K Books

We don't expect anything less than top notch from Eleanor Taylor Bland and she hasn't let us down!

"Bland tightens the suspense with realistic details and subplot twists before wrapping the narrative up in a satisfying solution."

"The story is particularly engaging for its character and situations, but Bland doesn't scrimp on suspense, building through tragedy, wasted lives and hope to a breath-catching climax. A well-written standout series."

"Bland has succeeded here in producing her most sophisticated, complex, and successful work yet ... the unexpected denouement is as satisfying as it is surprising, giving Marti new evidence as to the quality of her parenting. With this compelling page-turner, Bland firmly establishes her credentials as one of today's most talented mystery writers."

He comes into your home, goes through your things and plots your family's death. Yet detective Marti MacAlister is totally oblivious to this evil presence in her own home. Will her blindness and that of her friend Sharon cost them their lives and that of their family?

In this sixth case of the Marti MacAlister series we find the detective consumed by the murder of a woman and the disappearance of her snitch's best friend. Marti's room mate is consumed by her inability to say no to "Mr Wonderful" thus compromising her self esteem and neglecting the children. Throw in a kid trying to become a gang member, a flasher and people who refuse to report what they see and you have quite a mess going on the job.

This is an intriguing story as we see the intertwining of Marti's personal life with that of her job. We see the budding sexuality of her daughter and the courageness of Ben, her fiance. Marti's consuming time on the job interferes with what is so plainly before her as she begins a new step in her life. Follow her along this track of evil. See if she awakes before it is too late.

Sadly, Robert Klepper died in 2000, at the age of 32. A very nice fellow and an important film historian. Do pick up this worthwhile book, and mourn the fact that there will be no more from him.

I bought this book last year and love it and use it all the time. I get films from libraries all over the country and look up the movies that come in. I bring it with me if I am going somewhere that I will be awhile and read each review. It has a permanent place on my coffee table. If you love silent films, this book is a must.

This is the best index of silent film that I've ever seen. The reviews are bold independent and informative, if not always completely objective, Mr. Klepper is not afraid to have an opinion. This is a reference that I keep going back to.

I have owned "Silent Films, 1877-1996" for two years, and use it as a constant reference. (If you are a fan of TCM "Silent Sunday" or are a fan of silent movies and would like a guide to watching or purchasing silent film, this is the first reference to which I turn.) This does not cover absolutely every silent film, but there have been very few which I did not find information upon here. "Silent Films" also covers actors, directors, and other cinematographical information. The price tag is high, but for the silent movie buff it is indeed worth the price. I journal my silent movie viewings on its pages to keep a record. "Silent Films, 1877-1996" has gone from investment to treasure.

Robert Klepper has a remarkable love and knowledge of silent film. His understanding of the historical place of any movie he reviews is impressive and thoughtful. The book is a standing resource for any film enthusiast. In watching these films some of our favorite practices are to look for scenes that more modern films either steal (or pay omage to - depending on your thinking) and to pay attention to stunts that no actor or actress will ever have to duplicate in a more advanced film age. These are things that Robert Klepper also makes notice of and shares with his readers. I find his rating system to be reliable to my own standards and his humor to be very welcome - though I think some readers might miss some of it.

I do cherish this particular book and guard it heavily - no one is permited to borrow it. (I am usually pretty generous with my shelves.)

I assure you that the book is well worth the price -it is an excellent resource to the novice or the expert.

J

i love the spelling workout books. they have a good mix of spelling rule and practice in each assignment. it holds our children's attention.
we will continue to use this program.

I've been looking for a workbook to assist with my 1st graders homeschool curriculum. This workbook has been very helpful in my son's spelling, reading, and writing....the activities are the perfect length for his age/ attention span, and the work book has varied activities that keep things interesting. I plan to continue with this series as we homeschool in the future.

I found this book to be very helpful in that it is easy to
follow for student and parent. In our case, this was to be
used as a review and it accomplished that. Our daughters
needs were served but because she already knew the work,
it did not challenge her so in all honesty I cannot
give a better assessment.

Fabulous, excellent content. Best Spelling resource I've seen so far.

I bought this book based on its high ratings and it really is a very nice spelling program.

I like this book very much and have purchased Levels B to H as well.

I'm using them as part of our homeschooling curriculum.

What a great idea for a book. I had loads of fun reading it (and reading it out loud to family members) during the holidays. We all thought that our family was the strangest, but, boy were we wrong! This book also helped give us tips on how to deal with the ornery ones in our family, too. Helpful and fun. What more could you want?

