Reds Books

Truly a classic collection, this exemplifies an excellent selection of stories from one of the true masters of the hardboiled detective fiction genre. Wonderful reads that I am reading for a fourth and fifth time since I first discovered them in the late 1960s.

This was the perfect vol for the survey of hard-boiled detective fiction I've been doing. A nicely formatted hardcover (nothing's sexier than a hardcover book) with good info on Hammett's life and times.

Complete Novels: Red Harvest / The Dain Curse / The Maltese Falcon / The Glass Key / The Thin Man (Library of America) What a great anthology of the works of the father of the modern detective novel. All of Hammett's novels in one book. It does not get any better than this.

An intriguing plot with just the right blend of wry humor, sex and secrets.

I do like these stories, though they are so rough! It is very helpful to be able to have them all together in this one good volume, I think. But it is dangerous to read them late at night, because you either get too excited to sleep, or you dream of bad men with their car headlamps switched off in the dark!

This was my first Magic Tree house book and I was really impressed. The story was well-done, and the concept of the tree house time machine reminded me of when I was a kid with a tree house in the woods with books strewn across its floor. In a way, many of us did or do have a tree house time machine to carry us away on wings of imagination, and I guess that's one of the reasons why these books are so popular. Osborne is a skillful writer, and I liked that she was realistic about the medieval culture that the siblings visited while still remaining a children's fantasy. Many young adult books set in medieval times shy away from the fact that civilization smelled horrible in those days and life was lived unhygienically by today's standards. A modern person entering the culture would be shocked by the smell, and most time-travel books ignore this, even the adult ones. But it adds to the suspension of disbelief that in this story, Jack and Annie notice such things.
I also learned things about Shakespeare and his era from this book, even though I've taken classes on the Bard in both highschool and college. Osborne includes facts in an unpatronizing way that really supplements the story. The extra facts listed in the back of the book are a great added bonus, and I'd be willing to bet that most kids read and remember them as well as the story.
I'll be ordering more of these great books next time my kid brings home the old Scholastic form for sure!

J. Lyon Layden
The Other Side of Yore

Mary Pope Osborne has found a way to make it enjoyable for young people to read. There is a series of her books which will keep the student spell bound for the next chapter book.

Stage Fright on a Summer Night happened in England, which is where I live. Jack and Annie got to see Shakespeare, which I like alot. They did one of my favorite shows, which is Midsummer Night's Dream. I really liked this book alot because it was the 15th one I read this summer. Magic Tree House books are great because they teach you about all different places, people and things. They are great adventures!

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

I could write the same review for every "Magic Tree House" book. We were introduced to the series when my oldest son was 5, and just starting to read. We got the #1 book (the Dinosaur one) on audio when he was learning to read independently. Then he started to read the book along with the audio. Now, at 7, he is bound and determined to read every book in the series, in order, of course. He just finished this one. The words are fairly simple, so the series is great for kids ready to tackle chapter books - they won't get frustrated by having too many words they cannot sound out. They are all ten chaper books, with a little larger type and good line/paragraph spacing, making it easy for kids to keep their place. They all tell a little slice of history in a very interesting way. Everyone in the family learns something everytime.

The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma, Red Pine San Francisco, CA: North Point Press, 1989

Bodhidharma is recognized as the Founder of Zen in China by all schools of Zen Buddhism. As the First Ancestor of Zen in China, his is the very manifestation of the archetypal Zen master.

"Seeing your nature is zen." Says Bodhidharma, in his straightforward, no nonsense style, "Unless you see your nature, it's not zen."

Red Pine has collected and translated the four most important records attributed to the undisputed Father of Zen in this excellent volume. Each meticulous English translation is accompanied, page by page, with the original Chinese characters. These records include:

Outline of Practice

Bloodstream Sermon

Wake-up Sermon

Breakthrough Sermon

Every Zen student, (and teacher for that matter) would do well to familiarize themselves with these most time-tested, straight talks on the authentic teachings of Zen. Bodhidharma insisted that the truth of Zen could be realized by anyone, "People who see that their mind is the buddha don't need to shave their head. Laymen are buddhas too... once you see your nature, you're a buddha even if you work as a butcher."

Bodhidharma's teaching revealed the truth of Zen, shaking up the entire Buddhist establishment, which had fallen into the sterile doldrums of imitation and pious self-righteousness. Bodhidharma came to China from India with a mission; to bring Buddhism back to the heart of the Buddhas message--that all beings are inherently Buddha and need only see their true nature to realize the fact.

The Father of Zen balked at institutions and individuals that claimed exclusive teachings or demanded specific spiritual practices.

