Clubs Books

I first read this book about thirty years ago, and would regularly re-visit it and other titles by this author, until I grew out of so called picture books. That I can still recall the pictures from Seabird, and the images that the cast in my mind testify to the quality of the writing. The journey from coastal whaling off Nantucket, to Greenland, the Pacific and the Yankee clippers that have forged their way into Legend, ending with one of the protaganists and his grandchild on a steamship in the 1920s will never leave me. Books like this should never die or be forgotten. You owe it to your children to make sure they read it.

From its inception in the 1940's, Seabird has offered children of all ages a rich blend of New World nautical history, from tall-masted ships to steamships, all woven into an adventure of global exploration by sea. Highly recommended.

To this day Seabird evokes sights and sounds of whaling days and early coal-powered ships. I smell the greased hemp lines and the rendered blubber, the sulphurous fumes of steamers, kelp, and the sea itself.

The early youth, perhaps reading alone or read to, becomes a lean young sailor, develops character, and passes into old age through four generations -- a most remarkable transition when one knows so little of aging or history. Holling was a master author, first of Paddle to the Sea, later of more land-based novels, each rich in full-page color images.

Any of Holling C. Holling books are worthy of a space on your personal library shelf. "Seabird" is a wonderful story celebrating the art of sailing as passed down generation by generation while exploring topics of geography, sea life, geology, and history. It engages the mind and investigates new interests. The illustrations are impressive and intriguing.

I haven't forgotten it in the 20 years since I last read it. I'm ordering it right now to read it with my sons. This is a lyrical book that can survive a post-politically-correct viewing without losing any of its character.

I've read all of Ms. Hingle's Desires and they are constantly getting better and better. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Secret Agent Dad. I started and finished teh book within one day. Blake and Josie are wonderful characters. Ms. Hingle brings them together in a very clever way and, as always, the sexual tension is amazing. Ms. Hingle excels with sexual tension. I loved the twins--Miranda and Edward. There was a little twist at the end of the book that I found a little surprising and very pleasing. This book is part of a five book series, the Texas Cattleman's Club, with each of the five books written by a different author. I read probably 5 to 6 romance books during an average week. I would highly recomment Secret Agent Dad. It is a book that definitely puts a smile on your face and leaves you feeling good. Try it, you'll like it!!

What a great read! This is the first book in this series of 5 that I have read, but I will read the others! Can't wait to find out what happens to the other members of the Cattleman's Club. Sure hope the other authors are as talented as Metsy Hingle. I read this in one sitting, couldn't put it down.

I loved every second while I read this book. Josie is a woman down on her luck and alone. She is not glamorous or outstanding, just a woman who takes life day by day and wishes for her dreams to come true. They do when she meets the extremely sexy Blake Hunt. This book kept me so interested I looked for every book by the author I could find. Take the time and read this book. It is worth it!

Royal twins Miranda (sugar britches) and Edward have lost their mother. Now they are in danger of being political pawns, and their aunt wants them brought to safety. That's where the Texas Cattleman's Club comes in. It's a club of five wealthy bachelors who set out to rescue a princess, and in the process each find true love. In book four of the series, author Metsy Hingle leads us through a royal rescue and a new romance between Blake Hunt and the widowed Josie. Blake, who has former Cobra training, is assigned to enter the palace and rescue the twins right out their cribs. Next he is to deliver them to the aunt in Royal, Texas. Naturally, when so much is at stake, what ever can go wrong -- does. While transporting the babies, Blake finds himself driving through the worse storm Texas has ever had, and he has already decided babies and bachelors do not mix. Widow Josie, who Blake renames, takes him and the babies in once she discovers them. There is instant chemistry; physical attraction is no doubt mutual, but Cupid can't seem to get the deeply hidden romance off the ground until both partakers' pasts are cleared up. Do they both have that kind of patience? And will both be accepting of each other's past lives once Blake's amnesia is cured?

What a great quick read. The mixing of intrigue and romance has always been a plus for me in category romances. I liked the way Ms. Hingle handled the replay of the royal rescue as Blake relived it. Written in italics, the scenes carry a presence of danger and intrigue; I found myself whispering the scenes in my mind. The story is well written; the characters are likable and true to form as far as I'm concerned and the plot is very good.

