Clubs Books

I am a total Red Dwarf fan, and I have to say, from the two different endings, each by one author of Red Dwarf, Backwards is the best. It picks up where Better Than Life finished, and has a spectacular story that is hilarious from start to finish. Try it out, its fantastic!

"Backwards" is the best book by far of the series (Infinity, BTL, and The Last Human). It is apparent after reading this that Naylor was the comedian but this book still has a ton of laughs in it. I cannot remember the last time I really cheered, cried and hoped for characters in a novel the way I did with this book. In it, much is explained about Rimmer's general attitude (as "Last Human" does for the alter-Lister) and it was an excellent read. The audio version is good, but I would recommend reading it first. It's a must have for the serious Dwarfer.

If there is a problem with Backwards, it's that the book doesn't have a lot of heart. But it definitely has an adrenal gland. Rob Grant's book shoots Lister, Rimmer, the Cat and Kryten on an adventure through time, space, death, and reality that never, ever lets up. Just when they've evaded the police, or made it back to Red Dwarf, or escaped the deranged killer space robots, there's always a fleet of crazed mutants, a rogue computer virus, or an amorous hillbilly just around the corner. It's all insanely exciting stuff, but in the end you feel sorry for Lister & Co. By this point we're so emotionally invested in the space bum that it's sad to see him go through so much when all he wants to do is go home, which by this point is three million years and an alternate universe away.

While BTL clumsily assembled preexisting plots piecemeal, Backwards, like the Red Dwarf masterpiece IWCD, uses the television show in service of its own story. Rob Grant is clearly the master plotter of the Grant Naylor duo, and from the looks of it, the better comedian. The occasionally clumsy sentences and painful jokes of the previous two novels are gone. Whether it's a car chase in a backwards universe, a Western showdown with a computer virus, or a spacewalk reminiscent of Ray Bradbury's "Kaleidoscope," Rob Grant is a visual storyteller. And given the corner he had to write himself out of after the end of BTL, it's astounding that he acquits himself so effortlessly.

The book marks the appearance of "Ace" Rimmer, Rimmer's alternate self. Fans of the TV show know that their lives diverged due to a boyhood decision. We know the end result, but what about the little things that led the wet blanket to become the space adventurer? A grade school race from Rimmer's youth is told twice, once from either reality. These scenes bookend the novel, and they show how fundamentally the alternate Rimmer changed in relation to something as simple as running a track meet. It's a small touch, but an emotionally resonant one.

Backwards is a turning point for Lister. With the realization that Red Dwarf is more of a home to him than Earth, and that its crew is the family he never knew, what's left for him to do? Maybe Lister has finally grown up. It's a daring move for Rob Grant to make. But, like the rest of the book, we're not given time to consider it before the crew is once again in the grips of another adventure. Consequently, though Grant stated that he wants to pen another Red Dwarf novel, Backwards is an ideal place to end the series. Lister has accepted his fate as the sole survivor of the human race, and he has fulfilled his lifelong dream by winning back Kochanski. With the cliffhanger ending, it's the kind of conclusion that leaves just enough to the reader's imagination. You can picture Lister content to explore space with Red Dwarf with Rimmer, Kryten, the Cat, and Holly until the end of time or reality, whichever comes first.

"Russian, Cuban and Mexican troops invaded America in a joint effort to overcome the United States. The U.S. government was caught unaware and by the time the fighting was stabilized, the Federal troops maintained control of the Carolinas, Florida, Virginia, Washington D.C., Louisiana and Kentucky. The rest was enemy territory."

Did you miss seeing this breaking news story on CNN? Did you miss reading this headline news in The New York Times?

"Out of this chaos, many different people would arise to fight back and regain the America they once knew. In the Midwestern state of Wisconsin, one group would rise to legendary status overcoming all obstacles as they battled the invading armies."

No, this was not headline news in the New York Times nor was it a breaking news story on CNN. It was taken from the foreword of Mark Haeuser's novel, Battleground USA - The Beginning. The year is 2015.

