sympathy and humor. My 13-year-old son recommended this book to me. Two of his friends read it as well. If you haven't had the chance to read DRUMS GIRLS & DANGEROUS PIE, I highly recommend it.

An ambitious first chapter in what is clearly an ambitious novel. Within these opening pages we have meditations on art; life and death (India's youth slicing away at cadavers--"standing with their heads bowed and scalpels in hand like devotees in front of an idol"); India's caste system; post-partition India (and, as the novel unfolds, quite possibly colonialist India, too--perhaps as told through the story of the protagonist's freedom-fighter grandmother). Each of these meditations is intertwined with the novel's larger meditation on identity, particularly the dual nature of identity: twin sisters; the twin post-partition nations of India and Pakistan; the dichotomy in the protagonist's temperament--Apollonian (medicine) / Dionysian (art).

And all of this is done deftly, as well as with apparent ease. The narrative does not strain under the weight of so much content, as it might in the hands of a less skilled writer. Ms. Kapur may be a "first-time novelist," but I suspect that, as with many acclaimed first-time novelists before her, this is simply the first time that we, the public (who must wait for agents and editors to vet and choose novelists for us) have been given the opportunity to read her work, and not the first time she has tried her hand at writing a complex and fluid narrative. Few writers acquire that skill overnight. Ms. Kapur is clearly no amateur.

Let's hope that she is given her due and that we, in turn, are given the chance to read her novel in full. "Inside the Mirror" is as fine a debut as any writer (or reader) could hope for.

The story has been introduced quite creatively; with interesting comparisons between characters, thoughtful descriptive passages help in visualizing what Jaya and the other characters may look like or feel as they face decisions in this narrative. I also think the author aesthetically and carefully describes the time period with the historical details surrounding 1950s India in a way the reader can imagine what it may have been like at the time. For an American-Indian reader such as myself, and one also in a younger generation, I can appreciate the historical descriptions. What I loved most about the writing is that it does not move too quickly and I am eager to see how the characters' lives unfold and the story further develops. For what its worth, I would highly recommend the author be selected for the next stage of this contest.

The author has done a beautiful job on Inside the Mirror. She has created a vivid mental picture of the story with her wording and use of details. The characters are so full of life and personality that the read never gets dull. The dynamics of the setting is also great. I would love for this book to be published so I can read more.

Inside the Mirror by P. Kapur opens in a dark room on a monsoon night where 'There was no moon to blue the air.' Jaya shares this room with her twin sister Kamlesh and grandmother (Bebeji).

The bulk of this excerpt appears dedicated to introducing the reader to Jaya and some ordinary things she deals with in life: sharing a room, medical school, growing interest in eligible men, being a twin. All this is set to a post partition backdrop, though that fact isn't glaringly obvious until it is explicitly indicated.

I found the imagery work in this piece to be wonderful. I enjoyed phrases such as the one noted above, as well as:
~'Kamlesh scraping her chilled feet against Jaya's legs for warmth'
~'The dhoban 's remorseless washing bat had taken a toll on their old salwar-kameezes'

Having spent a fair bit of time traveling around India, many, many of the added details or one word character descriptions had perfect meaning for me. This was particularly true when referring to people as Gujurati, Marathi, Parsi, Bengali, and so on. However, for those with no context for what these words mean, the surrounding descriptions would likely fall short of having a meaningful imagery impact for the reader.

There was, however, a shared 'humanity' factor of the story. The interactions between Jaya and Kamlesh, or even with their grandmother, is something anyone can appreciate and relate to. Jaya's activities at school and reserved interest in a appearing bold is also familiar behavior for a young woman. Though these parts of the story hold their own weight, the shame lies with the missed depth of understanding, which will vary from reader to reader.

The only point of comment I had was early on in the excerpt. There were transitions, in Jaya's mind, from the bedroom to the dissection room and back to the bedroom. I saw what was going on, but the transitions felt a bit awkward and I wasn't sure why her mind wandered in the first place. That became clearer sometime later as she spoke with Kamlesh.

Overall, a well written piece, enjoyable for its use of imagery and authenticity to its time and surroundings. The story has an appeal that is capable of traversing multiple layers of understanding, which should make it of interest even to those wholly unfamiliar with Indian culture.