As Red Pine translates, "To find a buddha, you have to see your nature. Whoever sees his nature is a buddha. If you don't see your nature, invoking buddhas, reciting sutras, making offerings, and keeping precepts are all useless. Invoking buddhas results in good karma, reciting sutras results in a good memory; keeping precepts results in a good rebirth, and making offerings results in future blessings--but no buddha."

You can't find any Zen more authentic than that of Bodhidharma. Red Pine has done us all a great service by bringing the Founder of Zen to life for English readers, and allowing him to remind us of the simple truth. Zen has nothing to do with enlightened "roshis" "Dharma-certificates" or sectarian purity. Zen is not about escaping the world, does not demand renunciation, or sitting in particular postures for long periods.

Bodhidharma gives us the straight scoop, "Seeing your nature is zen. Unless you see your nature, it's not zen." Period.

ZEN IS THE DIRECT KNOLAGE OF THE MIND WITH OUT THE EGO! THATS IT. THERE IS NUTHING ELES TO IT. LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT ITS THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN EVER EXIST! EVERY THING BUDA TOUGHT WAS DIFERANT WAYS OF TELLING YOU THE SAME THING! JUST BE! THIS BOOK IS OVER LOOKES BECAUS ITS SO SIMPLE BUT THE TRUTH OFTEN IS!

Simply an outstanding and lucid translation of four teisho by the original Chinese Zen Master, Bodhidharma. 'Bilingual' in the title refers to the inclusion of the original Chinese text, taken from a Ch'ing dynasty woodblock editiion. Please read this, and give a copy to someone you care about.

The original stuff from the man who brought it all to China. Reading this book is like reading Thoreau's Walden. Peaceful. It is so interesting to read Bodidharma focusing on the central core of the teaching. Brief, concise. The text with the chinese characters on the facing page is pleasant to look at.

By all means, avail yourself of Red Pine's translation of Ta-Mo. Then go to John Bright-Fey's "Whole Heart of Zen" for an in-depth expounding of Ta-Mo via the oral tradition. There's more to the story than meets the proverbial eye!

The Whole Heart of Zen: The Complete Teachings from the Oral Tradition of Ta-Mo (The Whole Heart series)

I have a copy of the first edition of this book and am still mesmerized by it. When it first came out, everyone I knew at design school who bought it felt like the information and techniques had given them an out-of-body-experience and it quickly became THE book to own, learn from, and emulate. Anyone who buys this book and applies the material and techniques will become better at drawing, rendering, and creative presentation methods...it is a sure-fire way to achieve "star power" in your office and in front of your clients!

great book! Out of the dozens of hand rendering guides I looked at, this was by far the best and the easiest to learn from. It tells you what pencils, markers, and tools to buy to achieve certain effects, and gives you step-by-step rendering instructions for tons of different types of materials and lighting situations. I highly recommend this- in fact, it should be mandatory for interior design students!

This is an excellent resouce for the study of rendering. After detailing the elements of color and design, it describes, step-by-step, how to achieve many finishes both interior and exterior. It is both instructive and informative.

It's really hard to say too many things about this book. Even older editions of Color Drawing are great, but this newest one goes above and beyond the call of duty. In an age when a lot of books get re-released as new editions with few substantive changes, Color Drawing breaks the mold by updating the techniques with current technology (i.e. Photoshop). It's great to see that the author and publisher realize that pure hand-drawing and rendering is quickly becoming a thing of the past and that the practitioners of today and tomorrow need to have excellent computer skills too. This book is full of very useful tips for combining Photoshop with hand drawings to create great effects. So even if you have an earlier edition, do yourself a favor and buy the new one anyway because you will learn a lot.

This is the standard for rendering in architecture and interior design as far as I am concerned. It will most definitely become a required textbook for my classes in visual presentation in the years to come. Doyle takes you step-by-step into the process of rendering with marker, color pencil, and pastels. But he doesn't just spoon feed you the recipe for each material rendering, he presents the basis for a process that allows you to render virtually any material not found in the book.

The third book in the Fire Dancer series. It is an excellent series with strong, well written characters, and this book leaves you dying for more. I wish Ann Maxwell would hurry up and write another one! I want to find out what is happening with Rheba and Kirtn

I have enjoyed all of Ann Maxwell sci/fi books. I wish she would finish this series. I want to find out what happens in the Fire Dancer's story. I believe Ann Maxwell's sci-fi stories were one of the best I have ever read and i wish she had continued this series and any other sci-fi.

I just discovered this series and I really enjoyed it! I didn't realize the trilogy wasn't complete though so I hope another book will be added SOON!