Mark has created a world that is so realistic, I still find myself wondering if perhaps I did miss that breaking news story on CNN. After terrorists attacked America on September 11, 2001, it no longer seems so unrealistic that America could be invaded by foreign forces and taken over.

Battleground USA - The Beginning is the first novel in The Battleground USA Series. Battleground USA2 - Las Vegas is the second novel in the series. Mark has plans for a total of fifteen novels in the series.

Move over Tom Clancy, Mark Haeuser is coming up behind you - and fast!

I highly recommend this book and the series if you want a fast paced and realistic action/adventure read.

Reviewed by Kristie Leigh Maguire (for MyShelf.com), author of Emails from the Edge, Desert Triangle and contributor to Calliope's Mousepad: Women Writers Online
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what an exciting action filled book. the author provides and exciting as well as scary plot as he sends his wild eyed characters into the thick of action. He also does one of the best jobs reconstructing realistic comabt scenes that I have ever read. I feel proud to be an American after reading this book.

Mister Haeuser has created a story line which is both believable and exciting. It is a story that once you begin to read it you cannot put it down. The characters and story are beleivable and make you feel good about being an American. Truly well done. On a par with Tom Clancy and Richard Marcinko.

This was a very very good book. You really should read it if you are as horse crazy as I am.

This was a really good book. I definitly reccomend it. It was really thrilling! YOU MUST BUY IT!

For winter break, Carol Hanson finds out she is going to Florida for Mid-winter break to her cousin's house. She is really excited, and although she will miss her horse, Starlight, she knows her two best friends and other members of the Saddle Club (Lisa and Stevie) will take care of him. Carol's cousin, Shiela, loves horses, but she owns a pony that is alittle oo small for her (since she is 16). She doesn't want to part with her beloved pony, and her parents are trying to convince her to get a 'real' horse. Then, while playing at the beach, Carol gets caught in a riptide. Can Shiela's pony prove itself worthy by saving Carol?

This is a great book, I think one of the best Saddle Club books I've read. If you've never read Saddle Club books before, the author (Bonnie Bryant) makes it so you can start anywhere in the series without getting confused, so you can read this book first if you wish! A great book for people anywhere between 10 and 15, but if you are younger or older than that, I'm sure you'd love it, too!

This is simply a great book for small children. It's a classic, on the order of Goodnight Moon and Little Toot. What else is there to say?

"Beady Bear" was one of my favorite books when I was a little girl. Now that I am an auntie I have re-discovered it and purchased copies as gifts for my nephews and the children of my friends. I need Beady! Corduroy, too. This is a charming book, and with its easy-to-memorize verse employing "small" words it is great for beginning (or aspiring!) readers.

At 2 my daughter knows whats coming next. She fills in any rhyming word, or phrase. We love the story. It's a great bed time book. It's a nightly request! "I need Beady"

This book touched me so deeply. The stories are powerful and incredibly moving. It's a must read for anyone who calls themselves an animal lover. I have a new found respect and insight for the dolphins, as well as, the people who put themselves at great risk to save them. I, like many others, merely think about helping these wonderful creatures... thank God there are actually people out there that walk the talk and are making a difference for the lives of these amazing and beautiful beings. This book has lifted my spirits and inspired me in way that no other book has done before. Bravo!

This book was amazing. It was an elegant yet honest exploration of swimming with dolphins and dolphins in general. It was like taking an outdoor class with some of the world's best and most varied dolphin experts around the world. Nowhere else can I learn about dolphins in original pieces by Jean Michel Cousteau, Marc Bekoff, Sy Montgomery, Kathleen Dudzinski, Diane Ackerman, John Lilly, Paul Spong, and other stellar dolphin pioneers. I'm a marine biologist and yet I learned things about dolphins and interspecies communication that I never have learned anywhere else. It opened my eyes to new things about dolphins and people ... how dolphins save human lives, how people save dolphins, and how people can even unintentionally hurt dolphins because they want to be so close to them. I drank this book up, and when I see dolphins now, I relate to them so much more. The only downfall was that the book had some sad notes, but that is how the real life of a dolphin is. Overall I thought it was incredibly inspiring and I felt like I'd been swimming with dolphins for years after reading it!