I haven't finished the book yet but there are clearly a few stories that stand out among the rest. Some were so entertaining & frank, you can't help but laugh. There's a story in this book for everyone because we've all been there!

This book is so much fun, and it's also packed with good advice & suggestions. My sides still hurt from laughing! I bought several copies--they'll be great holiday gifts this year!

Being in the funny business myself, I'm a tough sell, but this kept me nodding throughout -- nodding in agreement, not nodding off. I wanted to send the book to my own family members, but then make Thanksgiving would be even more awkward. Thanks, Evelyn and Pam (editors), for compiling this treasure of stories. Even if I do have to keep them to myself.

What a wonderful series of books, especially the Family Visits. With family coming to visit numerous times in the next two months, I will be chuckling much more than in the past remembering the stories in this particular book.
I highly recommend these stories for personal use and to give as holiday gifts.

Vampire books normally are not my thing, but Vanessa Fewings' "Stone Masters" is more than that. She deals deftly with filial conflict, troubled loyalties and generational continuity. She's penned a very gripping story.

Roger L. Conlee, author of "Counterclockwise" and "Every Shape, Every Shadow"

Just when you thought you knew everything about our immortal friends, VMK Fewings gives us a new take on the beloved vampire genre. Set against an English backdrop, spanning centuries and laying to rest dozens of mere mortals, she weaves a captivating story of love, power, grief and deception. Vengeful vampires wage war against the Stone Masters, a secret society sworn to protect the innocent from the bloodthirsty night stalkers. I highly recommend this fast paced thriller with lots of action and plenty of unexpected twists and turns. Looking forward to the next one...

I began Ms. Fewings novel in the early evening and finally finished around four in the morning. I was just unable to put it down until I reached the very last page. She brings to us an entirely new take on the vampire genre. Her use of visualizations gives you a movie in your head.

Even though it's a dark, gothic vampire story, there's a lot of joy and passion in the writing. It's obvious that the writer really enjoys this subject matter and had a good time writing the novel -- because that joy and entertainment flows to the reader. It's a good read for the casual horror reader, the devoted vampire fiction fan or anyone looking for a good yarn.

I began Ms. Fewings novel in the early evening and finally finished around four in the morning. I was just unable to put it down until the very last page. She brings to us an entirely new take on the vampire genre. Her use of visualizations gives you a movie in your head.

The battle of Cedar Mountian was fought in early August, 1862. The battle took place just south of Culpeper, Virginia along present day highway 15. Cedar Mountain was a prelude to the battle of Second Manassas. Robert K. Krick has done an excellent job of bringing this battle to light. As in all of Krick's books, the research is outstanding and the story well told. This was not one of Jackson's best performances on the field of battle, and Krick does not gloss over the mistakes. Robert K. Krick knows his subject, and it shows up in his writing.

385 pages for a 5 1/2 hour battle tells you just about everything you need to know. Krick is very thorough in depicting the battle and is also forthright in warning the reader that he is sometimes delving into supposition and making logical conclusions from the facts at hand. His writing is reminiscent of Gordon Rhea as is his detail. Good maps. I am hard pressed to see how this added to Stonewall's reputation as Bank's men, far outnumbered, kept Jackson from interrupting the consolidation of Pope's Army of VA. This book should stand as the definitive work on the battle.

Jackson leaves his lethargic performance at the Seven-day's battles to go North to confront Pope and northwest of Richmond he runs into a former nemesis from the valley, Banks. Banks gives him great fits in a slug fest described in minute detail by his battlefield biographer Krick. The desperate battle shows Jackson's personal leadership as he is at the brink of failure when he impulsively rushes to the front to have his troops hold and counterattack. He heroically pulls his sword and leads by waving it to the front. Krick's descriptions are so detailed and accurate there is a bit of humor as Jackson, unable to pull his sword out of the scabbard, waves his sword with the scabbard still in place. This is a ferocious battle as a cannon shot decapitates the leader of the Stonewall Brigade, Winder. Ironically, A. P. Hill comes up and virtually helps save the day. The Union Commander, Banks, although not considered particularly competent, always gave Jackson an unusually hard time in battle such as an earlier defeat at Kernstown. This battle, although a victory for the Confederates, still leaves a bit of a shadow on Jackson, as he seemed ill prepared for battle and survived with assistance from Hill's legendary light division. This battle has everything including a virtual suicidal Union cavalry charge at the Union's final desperate attempt at victory.