The Texas Cattleman Club series titles are: Texas Millionaire by Dixie Browning, Cinderella's Tycoon by Caroline Cross and Billionaire Bridegroom by Peggy Moreland. Secret Agent Dad by Metsy Hingle is the forth in the series and Lone Star Prince by Cindy Gerard, which was out in December of '99, was the last title in the five part series. They are all available at Amazon.com, and I heartily recommend them to any romance, but especially category romance readers.

An erudite and fascinating look at the role shadows played in the development of philosophy, psychology, astronomy, the hard sciences, and the arts.

The target audience for this book is unclear to me. There is something of interest here for psychologists, artists, art historians, science historians, classical historians and perhaps others. As a professional scientist, I mainly enjoyed the few sections dealing with the history of astronomy. Although the writing is generally clear, the style could be more engaging. Is this because the original Italian text was like that, or did it lose its spark while being translated into English (?) I suspect that the latter is more likely. Anyway, because the book contains such a hodge-podge of information, all centering around shadows, at least parts of it should be of interest to almost anyone; I'm giving it as much as four stars mainly because of this.

Roberto Casati's Shadow Club about shadows goes far beyond their usual definitions to probe shadow's legends, influence on myth and religious beliefs, and changing scientific concepts of the shadow both on Earth and in space. Shadow Club is very highly recommended as an intriguing blend of history, science and anthropology which presents unusual insights into shadows and their lasting impact on mankind.

Ignore the hideous subtitle forced on the book by some idiot editor; "The greatest mystery of the universe" --- give me a break.

We've all read pop science books that include a mixture of anecdotes and history along with their main subject matter. This book is of that genre, but is far superior to most of them, largely because of the intelligence, scepticism and wit of the author, an accomplished scientist. Unlike most writers, rather than simply informing us of each anecdote or historical fact, he frequently then explains issues around the fact, and concludes with a summary as to why the supposed fact, the received wisdom, is nonsense. This could be tiresome in the wrong author's hands, but is really works well here.

As other reviewers have noted, the subject matter is indeed something of a random mixture, perhaps a third dealing with cognitive issues surrounding shadows (things like how do babies perceive shadows, or how does the language we use to discuss shadows tell us something about how we naturally classify the things and the naive physics of the prescientific mind), perhaps a third deals with how shadows (for example eclipses and transits) helped advance the science of astronomy, and a third is misc other things like how shadows helped renaissance artists come up with a theory of perspective. It's rather a strange mixture, but if, like me, you're broadly interested in psychology, history, astronomy and just the world at large, every chapter is fascinating.

SHADOWS FALL is a wonderful book! Normally I don't read a book this long but this one held my interest all the way through.

Memories overwhelmed Beth Gray when she returned home to the old lodge in her big white Mercedes. To look at her, no one would ever dream she was a murderer returning to the scene of a fifteen-year-old crime. Coming home to visit her mother and to introduce her daughter, Abby, to her grandmother, hid the real reason for the visit, to chase ghosts. Only her mother wanted her here. Most of her brothers and sisters looked at her with hate.

At the age of seventeen, she was found holding a gun over the bloody body of Ollie Stevens. Everyone believed she killed him. Beth claimed to have picked up the gun when she found him dead. No one listened. She spent six years in prison and three years on parole. One condition of her parole had been to stay out of Wilder, California. After prison, she married, divorced, and lived under an alias, as a famous designer, in San Diego. Now she was free to set things right by returning to silence the nightmares that awoke her almost nightly.

"The past has driven me backhere, it won't let go. It keeps hammering at my mind..."

While in prison, she had saved a nurse from another prisoner's wrath and was shot in the knee for her deed. In the process, she had met Dr. Peter Lloyd, a caring man who became drawn to her. He operated on her smashed knee and befriended her, while she tried not to open to him. After his wife died, he never forgot Beth's stories of fishing and her mother's lodge.