Finally, a book that looks at dolphins and people from a scientific perspective and not just the standard New Age hype. It was exciting to read essays by the leading experts in this field - some of the world's leading nature writers and dolphin biologist together. The writers aren't afraid to take an honest look at how we influence dolphins, which may be surprising for those who frequent Sea World waiting for a free ride from a dolphin. Instead, look forward to a seminal collection about how far (or little) we've come since John Lilly first spoke about human dolphin communication 25 years ago.

Unfortunately, I have not read this book yet. However, I have it here and was looking at it earlier today. Eric L. Griffin lives about 25 minutes from me in Hudson, Michigan. I have actually met him. I saw the first copy of this book when he got it back from the publisher (right out of the box). I held it in my hands. I have spoken to Eric face-to-face. He seems like a really nice guy. I'm not sure, but I think I have one of the very first signed copies of this book. After speaking to Eric (shortly after he got the book back from the publisher), I ordered the book here at Amazon. When I got the book, I called Eric so that he could come sign it for me.

...it is fantastic! Gets your attention right from the start and doesn't let it go. You want (and need) to know what happens next! The descriptive thrills are great and written with style. Can't wait for book #2!

This author can write! Not only was it hard to put this book down but it makes you ask for more! I found it to be exceptional in it's description. We need to watch out because this author is on the rise!

...Cynthia Rylant has created a beautiful gift - not for the child saying goodbye to five, but for the parents who are smiling through tears as they remember the transformation of their tiny infant to a full fledged "kid." ...

Wow! I picked this up by chance at the library and we read it on my daughter's first birthday (yesterday). What a special book! Both the story and the pictures capture little kids' personalities so perfectly at their various phases. The book shows a little girl's first few birthdays, starting with her birth, and emphasizes her development and the bonds between her and her parents. It's really more of a book about parents and how we love our kids than a kids' book, but my daughter liked it, too. It's a bit of a tearjerker-- keep in mind that it's an emotional time for us, since it's hard to believe that our little baby is a year old already-- but I got a little weepy and my husband got a lump in his throat while reading it. It's just a perfect book for us-- it captures our joy at our daughter's birthday and our nostalgia for the past year. Since it covers the little girl's first several birthdays, it also gives us a chance to look forward to birthdays to come. I'm so glad I happened upon it, and I'm now purchasing a copy to keep.

I have now found the perfect book to give to all of my friends and family members on the special occasion of the birth of a new baby! Cynthia Rylant's 'Birthday Presents' is a touching story about the beauty of family traditions. As a new baby comes into their life, the parents make each birthday special by giving meaningful, non-commercial, oral traditon gifts to their child as she grows up. Each year the whole family revels in the pleasures of the heartwarming tokens. As the child grows older, she realizes how wonderful it is to share important memories. The family is setting up lasting traditions that create a sense of belonging and a sense of joy. Finally, the little girl continues the tradition by giving the parents a very special gift for their anniversary. I wholeheartedly reccommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Overall I think that any member of the horse show "short stirrup" division would like this book because it's all about people their age (roughly ages 6-12).

The book introduces all of the characters and deals with how young riders moving to a new barn can adjust and "fit in." The three girls and two boys compete in English riding competitions with their ponies in a book series that is much better than the currently available "Pony Pals" series. The humor and drive for fun and safety really shows, especially because the author is a riding instructor in real life.

this is a geart book!!! i am getting a horse and thay teach me some things about horses. my favorite person is chloe. and then i like keith thay are my favorite.

It is kewl and has adventure, live, fun and sadness all jam packed into it. I give it top marks!