The tactics of the battle cannot be better described by anyone other than Krick who was the Superintendent of the battlefields at and around Fredericksburg. A great researcher, Krick probably walked the entire battlefield. Comes with a number of helpful maps showing movements, which help the reader, follow the detailed battle movements.

Over several decades I have read thousands of Civil War
books, and this is one of the best ever! It should be required reading for anyone researching and/or writing about any aspect of the Civil War. Mr. Krick's masterful study of the battle makes any further account superfluous; it has
the suspense and excitement of a novel. And, after all, why
bother with fiction when such superb historical books are
available? Excitement and education - what could be better?

In my humble opinion, Krick has written an excellent account of a small-scale and largely forgotten but bloody battle. Compared to Gettysburg, Antietam, Chickamauga, Vicksburg, and a host of other larger Civil War battles, Cedar Mountain has been largely forgotten. Fortunately, Krick has taken the time to produce an excellent account of what Stonewall Jackson himself admitted was his finest battle.

Krick manages to weave accounts of combatants of both sides with vivid battle actions and excellent descriptions of various terrain features that figured prominently during the battle. The book also contains something several other Civil War studies lack - excellent and ample maps. The maps are of excellent quality and help the reader better understand the flow of battle.

I haven't visited the battlefield since the mid-1990s but plan to return in the near future. Krick's title will be an invaluable aid for better understanding the battle during my next visit.

Read and enjoy. Highly recommended!

Not earth-shattering or impressive, still this collection of stories written by President Ronald Reagan is a worthwhile glimpse into the thinking of our former president. Each story is brief, a format that lends itself well to a person whose habit is to read a book little bits at a time due to a busy schedule. I found the stories insightful and well done, further demonstrating to me the depth and integrity of someone I've admired for many years.

For the most part, this little book consists of brief, non-political, stories written by Ronald Reagan for delivery on his five minute radio program in the 1970's. Some are his own. Others are based on stories which he had read or heard and which apparently touched him in some way and which he felt were worthy of repeating to a broader audience. My expectations weren't very high when I began reading the book; probably because there have just been too many such books compiled in recent years. If I'd noticed that the book was produced by the same people who earlier produced "Reagan, In His Own Hand..." they wouldn't have been quite so low.

In any case, this small book exceeded my expectations. Taken separately, its stories are quite topical and quite interesting. Taken together, they tell us a little bit more about our 40th president and it becomes clearer than ever that he was not only a great president and a great human being but also a master story teller. In my view, this book should be of interest to anyone who is interested in Ronald Reagan as well as those who simply appreciate a good story well told.

On Sept. 20, 1983 during my freshman year at the University of South Carolina, RR came to speak. When some students of the far left heckled him, he replied "Is there an echo out there?" and disarmed them. He also entertained the crowd with folksy anecdotes of his days at Eureka College that we as students could identify with. Most of the students (myself included) who disagreed with many of his policies and would never vote for him in susequent elections agreed that RR had a gift with a story and with an audience.

This is the RR that appears in this book. These are the folksy anecdotes that he shared mostly with radio audiences and a few are from his presidential days and some go as far back as his newspaper columns in the 1930s. Much of this makes for good light reading, such as his impressions of hollywood in the 30s and his joy of his parents coming out for a visit, the tale of his hosting a black fellow athlete at his home when a hotel refused to house him, and of the girl who braved a crowd of student demonstrators to shake his hand, as ell as his observations on death.

Unlike some other compliations of RR's writings, tales such as these transcend political opinion. This would make good bedside reading or on a short flight.

If you appreciate Ronald Reagan, you will LOVE this book! If you ever felt you'd like to know him better -- read this book! His stories and examples are right to the point. His title, The Great Communicator, is well deserved!

This is a compilation of transcripts of Ronald Reagan's radio talk-show from the late 1970's. Reagan always loved to use stories to communicate ideas and give advice, and this collection is replete with perfect examples of that. I believe that the four components of leadership are:

1) A clear vision of a better future; 2) The ability to communicate that vision; 3) The ability to get others to want to listen to your ideas and to believe you; 4) The ability to translate your vision into action

Whatever you might think of Reagan's vision for America or of the actions he took, this book shows us how he excelled at communicating his vision and pulling people into it. He was not called "The Great Communicator" without reason, and this book shows you that reason clearly. This is a treasure for Reagan fans, and for anyone who wants ideas on how to be more charismatic.