When Beth glimpsed Peter at the lodge, he pretended not to know her. Their attraction was stronger than ever. The understanding Peter offered, softened the animosity of her family. Soon Peter, Beth and Abby became a threesome, and scouted trails in the countryside. Warm feelings also bubbled up in Beth for her high school fiancé, Gabriel?

Beth thought of staying and running the lodge, but couldn't change the past. No one wanted to forgive or forget. Beth's claustrophobia flourished, as mysterious happenings occurred, doors closed and locked her in, and someone tore up her drawings. Then someone shot at her. Were they trying to kill her or scare her away? She couldn't give her heart to Peter or Gabriel until she felt free from the shadows that hung in her mind, free from being wrongfully accused, if ever.

Barbara Klaser has crafted a mystery of terror and romance with all the clues in place, but the reader won't find an answer until the end of Beth's twisting and turning nightmare. Those with heart problems, asthma, or ulcers should contact their doctors' or pre-medicate themselves before reading this story, and if shortness of breath or chest pain develops, call 911.

Nancy B. Leake, Reviewer

From the moment, I read the first two paragraphs of Shadows Fall I was hooked. What I had anticipated from a genre of a romantic mystery was a gentle heroine who discovered the object of her affection had a mysterious background. To find Beth Gray, the heroine, standing over a dead body with a loaded gun in her hand was shocking.

Fifteen years later Beth and her own daughter Abby are back. The thriller begins after Beth, who was convicted for murder and then released early, returns to her family estate "The Wilder Mountain Lodge" which is located on the west slope of Shadow Lake in California. The property value could be a clue to the identity of the real murderer.

Fourteen-year-old Ollie was involved with Beth's sister Vicky. At thirteen Vicky was enchanted by the handsome boy, and refused to forgive her sister. Her brother Matt, though he loved Beth dearly, testified against his sister at the trial. The traumatic events created an emotional dilemma for the young man.

Her romantic interest is introduced so casually in Chapter One that readers may not notice the connection between the two. It is ethereal, but perfect because we have all experienced that "there is something about her/him that I can't explain" feeling.

I will not provide a list of suspects and motives. Rest assured that there are a plethora of clues (and some red herrings) that will keep you turning pages. In many ways, this book reminded me of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians." There are only a limited number of people who could have killed Ollie. In self-protection, the killer will strike again. Beth, Abby, and everyone she knows is in danger or dangerous.

Although there are a few cliché descriptions in Shadows Fall they do not detract from the plot, characters, surprises, and puzzle. This is a crime solver's delight; a romance that touches our hearts. This, most likely, will become a movie in which Winona Rider would be the perfect Beth.

If you start reading at dawn, suddenly it will be time to turn on some lights. The excuse will be that it is getting too dark to read. Too dark to be in the house with a killer -- the characters are so real that you know they are there with you.

Do not just wait for the movie -- let your heart race with this 5 star book that should become a New York Times Best Seller.

Victoria Tarrani

As the wife of a mystery author I get to read a lot of "his" books. This one, however, is my kind of mystery. The characters are painted in exacting detail, the scenery is grand, and the story is as complex as it is satisfying. Since I am a California girl, the only thing this author could have added is a map to Wilder Mountain Lodge. Halfway through the first chapter I wanted to go there... still do.

Shady was one of the funniest reads that I've come across this year. There was certainly a lot going on in Shady, South Carolina.

The story evolves around a well to do family and three friends that would walk through fire to save one another. In the end the truth comes to light and you learn how simple society thinks us to be. You become so enthralled in this book that you will find yourself laughing and talking back to the characters knowing full well that they can't hear you.

Shady is a must read.

Bravo!

When I first picked up the novel I wasn't quite sure what to expect. However, the novel had so many twists, turns and plots that I couldn't put it down. "Shady" was definitely shady with all the events that take place throughout the novel.

The setting is in South Carolina and revolves around a family that is up to no good and three friends that will do anything for each other. It is absolutely hilarious and will evoke almost every emotion that the human body is capable of feeling!

Bravo for a new up and coming author!