Although occasionally prone to excess, this excerpt offers lyrical, concrete writing that serves it narrative well. Jaya, a medical student, provides the third person point-of-view through which we see the privileged lives of her and her sister, the daughters of a glass factory owner. Jaya's twin Kamlesh is "prettier," although they are identical twins, and Kamlesh's affection and emotions run much closer to the surface. Living with them is their grandmother who was a Freedom Fighter during the time of the Partition. While not much happens in this excerpt, everything is sharply and passionately observed, from the cadavers being examined by the students to landscape surrounding the glass factory. These characters are both interesting and distinct. The highly visual style is evocative, approaching the writing of Chitra Divakaruni, who is also tempted by excess.

The naming of these two chapters "Jaya" suggests that the author will alternate between, or among, third person points-of-view. If this is the case, then the author creates a potential structural misstep by failing to establish this technique at the beginning of the second chapter. It's a minor quibble -- and one which might not be a problem in the context of the whole.

Of all the characters, I'm most interested to learn about Bebeji, Jaya and Kamlesh's grandmother. Her story promises to be intriguing, especially since here she is an arthritic, mournful woman; the contrast should be exhilarating. I'd love to see Bebeji's former fire ignite in the twins. Kapur seems capable of defining her characters with increasing depth as the novel unfolds.

Well-written, visual, and evocative, these first chapters suggest a promising novel.

Jingo Street - Official ABNA Entrant
JINGO STREET by Sharon Ervin made me laugh on a day when most things weren't funny. Her character, Anne Krease, is an inexperienced lawyer who is trying to get things right--unsuccessfully, I might add. She is someone any reader, who has begun a new career, might identify with. The subject matter of Ervin's story line is serious, but she doesn't forget the humorous aspects of life. This one is a winner!

So that she'll learn more about 'real life, a judge sentences Ann Krease, a novice lawyer, two nights a week at Jingo Street soup kitchen - Having volunteered and ran two soup kitchens for 6 years in Toronto, I thought the author should have spent some time/more time working in a soup kitchen to observe and write more authentic characters, situations and procedures - she really had a great opportunity but what she writes falls short of what it might have been - the premise is interesting but not all that exceptional in the development. Real life isn't often what we imagine.

Sharon Ervin quickly sets the stage and introduces major characters in this opening excerpt from JINGO STREET. Without padding her prose or smothering the story in details, she brings to life Anne Krease, a young lawyer who disobeys a judge and is sentenced to community service in a homeless shelter and soup kitchen.

Jingo Street is hope and desolation, good intentions and everyone's worst nightmare. As Anne's fair-weather friend, the assistant D.A. says: "I wouldn't go down to Jingo Street ... in broad daylight ... with my bowling team, and those guys are brutes."

The story is told from a first person point of view, letting us walk in Anne's shoes during her lesson in "the realities of life." Ervin's writing flows easily, with touches of humor relieving what could be a grim story. She also has a deft touch with characters.

There's J. Oakley Tankersly, known as Joke. He's Anne's mentor, practicing law long after retirement age, and has "centuries of law crammed inside that grizzled old head, plus the man had a huge store of common sense, a commodity sometimes lacking in today's attorneys."

There's Quinton Trent who's in charge of the shelter: "An old marine from the Vietnam era, (he) had the haircut, bearing and attitude of a movie drill instructor. Jutting his jaw, his appraisal made it clear he wouldn't be cutting me any slack."

There's Roscoe Marcowitz, big and bashful, Anne's self-appointed body guard and the shelter's unofficial bouncer: "He never cracked a smile and no one with good sense crossed him. In spite of his size and attitude, he had a sweet look about him, and the most startling cobalt blue eyes I've ever seen."

We become part of their lives and we want to know: What happens next?

Sharon Ervin lets the reader peek over the shoulder of Anne Krease as she gets cross-wise with Judge Delmonica and is sentenced to soup kitchen service among the poor, disadvantaged, and downright dangerous. The first two chapters move you right into the heart of the story. You feel Anne's unease on Jingo Street, her hesitancy with the soup kitchen honcho Quinton Trent, and her mixed gratitude for Rosco Marcowitz's protection. I want more than just these two chapters. More more, and kudos to Sharon Ervin.