After reading Before Women had Wings, I hungered for more from Connie May Fowler. I found Sugar Cage to be a deeply satisfying follow-up. The novel, told in many different voices, takes us on the unforgettable journeys of a diverse cast of characters, all of whom reel the reader into an intricate tapestry woven by Fowler. Startling descriptions of Hatian voodoo rituals were among the most vivid scenes from the book, whose magical conclusion leaves the reader spellbound. A mesmerizing novel, Sugar Cage, like Fowler's other work, has left me hungry for more!

SUGAR CAGE weaves the story of such disparate people as Inez Temple, black maid to rich folks, Patrick Lackley, finicky mortician, and Charlie Loonie, front-man schmoozer for a local band. The women in this book will steal your heart -- especially the dear-hearted Inez, Charlie's loyal wife, Rose, and the magical Soleil Marie Beauvoir. The story is often dark and sad, but the mystical ending will inspire and uplift you.

For a first novel, I found the writing astonishing. Anyone who can make you care about so many contrasting characters (and make it easy to follow the thread) is a born writer. I adore a novel that pulls you in from the very first sentence . . . SUGAR CAGE does that.

Inez Temple is working as a maid in a cheap tourist hotel on the South Florida coast when she meets Rose Looney. A Haitian woman with an ability to "see' the outlines of peoples lives, Inez sees in the sugar crystals in the bottom of a glass Rose has drunk from the outlines of a cage and knows early on that Rose and her new husband, Charlie, and their friends Junior and Eudora, and their children, are destined to be trapped in many ways in the years to come.

15 years later, Rose knows this as well. How she struggles to find her way through her broken marriage and try to save her only son from the same fate in the midst of all the "bars of the cages" society and life confine her within--poverty, racism, sexism, cultural snobbery and so on, is at the core of this unusual tale of life in the melting pot that is South Florida.

The mysticism gets a bit out of hand at times-and stretches credulity it the process, but this is a minor flaw in an otherwise excellent novel.

This was the type of book that you can never put down. I read it all in one night. The best part about the book is the way the author displayed each character individually. It then ended up showing how each of the characters were uniquely linked togeather. It's a book that I will always love to read again and again. I would most definitly reccomend it.

Connie May Fowler creates intimacy for the reader and all of the books characters. By bringing first person to all the characters we get to know more about how people choose the decisions they made and what motivates each one towards the life they choose. I really enjoyed the way she was able to keep the story progressing thorugh time but also using other's perspective on what occured or is occuring at the moment. Also the influences of Haitian voo-doo help add new depth to Florida southern culture. And gives new information to the reader about pagean religion and the intellegence and beauty it brings to the characters of this book. I felt her pride or her willingness to explore and place in a positive light Haitian voo-doo. I think the main essence of the book for me was that everyone needed to listen to thier own voice. And once they steered away from that is when thier lives turned towards unhappiness. The realness of coming to terms with our demons and releasing ourselves into our own strengths was what I felt Fowler was trying to get across. The beauty of how she used everyones perspective instead of one main character and narrator is what I enjoyed the most. I enjoyed being able to be sypathetic to everyone's life and the way they had/have chosen to live it.

Mm, this is a beautiful, wonderful little book! It is a collection of little stories of a very small girl and her small grandmother going adventures on their little island in Sweden. So full of green things and little bites of happiness. The grandmother is oh so clever and says so many poignants to the girl. The girl is wise too. So full of joy.

Based very much upon the late (and yes, great) Tove Jansson`s own family experiences on an island in the Finnish archipelago, this magical, elegiac, very funny, yet - despite its title - autumnal book, subtly draws the reader into the seemingly mundane lives of six-year old Sophia, whose mother has recently died, and `Grandmother` (who could almost be a humanised character from one of Jansson`s immortal Moomin books), as they potter and squabble around their small, idyllic island summer home.
Sophia`s `Papa` never speaks (never? Hm...) but is a silent, prosaic presence throughout, while Sophia is (as her name implies) wise, as well as temperamental, and Grandmother dispenses brief, ironic snippets of wisdom and can be just as prickly. They are a double-act; and, like all the best double-acts, rely on each other - at least for the grateful reader - to each `complete` the other. One feels Grandmother learns from her granddaughter as well as vice versa.
This is a beautiful, thoughtful, unsentimental, deceptively straightforward meander through the summer months with three generations of a grieving family each determined to hang on to their individuality. There are also the occasional - and rarely welcome - visitors.
If I make The Summer Book sound more than simply a light read, it is because even Tove Jansson`s children`s books (of which this can hardly be said to be one) have a tough melancholy strain to them, and a `message` of independence and personal integrity as the sanest way to be.
In its modest, breezy way, this is a great little book. One to treasure.

