Lee Books

Being a science fiction and fantasy fanatic I was quite impressed with the worlds and characters that Lee Garrett has to offer in "The Awakening"! This is a story that stretches your imagination and takes you in an adrenaline fenzy! ~Marc Phoenix/Author of "Tashar City of Mystery"

Garrett has authored a novel that literally wakes the reader up! "The Awakening" has action, visuals like none other, and non-stop movement in this amazing novel. Garrett's command of the language is impressive and the creativity blows the reader away. I recommend this book to all who love fantasy that is "real" which makes little sense, but is the best way I can describe the author's refreshingly unique style. Movie producers need to be eyeballing this book. "Wake up!" And read this book!

This is a wonderful book. Never dull, never tedious, it keeps an energy rarely seen in any of today's writing. So few authors can keep the reader's interest as raptly as Lee Garrett can, and I'm proud to say that I never once put the book down. Cover to cover, never tiring, and ending with the satisfaction of a truly enjoyable experience. This is definitely worth not only a look, but a second and a third.

Jimmy's writing gets better with each book. This one does not disappoint---it's fast paced and as he might have put in his own wonderful words...BY GOD GOOD. Wonderful read. This is not pulp western folks. If you like good westerns, don't miss this one.

I just finished reading J. Lee Butts' book, A Bad Day to Die, the adventures of Lucius "By God" Dodge, Texas Ranger. What a book! Butts is an exceptional writer, has an unusual gift for clever dialog, and is one who flat out knows how to tell a tall Western tale properly.
The book picks up on Lucius Dodge as an old man talking to an old Ranger partner, and then flashes back to one of the craziest, meanest, bloodiest, nastiest cases Dodge and his partner Boz Tatum ever worked on...the Nightshade murders. The two young Texas Rangers, tough, smart, hard working honest fellows are sent to Sweetwater, Texas, a town terrorized by a big family of thugs, the notorious Nightshades.
Two different beautiful girls fall for the handsome young Ranger, Dodge, one the impetuous, sweet-kissing, straight-shooting, green-eyed Martye, sixteen year old daughter from a big, dirt poor family of farmers, and the other the pistol-packing, hard-assed, gorgeous Nance Nightshade. Dodge is no ladies man by any means, often embarrassed by the obvious attentions of these two different, but extremely attractive females.
A Bad Day to Dies isn't light reading, it's a tough book, it doesn't have fairy tale ending, it isn't a book that seems destined to be a Hollywood movie...too real for Hollywood, but what this excellent Western novel is, is historically accurate, hard-hitting, true to the flavor of time and place, and above all, interesting at every point. The deeper into the story the reader gets, the more difficult it is put this exciting book down. Told in the first person by an older and wiser Lucius Dodge, the flow of remarkable similes and metaphors is staggering, the book has the feel of one that was written and then re-written and polished over and over, and of one that was written by a real pro, a wordsmith with uncommon and serious skills. If you've never yet had the pleasure of reading J. Lee Butts, and you appreciate a good story set in the Wild West as it actually was, check out this talented writer. A Bad Day to Die is one mighty fine Western novel. Highly recommended.

I'm a big fan of westerns, and spotted this one at my local Walmart. Intriqued by the title, I decided to pick it up. I'm glad that I did. This book is what westerns should be, exciting from beginning to end. It seems to be written in the first person at the beginning, and slips seemlessly in and out from that point on. I've read a lot of westerns, but the way the author put words together painted a pretty picture. Grab this one if you see it!

Plenty of books talk about wartime jargon, but here's an actual dictionary exposing war propaganda usage and terms in Battlebabble: Selling War In America. Soldiers and civilians alike will find it's a-z reference allows for quick look-up of terms and definitions - but it's much more than just a one-paragraph dictionary: in-depth coverage often takes up several pages to thoroughly explain history, jargon, and approaches to selling war in the media and to the public.

Battlebabble is "a dictionary of deception": it lists alphabetically euphemistic terms the government uses to describe wartime activity, what author Dr. Thomas Lee calls "a tidal wave of deceptive rhetoric poured from the White House, aimed at drowning reason and protest." Such terms include "collateral damage," "friendly fire," and "air campaign," all of which in fact describe death and destruction but are peddled for public consumption by these "patriotic" and mendaciously neutral phrases.