Late in the nineteenth century northern England, Hector Stewart decides that two years as a widower is enough. He announces to his children, Pattie and Daniel, that he plans to remarry. His bride to be is a wealthy Irish relative, Moira Conelly, whose father happen to be his father's half-cousin. Hector expects Moira to bring money as a dowry that he can use on their failing farm.

Moira wed Hector to escape her home, but she honestly thought she married a wealthy landowner. In spite of the lack of new capital, at first everyone is happy with the marriage as Moira adds a dimension of happiness into their lives. However, over the years as the family fiscal crisis worsens and Moira seems to be in a constant state of pregnancy, Hector blames everyone, including the "deceitful" Moira, for his troubles. How will the lack of nurturing from the angry, cold Hector impact everyone else in the family, especially as they reach out for love?

THE DESERT CROP is the last novel from the great Catherine Cookson, who passed away last year. However, the story is a tribute to the talent of one of the hall of famers of romance writing. The story line is vintage Cookson, taking place in her usual time and universe, and involving individuals and a family struggling to cope with pending disaster. The characters are somewhat simplistic, but perhaps that is where the charm of Ms. Cookson lies as their motives are easy to understand. Fans of the deceased superstar have a gold medal final novel of love redeemed.

Harriet Klausner

God bless her. She will be missed. I have loved her works for over 20 years and this one is as good as it gets.

Cookson has been writing historical fiction for over forty years and I have been reading it for close to thirty. After her death in 1998 her estate released this last book. As always she gives us strong characters with loving ways, drama, death, murder, class struggles, and even a bit of lust and loving along the way.

Set in Northeast England we are entertained by the comings and goings of the Stewart family. Patti the rebellious daughter, and Daniel the subservient son, manipulated by a father Hector Stewart who is evil and pathetic. After their mother's death, Hector finds he hasn't the money to run the farm, so is forced to marry an Irish woman with the promise of an inheritance.

I love how Cookson is able to take the reader into her world and make you want to return to it. Even after years without one of her books, I find myself drawn to them, like a renewal of something wonderful never to be forgotten. She will be sorely missed. Kelsana 9/24/01

I enjoyed reading this book. It takes the reader behind the scenes and shows how much effort goes before and behind the actual game. It was a wonderful
reminder of the fun I have when I get to attend a women's basketball game.
Virgil A. Place, M.D.

As an avid fan of college women's basketball for almost thirty years, I found this book enjoyable on several levels. First, it was enlightening to learn some of what it's like inside a national powerhouse women's basketball program; the author's stories brought me inside the excitement of a well respected program. Secondly, the chapters are about Stanford, a university recognized for its scholarship; it grows scholars who happen to be athletes. The narratives about recruitment, coursework, and balance of student and athlete were informative. Thirdly, the details about the boosters who built the Fast Break Club itself were funny and touching. The author brought me along for the ride when she took a tour of the PAC-10 schools, and I was inside the hearts of boosters who traveled in sickness and in health to support their teams, no matter the weather or the time zone.

And finally, the author is a good writer and storyteller, her chapters and narratives flow well, the many photos add to the book, and I didn't want to put the book down. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in women's basketball. If you don't have a team to cheer for before you start the book, you will want to find one after you finish reading it!

Boosters Always Win! The Fans of Women's Basketball is a very engaging personal account of how a small group of people banded together to form what has become a very dynamic, educational, and highly effective booster organization that contributes enormously to the Women's Basketball program at Stanford University.
Harriet Benson has succeeded in giving little snapshots into behind the scene issues of what it took to develop The Fast Break Club, it's struggles, how it might best serve the program, it's future. For those who have followed the team, this is a bit of a trip down memory lane. It's a great read for anyone connected with the team or anyone interested in forming a booster organization to support any group.
The Fast Break Club now has a life of its own that nurtures not only the program, the players, the coaches, but the boosters as well. "If you build it they will come", and indeed they did!