These few pages of JINGO STREET do everything an opening should: introduce our protagonist, get the story rolling, and, most importantly, make us want to read on. Add in the fact that Ervin's prose is smooth and accessible, a reader couldn't ask for more.

Count me among the readers who can't wait to see more.

First, Jonathan Eig is a tremendous writer! He does have a tendency to detour along tangential lines, but that adds to the richness and backdrop of the drama that was experienced by Jackie Robinson. Eig transforms history into humanity with cameo appearances by icons such as Babe Ruth, Malcolm X, and Sidney Poitier. I felt the sense of pride that African Americans of mid 20th century America must have felt. It bolstered the idea of "Only in America". This was a civil rights story before Till, Brown v. Board.., Parks, and King. I hurt with Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, and a litany of other Negro Leagues stars born "out of season". I smelled the hot dogs of Ebbets Field. I met and loved Branch Rickey. I watched Pee Wee Reese, Eddie Stanky, and Dixie Walker and many others mature. I adored Jackie Robinson for his talent and demeanor. All courtesy of Jonathan Eig, who BROUGHT IT!

A complex, nuanced portrait of Jackie Robinson, told with stunning detail and insight into the first black man to play major league baseball in the 20th century. As an historical account, this book goes beyond myth and revisionist morality to create what feels like a genuine account of a complicated man in a complicated place. As a baseball book, it is wonderfully expansive on an important era with lots of legendary players. As a literary work, it is a top-notch narrative told in an elegant, rhythmic cadence. It also gets high marks for journalistic technique and style. If all writers of sport possessed Jon's rare combination of gifts, the genre would be a lot richer.

This is the second book that I have read from author Jonathan Eig. The first, Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig, was such a great retelling of the life of the Iron Horse, that my expectations when picking up Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season were quite high.

Opening Day is the story of Jackie Robinson's first year in the majors, and the challenges he faced when he became the first black American to play Major League Baseball. Any true fan of baseball knows the story of Jackie Robinson, his importance to the game and the lasting impact he has had on the United States. But, Eig manages to provide a fresh look at this historical year, focusing not only on the challenges and bigotry that haunted Robinson, but also on the lives that he touched in 1947 and for years to come.

One of the more intriguing stories from the book was that of Jackie's teammate Dixie Walker. When Robinson's Dodger teammates were informed that he was coming up from the Montreal Royals to play with the team, Walker wrote the team's general manager, Branch Rickey, asking for a trade. There were also rumors that he led an effort by the Dodger players to get Jackie off the team. Dixie always denied the accusation, but nonetheless, he was basically a self-proclaimed bigot - worried about what his family and friends in Alabama would do if he played alongside a black man.

Like authors before him, Eig could have easily cast Dixie as the villain of the story. But instead, he details how playing with Jackie helped Walker evolve into a better man. Within time, Walker started to respect Jackie for his toughness and determination. He started giving Jackie pointers on how to improve his game, and later in 1947, he stood up for him (along with all of Jackie's other teammates) when opposing teams would hurl racial epithets at Jackie. Robinson made Walker start to question his views on minorities and Walker came to realize what he learned about blacks while he was growing up was wrong. After that, Walker played with, coached and managed black players throughout the rest of his career, and later said Jackie was "as outstanding an athlete as I ever saw."

This is just one example of the impact that Jackie had on the lives of others. Stories are sprinkled throughout the book about the significant impression he left on his teammates, other players in the league, broadcasters, league executives - and most importantly, the next generation of black Americans who would continue the struggle for equality in America.

Opening Day, definitely lived up to my expectations and surpassed them, and I highly recommend it for any fan of baseball and/or American history - and to anyone who is interested in understanding the important role Jackie Robinson played in the evolution of the United States.

Jonathan Eig is developing an expertise at rehabilitating hackneyed young-adult biography heroes. First with Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig and now with "Opening Day", Eig takes a baseball player whose legend has become tarnished by excessive praise, and retells the story from its original context, restoring a sense of wonder.

The story of Jackie Robinson has with time become a story about the heroism of Jackie's white teammates. History now tells us that they bravely accepted and embraced him, over society's disapproval at the ending of baseball's color line. At least, that's how Eig first approaches and then rewrites the tale. In "Opening Day", the spotlight rightly shifts back to onto Jackie himself, as well as to his wife Rachel, the rock at the center of his life. We hear from Jackie himself via contemporary interviews and from his assigned beat-writer from the black press.