Lee's "dictionary" is cogent, meticulously researched, well written, and passionately argued. It contributes significantly to the war against the war, and repeats a message we can never be reminded of too often: that, as Orwell said and Lee quotes, "Political language. . .is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." Lee's specific exploration of individual terms and phrases ruthlessly exposes exactly this point, with deep concern for the social ignorance and complacency such language fosters.

If more people shared and acted upon Lee's simple but penetrating belief that governments must try to see war as "not the final resort, but a totally unacceptable alternative"-which he admits "is worlds away from the usual assumptions of our society"-perhaps pacifism would begin to seem less like an extreme stance and more like the right one. Battlebabble bravely and effectively tries to move us in that direction.

In his new book, "Battlebabble, Selling War in America", long-time activist Thomas Lee tackles the painfully disturbing subject of government deception and its willing advocates. This book comes to us at a time when people, who were originally beguiled by George W. Bush's war rhetoric, are now having second thoughts. Mr. Lee expertly defines and illuminates the reality lying behind the deceptive and euphemistic language employed by the current administration. This book is a "must-read" for all Americans.
Maureen E. Levine, Ph.D.

BearWalker is a great book with a ton of potential. As I read the book I kept thinking, this is gonna be a hit TV series some day. It has everything: government conspiracy, mysticism, betrayal...the works! His use of Native American myth, and his great development of Paul Dillinger(my personal favorite in the book) just left me wishing the book was 500 pages and not 150. I hope he writes more in this line!

Wow! Steven King, the king of horror fiction, had better prepare his abdication speech because Steven Lee Climer is the heir apparent, the crown prince, and his works of dark fantasy declare him ready to reign. Based on Chippewa and Ottawa myths and legends of shape shifters and healers, Bear Walkers and Bloodstoppers, BEARWALKER, set in present day Ann Arbor, puts a whole new spin on the myths. Unable to control his shape shifting by any other means, David Walking Bear has become an alcoholic, a street person. And manages to survive in the shadows until a group of men, armed with chains and bats, descend on his alley and start beating David and two of his derelict buddies. Changing into a monster, David kills them all, including one friend who is still alive, and has to run again. Jeanette Towson, gifted by Manitou (the Great Spirit) with the ability to take ills and wounds from the patient to herself, has hidden herself by adopting different strategies. A news junkie, she almost knows what David is, but gets herself involved in the news when she saves a victim of an auto accident. There is still another important character in BEARWALKER. Paul Dillinger, a tabloid reporter, wants the stories of the "monster that kills" and the "angel that heals" for his rag and is determined to find the truth of it without regard to the people involved. The author's previous book, DREAM THIEVES, was nominated for Best First Novel 1997 from the International Horror Guild. I had the honor of reviewing it also. It has all the makings of a classic, a book that defines the horror/dark fantasy genre.

Wow! Steven King, the king of horror fiction, had better prepare his abdication speech because Steven Lee Climer is the heir apparent, the crown prince, and his works of dark fantasy declare him ready to reign. Based on Chippewa and Ottawa myths and legends of shape shifters and healers, Bear Walkers and Bloodstoppers, BEARWALKER, set in present day Ann Arbor, puts a whole new spin on the myths. Unable to control his shape shifting by any other means, David Walking Bear has become an alcoholic, a street person. And manages to survive in the shadows until a group of men, armed with chains and bats, descend on his alley and start beating David and two of his derelict buddies. Changing into a monster, David kills them all, including one friend who is still alive, and has to run again. Jeanette Towson, gifted by Manitou (the Great Spirit) with the ability to take ills and wounds from the patient to herself, has hidden herself by adopting different strategies. A news junkie, she almost knows what David is, but gets herself involved in the news when she saves a victim of an auto accident. There is still another important character in BEARWALKER. Paul Dillinger, a tabloid reporter, wants the stories of the "monster that kills" and the "angel that heals" for his rag and is determined to find the truth of it without regard to the people involved. The author's previous book, DREAM THIEVES, was nominated for Best First Novel 1997 from the International Horror Guild. I had the honor of reviewing it also. It has all the makings of a classic, a book that defines the horror/dark fantasy genre. I'm not sure, but I think BEARWALKER is their first book. If so, it's a grand debut into the publishing world. Rumors are rampant regarding the death of the horror genre, but my guess is: Steven Lee Climer and Indigo will be the Bloodstopper for horror. Reviewed by Patricia Lucas White, award-winning author of A Wizard Scorned.