This series is intense, wonderful, and thrilling, but I NEED CLOSURE...PLEASE!!!! If I died tomorrow I wouldn't be at peace, not until this story-line is wrapped up.

O.K...I'm not too proud...I WILL BEG!! I am begging Ms. Maxwell, I have waited years...and I need another installment or at least a conclusion to this series...You have a great story here...please continue it for all of us sci-fi and romance addicts out here...

This is quite simply the best memoir I have ever read, and as a professional writer myself, I've read a lot of them. It deserves to be considered in a class with America's greatest storytelling.

Fan Shen writes in an understated, no-holds-barred, external style that is in some ways reminiscent of his literary heroes: London and Stendhal, to name two. Like Martin Eden and The Red and the Black, this is a story of the struggle of the individual against the system. And what a struggle! No slow internal musing over small questions here - this is a pedal-to-the-metal ride through China's bloodiest and most oppressive modern period, told in one shocking life event after another, and emotions bend all the more powerfully by racing to keep up.

With increasing personal, moral, and ethical risks as Fan struggles to develop an individual identity and freedom from oppression in a country where individualism is anti-revolutionary and a capital offense, this is a page-turner that you may never forget - with a beautiful love story at its heart.

I think this is perhaps the best memoir I've read by someone who survived the infamous Chinese Cultural Revolution. Many other authors have tried to capture the chaos and pain it has caused them, but Fan Shen outdoes them all. I'm glad he told his story, or other people would never know how horrible things really were at that time. Each chapter in this book is captivating, and its hard to put it down. It is also extremely sad, and at the end of the book you wish you knew Fan Shen so you could at least talk with him and give him a hug. :(

A fascinating look inside the chinese mindset. A must read for anyone who wants to know about the crazy history of the Red Guard, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Also provides a great insight into how the chinese operate today. Fan Shen tells a story that will stick with you as you purchase your next "made in China" item.

I spent about 8 months reading Dr. Shen's book -- not because it bored me, and not because it was overly long. This is just one of those books that needs to be savored in order to be properly enjoyed. It's also one of those books that you really don't want to finish.

Savor it. :)

This is the story of a boy who, from a revolutionary family, eagerly joins the Red Guards at the outset of the Cultural Revolution. As Fan Shen comes of age, he realizes that the Cultural Revolution is a disaster and this book is the story of his attempt to find a way to achieve an acceptable life.

It is readily apparent that Fan is a very clever fellow as well as an intellectually gifted individual. The tales that he recounts are alternatively horrifying, sad, depressing and humorous. As he tells of his experiences, the reader can only imagine the horrors of the Cultural Revolution when you multiply his experiences by the 800 million or so others who lived through the same era.

Fan is a wonderful author and can tell a story exceedingly well. At times, however, the reader is left wondering whether we are actually getting an accurate recounting of Fan's earlier years. The stories he tells are truly beyond belief and, at times, seem to be a bit self-serving. Whether or not this is the case, the book deserves a read by anyone interested in China today or in recent Chinese history.

i found this book to be a tad too simplistic and boring to read to my infant. the bright primary colors are good to look at but i can't believe that i paid $11.95 for such a dull book. there are plenty of other great books out there!

My 13 month old loves this book. With the simple pictures and bright colors, he loves to point to the penquins as he turns the pages. He loves the "BOO" page the best.

Beautiful drawings, lovely "storyline", I'd definitely recommend this for any toddler!

I began reading this book to my baby as part of our bedtime routine when she was 5 months old. She is now 7 months old and still loves it! This was the first book, other than books involving animal sounds, that she seemed to really enjoy. (And I got very tired of only reading books with animal sounds!) She loves the pictures and she looks to me after I read certain pages anticipating the "extras" I have added (for example, after I read "I love it when we play peek-a-boo" I then play peek-a-boo). Sharing this book with her is something I look forward to doing every day.

This is a very simple board book features Paz the Penguin from The Learning Channel Ready Set Learn program.





What did you like or not like about the book?

This kept the attention of my four month old as well as our daughter who is 2. They enjoyed sharing the book together.


The sturdy board pages make it great for toddlers to look at alone or read with a parent

I read this book as a child, and loved watching for the lighthouse as we drove along the HH Parkway. I'm delighted that the original version is back in print.

This is beautiful book with a fun story that my almost 4-year-old son really enjoys.

Anyone who loves lighthouses will love this book. I Love the way the author makes the Lighthouse, Bridge, and boats come to life as though they are talking to each other, and how important Lighthouses are to navigation.