The discussion of Jackie's acceptance among his teammates is limited to how they did not in fact accept Jackie as one of them: Eig fails to uncover any evidence that the rest of the Dodgers tried to socialize with or befriend Jackie in any meaningful way once they stepped off the field.

Branch Rickey, who gets rightful credit as the man who integrated baseball, is also shown as the shrewd businessman he is, in both the good and bad sense. Rickey was the executive who refused to trade one of Jackie's most vocal teammate critics, realizing that his pennant hopes resided in that man's bat. He further refused to give Jackie a significant raise for 1948 even though Jackie's presence generated value in publicity and gate that far exceeded his meager rookie paycheck.

Most compellingly, Eig retells the story of the 1947 season month by month, primarily through contemporaneous newspaper accounts. We see the variable way Jackie was treated by the press, and whose agenda affected which stories. A national publication tried to anoint Spider Jorgensen, a strictly league-average third baseman, as the league's top rookie, in a veiled slap at Jackie's aggressive Negro League style of play. We also learn things not commonly told: we know, for example, that Larry Doby was the second black baseball player in 1947, but Eig goes further and tells us who came third and fourth (a cynical move by the St. Louis Browns), and which white owners opposed integration in the disingenuous name of preserving the Negro Leagues.

"Opening Day" could stand to go farther and tell a bigger story. Jackie's post-1947 career and personal life is shunted into a brief epilogue that hints at a possible second book of equal depth. Of course, the space within "Opening Day" is well used: the three chapters devoted to the 1947 World Series are well researched and lively told. Even in a book about Jackie Robinson, the other unlikely heroes and goats of that series (Bill Bevens, Cookie Lavagetto, Al Gionfriddo) still deserve their space.

Eig's extensive research and thoughtful treatment of Jackie Robinson does not vary or question the general truth of his legend: Robinson played the game well under tremendous pressure with little or no support and demonstrated in the process the skill and courage that entitled blacks to equal opportunity. But Eig does add some new perspectives that make the legend far more interesting.

First is the general unpleasantness of Robinson. He's like Pete Rose in his burning desire to win at all costs and would rub some people the wrong way regardless of his color.

Second and perhaps most important is Eig's ability to introduce more subtlety into the story. Eig destroys the legend of Pee Wee Reese publicly encouraging Robinson on the field in the face of racial abuse. That did not happen, at least not in 1947. Robinson is utterly alone in 1947 and has to prove himself to his teammates. Branca is the only guy to make a point of shaking his hand when he first appears, which adds to Branca's own legend as a man of character, but even Branca essentially ignores him for much of the season. Some of this is racial, of course. But some of it is the culture of baseball: a rookie must prove himself.

Robinson's ability to peform in these circumstances, under the most tremendous pressure possible, adds to his legend and makes his 1947 season perhaps the most admirable of all seasons. Eig is also good at introducing subtlety into the legends surrounding Robinson's oppressors. There is some rumbling on the team, but that quickly dissipates. Most interesting is the role of star player Dixie Walker. Walker felt compelled by his southern roots, and by his desire not to have his business punished in the south, to make a point of objecting and asking for a trade. But thereafter, he drops the protest. The problem for Robinson was not simply the obvious bigotry, but his freeze-out by the rest of his team until he could prove himself under the most trying of circumstances. Walker may have given Robinson a few batting tips and may have dropped his trade demands, but neither he nor anyone else took Robinson under his wing. Even in baseball's demanding culture of ritualized abuse of rookies, a rookie will eventually be taken under someone's wing. Robinson did not have that benefit.

The protests of other teams has also been exaggerated. It appears that there were some murmuring on the Cardinals to try to boycott Dodger games, but that fizzled before it started. The Phillies were grossly racist in their bench jockeying, but backed off early in the season. The Yankees in the 1947 World Series had a few nasty bench jockeys.

What emerges from all this is the pain of the gross racism aggravated by the agonizing loneliness of Robinson as he has to endure everything and prove himself. Eig convincingly shows that by the end of 1947, Robinson succeeded in proving himself and was the MVP of this team. Only then was he accepted by Pee Wee Reese, the team's captain.