This book was given to me by an uncommon friend and I enjoyed it very much. It is about the friendship between a grandmother and her young grandaughter who live on a bit of an island in Finland (?). The beauty and treasures discovered in the quiet lives they lead, finding joy in simple things and loving each other besides those petty annoyances of personality (they are very much alike). There are many "huggable" humorous moments. I think of one in which they trade cats--their cat is indifferent to the grandaughter's overtures and the one traded was much more warm and cuddly, but then (and I quote from the book).

"Hunt! Do something! Be like a cat!" And then she started to cry and ran to the guest room and banged on the door.
"What's wrong now?" Grandmother said.
"I want Moppy back!" Sophia screamed.
"But you know how it will be," Grandmother said.
"It'll be awful," said Sophia gravely. "But it's Moppy I love."

As a child, Tove Jansson lived in summer on islands in the Gulf of Finland, and later she and her partner Tuulikki Pietilä lived on a small island called Klovharu. Jansson wrote many children books, including the Moomin series, and ten books for adults.

The plot of the most famous of her adult novels is very simple; an elderly artist and her six-year-old granddaughter Sophia spend the summer on a tiny island exploring and talking about everything but Sophia's mother's death and their love for each other. They wander, pick flowers, watch storms, take an occasional trip in a rowboat. The 22 short episodes make a remarkable whole; "On an island," thinks the grandmother, "everything is complete."

Sophia has a nightmare of luggage floating away in moonlight, "all the suitcases were open and full of darkness and moss". The loss of Sophia's mother haunts them both. Their comments make the book come alive.

"'When are you going to die? ... will they dig a hole?' the child asked amiably."

"Sometimes people never saw things clearly until it was too late and they no longer had the strength to start again."

"No well-bred person goes ashore on someone else's island when there's no one home. But if they put up a [No Trespassing] sign, then you do it anyway, because it's a slap in the face."

"Only farmers and summer guests walk on the moss ... The second time it doesn't rise back up. And the third time you step on moss, it dies."

Sophia wants to go swimming. "She waited for opposition, but none came. So she took off her clothes, slowly and nervously. She glanced at her grandmother - you can't depend on people who just let things happen. It's deep, Sophia thought. She forgets I've never swum in deep water unless someone was with me. And she climbed out again and sat down on the rock." Her grandmother notes that Sophia is afraid of deep water.

The interaction between Sophia and her grandmother is a clash of wills, Sophia stubborn, impetuous and supportive; her grandmother wise, unsentimental, on the edge of exhaustion, dizzy, fearful of losing her balance "the balance between survival and extinction was so delicate that even the smallest change was unthinkable".

Nonetheless, "It was just the same long summer always, and everything lived and grew at its own pace."

The book has been a major best seller in Scandinavia since it was first published in 1972. Thomas Teal has produced a wonderful English translation. This new edition from NYRB Classics is beautifully printed and bound. This novel captures a summer growing "at its own pace."

Robert C. Ross 2008

I rejoice that this short work has come into print again, though it's rather sad that it took the author's recent death to prompt the publishers into action. I'd read an extract in a guide to the top 100 books of the twentieth century and was surprised and disappointed not to be able to get my hands on the full edition.

Jansson has an inate understanding of the wisdom and skewed world-view of children, and manages to capture the fragile - and ephemeral - friendship which can exist between the very old and the very young. There is a freshness about her style which never teeters into whimsy. A rare achievement indeed.

This is the type of book for people who want just a touch of tradgedy and also a dash of romance. This is a book I totally recomend for all teen readers. It is an absolutely wonderful book and it has been like a delightful journey to a whole new world!

This is without a doubt the best book I've ever read. I have never read a more innovative, entertaining, and interesting take on the Arthurian legend. This book is absolutely fascinating, the kind you wish would go on forever! When I finished reading it for the first time, I turned back to the beginning and started it again. This book is wonderful!!

I thought this was the best book I had ever read. I loved how the author brought you into to this fantasy world as you were soon off on an adventure with Rigan, Morgan, and Arddu. If you haven;t read this book you should,. -A grade 6 student feb.16,99.

I read this book perhaps 7 or 8 years ago, and only once. But to this day, I remember it as one of the best books I have ever and most likely will ever read. Welwyn Katz takes a fascinating story and puts an entirely new twist upon this interpretation of Arthurian legend to make a truly wonderful, truly memorable book.

It was amazing. I read the book quite a while a go, but the images that I pictures were so vivid and the description of the battle of cruelties between the two magics were so imaginative - 5 stars way up!!!