When I first picked up the novel I wasn't quite sure what to expect. However, the novel had so many twists, turns and plots that I couldn't put it down. "Shady" was definitely shady with all the events that take place throughout the novel.

The setting is in South Carolina and revolves around a family that is up to no good and three friends that will do anything for each other. It is absolutely hilarious and will evoke almost every emotion that the human body is capable of feeling!

Bravo for a new up and coming author!

It's a wonderful satire! From the first page to the last SHADY is a literary delight! Teamer introduces characters that grow and blossom on the page as well as in our hearts. Effie, Tweet and Safronya are the "good time" girls of Shady Grove South Carolina. However, the good time girls run into some bad times. It is these times that tests the girls character and their friendship! If you loved books like The Color Purple, Women of Brewster Place, The Bluest Eye you will simply adore SHADY. I've told my friends that they must read it. They all love it! It's the best kept secret of the season!

I felt like I was just watching a movie on TV while I read this book. I would especially recommend this to all youth nearing driving age or those that may have just received their license.

As an adult, I can remember that in my teenage years ... I felt like nothing I did could harm me. Yet this is just one of many examples that in less than a second, a tragedy can happen that changes your life and the life of everyone around you forever. This book helps us all understand how fragile we all are and how blessed we are to have the burdens in our lives that are so small in comparison.

This is a great story. I had a chance to meet Holly after reading her book, and she was such a wonderful person when we met. She has an incredible wit and a terrific sense of humor.

I enjoyed the book, I had to finish the book the same day I started it. When my children, ages 9 and 11, are older I plan to have them read it. I hope that they will realize that every action had a consquence. I wish that every teen would understand that.

I couldn't put this book down. One I started it I had to finish this true story of a young girl whose life was turned upside down. A must read for every teenager every parent of a teenager and for anyone who realizes that life is so precious and our lives can change in a matter of minutes.

Shecky's provides a soundbite for almost every bar in Manhattan. The reviews are suprisingly accurate but seemed a little too skewd towards SoHo and the Village. Some of the reviews are very, very funny. Even though I am a "bridge and tunnel" guy(a frequent bash), I still got good use of this book. Move over Zagats, here come the Sheckster.

Surprisingly accurate and sometimes painfully frank. This guide is a MUST for anyone interested in going out in New York City.

tHIS IS ONE FUNNY BOOK. iT REALLY COVERS EVERYTHING ABOUT THE NITE SCENE THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. IT'S THE ZAGAT OF BARS. A MUST BUY IF YOU LIKE TO PARTY.

I love it--this guide has become my new "bible". I refer to it everytime I even THINK about going out. Its already given a tremendous lift to my dismal social life. My only criticism is that it left out a # of bars /clubs I was interested in reading about. Nonetheless, the authors gave me alot of fun picks to choose from!

Wow! This is one of those books where you find yourself saying "Why the ...didn't I think of that!" It's a fun read but the answers are kind of startling. With the shiny red cover it makes a thoughtful Valentine's Day gift. Truly food for thought. Hmmm.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! The general idea, new answers to the same old dilemmas...when I finally closed the book (I read it in one sitting - I was riveted!) I found myself wondering, "Hey, why didn't I think of that?" C.A. Green is direct and to the point - no nonsense answers, "political correctness" out the window...but there's TRUTH in this book! I probably laughed the whole way through - but I saw so many of my friends/family members (okay, okay, I saw myself at least once), that I'm sending copies to ALL my friends ASAP. I say, buy this book, but don't just buy it, let's all LEARN from it!!!

I learnt of this book while flying home from the USA. My seat mate was laughing and I asked what was the book. It was SHORT THOUGHTS by C.A. Green. I love this book. The advise is right on the nose. One is able to hear one's mother or grandmother telling you all these things.
Ever word is true but said in such a funny way as not offend except for the guilty of course!!!
Already, several colleagues and friends have asked what I am reading that makes me laugh so much.
This is good advise on how to live our lives and right now, I think the world can use it.
My Christmas shopping is now over thanks to C.A. Green. Everyone gets a copy.
Thankyou C.A.
Bryan

Finally someone who has the balls (or I'll bet uterus) to give the right answers to those annoying, insane and constantly recycled questions sent in to advice columnists. This writer is wise.