This book is about the old and new working together for the good of all. The lighthouse is so proud that when a big bridge is built is feels to inadequate to do its job. In the end they both have an important place. Recommended for ages 5-7 years.

I was given this book by a friend at my shower. My little boy is now 2 1/2 and this book is in the regular rotation of stories. I chose to read this book to my sons class and gave each of them a copy for their libraries. It is a great story about how size doesn't matter and that even the littlest lighthouse has a very important job. Some fo the language is a bit dated, but otherwise, the story is current for today. By the way, we will be touring this little light house under the George Washington Bridge this coming Spring -as testament to its importance, it still stand there today.

We first saw this book at our local Children's Museum. After reading it, I had to have this as part of our home library. The illustrations are so original, as is the funny story. It makes us laugh each time we read it together. Plus, the final soup is made of lots of different kinds of vegetables--a great healthy meal reinforcement for your preschooler.

My grandmother used to tell me this story and now I can pass that on to my grandchildren who unfortunately do not live in the same state. It's a wonderful story (with lines I still quote as an adult!) and terrific illustrations that will make you laugh right out loud.

The juxtaposition of the photograph-like mishmashed black and white backgrounds with the colorful illustrations of characters and key items make this book fun and interesting to look at. The twist on the nursery rhyme is hilarious and easy for children to identify with. My child loves to point out the different animals and vegetables and always laughs throughout the story (a lamb hanging out in the diswasher, etc gets lots of giggles). Makes vegetables fun.

We just love the cadence of the words, so fun to read. And the art is so unique, mixing photography with drawing of the characters. My 3 year old picks this one over and over. GREAT gift for a vegetarian friend! (the lady in the book gets so fed up going to Market and managing the animals and fish she has purchased, that she finally gives up and makes veggie soup for everyone~animals included) We are not vegetarians, and this book in no way was preaching Veganism...but it would be appreciated on another level by a Vegan I think. Just buy it...its great.

Anne Miranda made a fun story out of a small nursery rhyme.

The book keeps the rhythm of the old rhyme but you will have trouble keeping it as the artwork has many things to take you away from the story.

The pictures made my daughter stay on each page for a little while as she had to see what happened as each animal started to trash the old lady's house.

It's a great little book and I have had to read it every night. A couple times in fact.

I luv Trixie Belden books. I started reading them when i was bored and now i read them all the time!! lol! Well anyway, trixie was gonna be bored all summer w/ out her older brothers. then some rich guy moves in next door and has a daughter. She and trixie become the best of friends. Then they find a runaway kid. And it gets way more interesting. so u better go and read what happens next!

I also read these books as a child and agree that they are engrossing and wonderful for a child to read. These books are hard to find since they are out of print now, but I have been lucky enough to purchase some, and my daughter loves them. What a great read. If you have kids, a great book for any pre-teen girl is the Belden series, or the Donna Parker series.

This book is the direct sequel to Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion, which really must be read first. On the quest to find Jim -- on the lam from his evil stepfather Jonsey -- Trixie, Honey, and Miss Trask arrive in the Autoville trailer park, and the girls eventually find the dual mysteries of Jim's whereabouts and a stolen red trailer converging in one area of countryside. The Red Trailer Mystery does get confusing and could have used a map, but the author summarizes the action periodically, and it sounds natural and helps develop the reader's comprehension and critical thinking.

I think this series gave me an appreciation in my adult life for the benefits of family, community, and enduring friendships.

I was first introduced to the Trixie Belden series a couple of years ago with this book, and while I don't remember all the details of the books, I know it is an intriguing mystery! I have never enjoyed mysteries much, but the Trixie Belden books are a winner with me. My mom found this one at the library and I wouldn't touch it at first because of the ugly cover, but after a few peeks I was hooked! They're so fascinating anyone who loves to read anything will absolutely absorb these books, and I'm sure even someone who's not too excited about reading will have a hard time putting these down! They are so complete and realistic; not at all like some trashy incomplete books available that have no depth. Trixie and her friends are wonderful role models for all kids and even adults, and these books offer good, clean reading that are impossible to stay away from. My biggest problem is that they are no longer published and very difficult to get. I definitely would recommend these books and encourage any kids or teens to read them.

I read my first Trixie Belden book when I was 9 (37 years ago!) and I fell in love with the Belden clan, their farm, Honey, and Jim, and the horses! I can't believe this series is no longer in print. The kids are so normal, the dialogue natural, and the mysteries engrossing. When I read about Trixie, I became a "Bob-White" - these were my friends. Several years ago, I found my old collection in a box and re-read them. My husband thought I was nuts, but I had a ball remembering the plots and characters and feeling like a kid again---solving mysteries with Trixie!