All of which demonstrates Branch Rickey's wisdom in choosing Robinson as the man to break the color barrier. Robinson had mental toughness and competitive fire. The rap on black athletes was that they were not mentally tough, and Robinson was exactly the right guy to disprove that myth. Choosing a more passive personality would not have made the point, and choosing a less disciplined soul who would have got into physical fights in 1947 would not have worked either. But it is interesting to learn how Robinson sometimes crossed the line (such as spiking Rizzuto in the 1947 Series) and how close Robinson came to losing it.

Robinson emerges as a complex and truly great man in this narrative. This is an excellent book that I highly recommend.

The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright was first published in 1941, and though it was written many years ago, is as delightful now as it was then. It's a story about a family who loves each other, works hard and strives to do the right thing. How refreshing!

Mona (13), Rush (12), Miranda (10 ½), who is known as Randy, and Oliver (6) live in New Your City in a brownstone that is rather shabby, but has many floors and fits their lifestyle perfectly. The Melendy children's mother died, but their father and Cuffy, the beloved housekeeper, provide the love, attention and care the children need.

Each of the children has dreams and desires for their futures. Their interests are varied and they each are independent and inquisitive about life and their surroundings.

But while the Melendy children find life generally interesting, Saturdays can sometimes be just plain boring. The children form a club they call the Independent Saturday Afternoon Adventure Club (I.S.A.A.C.). All of the children agree to pool their allowances and each child takes a Saturday with all the money to do something by themselves that they really want to do.

The Saturdays are exciting, not just because of the activities they choose, but because of the people they meet and the stories they hear. Well, Oliver does make one Saturday particularly memorable, but you'll have to read the book to learn about his adventure.

In the day of the novels that glamorize the worst society has to offer, The Saturdays is delightfully refreshing.

Armchair Interviews says: Read the series and enjoy!

This book is different in a good way. It is about 4 children who decide to put there allowences to a good use. Every Saturday the add up there allowence and one of the children gets to do any thing that they will always remember.
By,
Girl With A Plan

I had doubts for this book because it didn't sound very interesting but my Mom wanted me to read it so I did-I loved it. It's original and imaginative and above all easy to read for hours without getting bored. It's original and fun like the story of Mrs. Olifount being kidnapped by jypsies, or Isaac the dog saving the family from suffocating. It's a wonderful book I can't wait to read the sequils.

When I was nine years old I picked up a copy of Elizabeth Enright's "The Melendy Family" on sale for 25 cents at my school Christmas fair, donated by some eighth-grader who evidently felt she had "outgrown" it. I wonder, does anybody ever outgrow the Melendys? "The Melendy Family" was a three-in-one volume comprising "The Saturdays", "The Four Story Mistake", and "Then There were Five". Alas, "The Melendy Family" is no longer in print, but fifty years later, I still have my copy, read to shreds, patched and repatched with scotch tape, a book to be treasured forever and never thrown away. Fortunately, the books making up "The Melendy Family" have been reissued as individual volumes available to enchant yet another generation of young readers.

"The Saturdays", the first volume in the series, introduces us to the four Melendy children: Mona, age 13, Rush, age 12, Randy, who is ten-and-a-half, and Oliver, age 6. Each is given a distinct personality and Enright modeled them on children she had known in her own life, her own children or childhood friends. The result is four fictional characters so totally believable that for years after the books were published, Enright continued to get letters from readers wondering if the Melendys were "real".

The Melendy children's mother is deceased, but they are raised by a devoted, caring father and Cuffy, their beloved housekeeper, who stands in as nurse, cook, substitute mother, grandmother, and aunt, and generally rules the roost. The children are funny, refreshing and unspoiled. Mona has aspirations of being a famous actress and already at thirteen can recite "yards and yards of Shakespeare at the drop of a hat." Rush is the next to the oldest, a musical prodigy with a penchant for getting into and out of trouble. Randy at ten-and-a-half (the half is very important at that age) is an endearing mixture of grace and klutziness, a talented dancer and artist who keeps falling over her own feet when it comes to manual labor. And six-year-old Oliver is the baby of the family, placid and calm, very much his own person, as his story shows.