Each piece of advice, or "thought", was funnier than the last. Giving "Short Thoughts" as a gift is a cute and subtle way to knock some sense into the head of that man or woman in your life who needs a little guidance. (That's what I'm doing!)I hope to see more from this writer.

I think I went almost nuts when I couldn't find my childhood copy of this book! It was by far my favorite children's book and remains one of my favorite books now, some thirty years later. The story is charming and teaches children the value of true friends. The illustrations are delightful. I can't recommend this book highly enough--I wish I could give it 10 stars!

Amber T Kingston
Author and Illustrator of Laura and the Leprechauns

I loved this book when I was a kid and was so happy to recently track down a copy. It's about Sloth, who is a horrible housekeeper but is blessed with truly good friends who pull together and help him out at the end of the story. Almost thirty years later, it's still a story I would highly recommend to today's kids.

I'm just crazy about this book. A wonderful story with a great message to children about looking beyond material possessions and what it means to be a true friend.

This is a really sweet book about a messy sloth and his friends. The pictures are darling and really cute. This book has a lot of personality and charm.

Souls of a Feather
By Charles W. Shirriff

Souls of a Feather is the sequel to Spirit of a Feather by Charles W. Shirriff. Continuing in the same educational vein as Spirits of a Feather, but with a more literary bend, we are presented with the continuing saga of Jay. As Jay tries to establish himself in the adult world, he must come to terms with his values and his aboriginal roots. He also deals with the hostile and manipulative father of his girlfriend, and continues his quest for his own father.

If you have ever been curious about various religious philosophies, Souls of a Feather may give you some insight. Souls of a Feather will lift some readers out of their homogeneous worlds and show them how varied life really is. Again, this book would make an excellent reader for high school students.

Laura Davis (Professional writer and Reviewer)

A spiritual 'coming-of-age' story
I enjoyed Shirriff's first novel, 'Spirits of a Feather', so of course I had to buy this one.

The story follows two years in a young man's life as he helps his girlfriend regain her health. He encounters major problems with her father who tries an imaginative scheme to get rid of him.

Interwoven in this plot are personal and close-up looks at some of his spiritual options. Specifically, the First Nations (native) spirituality is followed through from the first book (Spirits of a Feather), the Baha'i Faith, the Hutterite lifestyle and a few other minor experiences.

The Hutterite and Baha'i sections were obviously carefully researched so that the tone and feeling of the faiths is meaningfully portrayed.

I was struck by the underlying similarity among all the religions, particularly Baha'i and Native sprirituality, and to discover that many of our aboriginal peoples follow the Baha'i Faith as well as their own spirituality.

It's a good story, even without the spiritual component. The style is easy to read and humorous in places. It isn't until you have finished the book that you realize you have learned a lot about other people and their spiritual growth.
I feel I am a more tolerant and accepting person from having read this book.

I like the love story aspect. The hero fights for the mental health of his girlfriend and then has to overcome the obstacles put up by her father.

The insight into Winnipeg and into different spiritual paths is just a bonus.

I enjoyed Shirriff's first novel, "Spirits of a Feather", so of course I had to buy this one.

The story follows two years in a young man's life as he helps his girlfriend regain her health. He encounters major problems with her father who tries an imaginative scheme to get rid of him.

Interwoven in this plot are personal and close-up looks at some of his spiritual options. Specifically, the First Nations (native) spirituality is followed through from the first book (Spirits of a Feather), the Baha'i Faith, the Hutterite lifestyle and a few other minor experiences.

The Hutterite and Baha'i sections were obviously carefully researched so that the tone and feeling of the faiths is meaningfully portrayed.

I was struck by the underlying similarity among all the religions, particularly Baha'i and Native sprirituality, and to discover that many of our aboriginal peoples follow the Baha'i Faith as well as their own spirituality.

It's a good story, even without the spiritual component. The style is easy to read and humorous in places. It isn't until you have finished the book that you realize you have learned a lot about other people and their spirituality.