The story opens on a rainy Saturday which finds Randy and Rush monumentally bored with nothing to do. Randy wants to see a some French paintings. Rush wants to go to the opera. Mona wants to see a play. But in the early 1940s (the approximate time in which the story is set is revealed in the opening pages when Enright tells us that the long scars on the linoleum floor were made by Rush trying out a pair of ice skates on Christmas afternoon, 1939), fifty cents a week allowance was standard, and there wasn't a whole lot you could do with that. Randy has a brainstorm. Let's start a club, she says, and pool our allowances together each week so one of us can spend them on something we've always wanted to do. This idea is adopted enthusiastically by all the children (Oliver wants to contribute his ten cents, too), and thus the Independent Saturday Afternoon Adventure Club (ISAAC) is born.

Each following chapter describes an adventure that takes place on each child's Saturday. Randy goes to see an exhibition of French paintings, runs into an old family acquaintance, Mrs. Oliphant, and is treated to tea at the Plaza while she hears a delightful story of the time Mrs. Oliphant was kidnapped by gypsies during her childhood.

Rush goes to the opera, walks home in a snowstorm, and finds a lost puppy that becomes the family's devoted friend and companion from that day on.

Mona, tired of her long braids, goes to a beauty parlor and treats herself to a haircut and a manicure. The resulting uproar by her father and Cuffy seems a trifle overdone, but as Father later admits, it's hard for parents to realize that their children are growing up.

And Oliver, keeping his own counsel, sneaks out of the house when his Saturday comes and goes to the circus all by himself. An even greater adventure occurs when he is given a ride back home by a mounted policeman on a horse, after he gets lost leaving Madison Square Garden.

After Oliver's adventure the kids decide to spend their Saturdays as a group, but that doesn't stop them from having mishaps such as Randy falling overboard from a boat in Central Park, the family almost suffocating from coal gas when Rush forgets to shut the furnace door, and the storeroom catching fire. It all comes to an exciting conclusion when Mrs. Oliphant invites the children to spend the summer in her lighthouse in Long Island.

"The Saturdays" takes us back to a simpler time and to adventures that probably couldn't happen today (no parent in his right mind would allow a ten year old to go to a museum alone in the New York City nowadays), but kids are still kids, and the Melendys seem so real they could be anyone we knew when we were children, or wish we had known. The time frame may help children understand what a dollar could purchase back then (a wash, set and manicure, or admission to a museum with change to spare). The whole series is a gem for every child and every generation. I still marvel at the priceless find I picked up off a bookshelf at random fifty years ago for only twenty-five cents. It's paid me back a zillion-fold ever since.

Judy Lind

I wanted to respond to the reviews below that thought it was either implausible or dated for children aged 10-13 to wander around New York by themselves. I grew up in New York (in Manhattan, across the park from the Melendys) in the late 1980s. I turned 13, just Mona's age, in 1990. I started walking home from school alone in fourth grade (when I was nine, a year younger than Randy). Like Mr. Melendy and Cuffy, my parents' major worry was that I was careful crossing the street. (Reasonably enough, they feared that drivers would not be able to see a small child.) Many of my friends from elementary school walked or took the bus to school alone at the same age. By twelve (Rush's age), I was allowed to take the subway to visit friends from junior high school, and they took the subway to visit me. By fourteen our teachers assumed that we were competent to find the Metropolitan Museum of Art on our own for projects. None of these people were neglectful, and none of them were "horrified" at the idea of pre-adolescents wandering around the city alone. This was in the supposed "bad old days" when crime was theoretically much higher than it is now, and none of us ever suffered any accident. (Although a group of friends and I got lost coming back from the theater in eighth grade, and were pretty embarrassed that we looked like tourists.)

Anyone familiar with the geography of New York City knows that the Melendy children stay within a fairly small geographic area in THE SATURDAYS, and that the areas where most of their adventures take place are some of the richest and safest in the city. Most sensible New York parents would allow their children to wander there on Saturday afternoons with no more concern than the appropriate ones that Mr. Melendy shows. (Be careful of traffic, don't talk to strangers, and don't get lost.)

Ironically, this ties in with the review that says that Enright did not take enough "risks" with the book, by having her characters get kidnapped by gypsies or run away from home. The fact is, she wrote a fairly realistic description of the childhood of the middle and upper-middle classes of New York City....kids who come into CONTACT with a relatively diverse group of people who have had a variety of experiences, but who actually live in a fairly safe, and sheltered world.

As a New York City kid, I was thrilled to read a book that reflected MY real life experience, as opposed to yet another story about kids who lived in houses with back yards and rode a school bus, and generally had no relationship to my real life. I still love THE SATURDAYS for its loving description of a New York that has in some ways remained startingly the same, even though parts of it have disappeared (no more two way traffic on Fifth Avenue, and no double decker buses!). As other reviews have said, The Saturdays is a charming, well-written book for kids, that can also be enjoyed by adults. It's also one of the few accurate and positive stories about growing up in a great city. I would recommend it for all ages.

As a child, I couldn't put any of Poe's short stores down, now a few decades later, nothing much has changed. I was thrilled to add this book to my collection, it is well made, and comprehensive collection. All of this at a great price.

The book arrived just in time and it is in excelent conditions. This edition contain all my favorites works of Edgar Allan Poe. I recommend it!

Despite all who have attempted the genre since, Poe remains the supreme master of the horrific short story. From this collection I select "Berenice" to comment on, not only because it is a classic example of Poe, but also because it deals with a subject so typically his, that of obsession.
There is little point in trying not to "spoil" a Poe story by avoiding telling the final outcome, for in this story, as in much of his work, the fascination lies not in a teasing or elaborate plot leading to a surprise revelation, but in morbid, gristly dwelling on the awful texture of misery, melancholia and near madness. One can read them repeatedly, and they still taste satisfyingly rank and vile.
In this short story of brooding obsession, Egaeus looses his wife, Berenice, to illness, and in a fit of abstraction and obsession opens her grave and rips out the part of her that his mind has fixated upon: her teeth. Nasty and simple, but unforgettable.
There is little joy in Poe's world. Love, hope and happiness are only shown as a prelude to loss, to provide a fading dusk against which the blackness of the tragic end stands out more clearly.
It's interesting that some of Poe's readers complained to the editor when Berenice was published in the Southern Literary Messenger in 1935. This was early in Poe's career, and he reports the subscription list of this periodical as 700. In December of that year he was made editor, and by the time he left the subscription list numbered 5,500. Obviously then, as now, there was quite an appetite for horror amongst readers.

This is an excellent book including all of his poetry, short stories and other literary works! 832pages of Poe! Got it as a present and the person it was for loved it!

We received the book in the time designated and the book was in brand new condition

Powerful, moving, honest. The best kind of writing is the kind that comes straight from the heart. You can feel the anger, pain and love flow over the pages. A story that takes you inside the heart of one who lost so much on that day and fought so hard to get to the truth of what happened and what culpability level of our government. Gripping, hard to put down, you know you should just read it. You won't regret it.

In "Wake Up Call", Kristin Breitweiser offers poignant, first-hand insight into the grave inadequecies, corrosive power struggles and chilling lack of democracy of our pre-9/11 government, as well as a piercing account of the blatant failures, deception, and exploitation of the Bush administration afterwards. Beautifully written with a generous, sensitive depiction of her personal life both before and after she lost her husband in the Tower 2 calamity (which she witnessed first-hand), Mrs. Breitweiser's thorough depiction of a country still frighteningly vulnerable to Al Quaida and other terrorists will make any reader sit up and take serious notice. The tenacity and determination of "The Jersey Girls" in the face of unspeakable personal tragedy and their ability to take on the enormous flaws of the Bush administration is an inspiration to all of us.

Although the author tends to be repetitive and her alternative energy source argument would bear much more weight if she were to drive something other than a huge SUV, this book is a must for every American citizen. It could easily become an important Political Science college textbook if it hasn't already.

K.V.D. San Jose, California

This lady is certainly to be commended for maintaining her stamina to accomplish what she did with so many things going wrong. Anyone who has the disgusting attribute to slam these ladies when they were working for others as well as themselves needs to sit down in front of a mirror. There are so many reasons and more all the time actually that there should be another REAL investigation into the whole terrible tragedy of 9-11. I fully agree with them and applaud all they have done and are still trying to do. They say "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and "God doesn't give you anything you can't handle" and I guess that would seem to be true in this case, however, as I know from my own life, no matter what kind of battle you are fighting it does take its toll on one's body. Good going to all you ladies who participated in this and what a wonderful book that was. Well written to the point I could hardly lay it down!

Kristen Breitweiser gives us a compelling view of our government through the eyes of an average citizen. She takes us on a journey thorough her life with her husband before 9/11, through that awful day and then through the aftermath. Kristen and other 9/11 widows have been fighting for truth and accountability for the attacks since that tragic day and have had to overcome hurdles every step of the way. Kristen's strength and determination is inspiring.

I usually don't go in for biographies and I believe all the attention on 9/11 has been a distraction ... that being said, this booked really rocked me. The author is completely "real" and human. Within a few minutes you are identifying with her life and her hopes and dreams. When the tragic death of her husband and thousands of others occurs, you feel her shock and pain.
This book points out why 9/11 is important. Not only do we need to come to grips with people in the world who want to do harm to Americans - we need to come to grips with a government that utterly failed Kristen, the other 9/11 survivors and victims, and all of us as citizens.
The book is riveting and revealing. I encourage anyone who cares about our country to read this book!

You will not be disappointed with this book. It is nicely told and quick to read, however, it will linger in your heart for a long time.

One of the best books I have read. A true animal lover's book. Very quick shipment.

Lovely, moving, inspiring. What a joy it was to read about the wonderful people who gave so much of themselves to achieve their dream. Their courage and devotion is matched only by the beautiful animals who share their world.

Best Friends is the story of how several dedicated animal lovers used all of their resources to become THE foremost Animal Sanctuary on Earth!

Angel Canyon, located in Kanab, Utah is a place where it's all about SOUL.

Best Friends Animal Society/Sanctuary understands that, whether two-legged or four-legged, we are ALL precious souls, who deserve love, kindness, respect and to be treated with a reverence for our precious lives.

That's correct: ANIMALS HAVE SOULS, just like we human animals do!
To think otherwise is to be ignorant, arrogant, speciesist, and one other thing: Wrong.

That is what makes Best Friends so special. They recognize and treat animals as their fellow souls.
We are all in this together. One life. One love. One Soul.

This book captures the love, the kindness, the dedication, and the soul of everyone at Best Friends,
four-legged and two-legged!

My favorite part of the book is the story about the two brother cats, Tommy and Tyson. The cats were born on the streets, because someone wasnt responsible enough to SPAY or NEUTER their cats.
A wonderful woman fed the cats and gave them fresh water, daily. While doing so, she noticed that the two brothers would always walk side by side, with their tails intertwined, as if they were Siamese Twins.
The kind woman couldnt understand what that meant. The woman realized that the cats were in danger, as they always crossed the busy City streets.
So, she contacted Best Friends.
Best Friends glady accepted the cats, and when the cats received a check-up from the veterinarian, the woman finally found out why Tyson and Tommy always walked together, with their tails intertwined: One of the cats was blind!! HIS BROTHER WAS GUIDING HIM ACROSS THE STREET TO SAFETY, BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT HIS BROTHER COULDNT SEE WHERE HE WAS GOING! That was why their tails were intertwined, and why one of the brothers seemed to be guiding his brother to safety......because he WAS guiding his brother to safety!

We can learn alot from our animal soulmates, if we only would take the time to watch them, and learn from them, and bond with them.

At Best Friends, all souls are treated equally, as one family.

That is why Best Friends are so loved around the world: they are the real deal.

I am honored to be a monthly donor to Best Friends' programs. I cant think of anything better to do with my money than to give it to my fellow souls who need it most: The cats, dogs, bunnies, etc of this world who are often neglected, or forgotten, or sent to a death chamber, even though they have not committed any crimes, and even though they are as equally precious as the rest of us.

This book offers a glimpse into the SOUL of Best Friends. I recommend it to any cat lover, dog lover, bunny lover, or to ANY animal lover for that matter.

This is a very special book, about very special souls, at a very special place.

To learn more about Best Friends, and all of the precious souls who live there, please visit: [...]

I hope that you enjoy this book, while cuddled next to YOUR precious cat or dog.
After all, they are precious souls, who happen to be members of the family, too!

This was a good book, but I was disappointed in the ratio of actual animals stories to chapters about the trials and tribulations of getting the shelter off the ground. I appreciate what a monumental task it was, but I was thirsty for more about the animals.