Great fun! Activities require very easily accessible materials that educate and entertain. We took this book to a family reunion and had everyone from age 8 to 88 trying to do the experiments the scientific experts claim are Impossible. Now, every time my grandchildren (ages 6 and 10)visit, this is the first book they drag off the shelf. This is a timeless winner!

Bet You Can't is a wonderful tool for teachers and students. Science is presented as fun challenges. It can be used in the classroom setting in many ways--as independent centers, and as science process presentations. Students are amazed at the activities. This book helps students understand science in a fun.

Great fun! Activities require very easily accessible materials that educate and entertain. We took this book to a family reunion and had everyone from age 8 to 88 trying to do the experiments the scientific experts claim are Impossible. Now, every time my grandchildren (ages 6 and 10)visit, this is the first book they drag off the shelf. This is a timeless winner!

We really love the recipe using buttermilk to extend butter. It makes a lower fat/calorie spread that my kids love. In fact, not one of the many recipes that I have tried from this book has been bad. My kids have loved every one of them. The recipes are written very clearly with the author's tips included. There are many recipes that are not "baking" recipes such as spreads, dips, soups, salads & salad dressings; main dishes such as stews; fried chicken & fish, stroganoff, desserts such as puddings & sherbets plus many more traditional "baking" recipes like breads; muffins; soufflees; cakes, etc. The history of buttermilk and what to look for is very informative. This is a "must-have" if you love buttermilk and a great cookbook to expand your cooking if your are unfamiliar with using buttermilk in baking & cooking.

This is a wonderful cookbook. For those of us who thought buttermilk was just a tangy milk product full of fat, THINK AGAIN. In reality it is better for you than regular milk and has less fat. It makes recipes tastier and better for you too. This book starts out with the history of buttermilk and takes us in to why it is so good for us. Very interesting reading. The author gives us ideas in the introduction on how to make special cooking butter that saves calories time and money. Then come the recipes. They are easy to read and follow. They are delicious. I am looking forward to using this book for many years.

I found this book on a remainder table and couldn't resist it. I bake often, and once you experience baking with buttermilk, you'll want to expand your baking recipes to include lots with buttermilk. It's a great baking ingredient (including the dried buttermilk powder).

With the success of the baking recipes, I tried some of the "smothered" recipes. Also great.

The recipes in this book are mostly easy and contain typical ingredients. They are also crowd pleasers. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

A wonderful collection featuring some of the world's best noir scholars and historians. There's a wealth of information between these covers, but the book is worth its weight in platinum for the magnificent, definative essay on Gil Brewer written by Bill Pronzini.

As the lowly web guy behind The Thrilling Detective Web Site, I'm always looking for good reference books, and this one's a keeper! It collects some of the very best articles, essays and critiques in one handy volume, covering everything from film and fiction to radio, television and comics. Passionate, diverse, opinionated, cranky, illuminating and enlightening, it's like a Greatest Hits of Noir Criticism.

If you're looking for an intriguing, informative, and overall enjoyable reference work on both noir fiction and film, look no further. The Big Book of Noir, co-edited by Lee Server and Ed Gorman, is chock full of terrific pieces on great directors and writers including Cornell Woolrich, A.I. Bezzerides (writer of the classics Kiss Me Deadly, On Dangerous Ground, and Thieves' Highway), Harry Whittington, Peter Rabe, Fritz Lang, Leigh Brackett, Gil Brewer, Mickey Spillane, and many more.

One of the best things about the book is that several of the above-mentioned pieces are actually interviews; Lang and Bezzerides fall into this category, as do Daniel Mainwaring (writer of Out of the Past), Abraham Polonsky (writer of Force of Evil), Peter Rabe, Charles Willeford, and Donald Westlake.

Several of the non-interview pieces are written by some of the best known writers in suspense fiction around including Stephen King (on Jim Thompson), William Nolan, Ed Gorman, Barry Malzberg, Bill Pronzini, and Max Allan Collins. Other pieces are firsthand accounts--by Leigh Brackett and Malvin Wald (writer of Naked City).

There's an interesting checklist of 100 favorite noir films (including a few by Jean-Pierre Melville, one of the all-time great French directors--a powerful inspiration for Tarantino), another checklist of 100 noir novels, and even a section on noir comics!

The Radio and TV section goes into Peter Gunn, of course, but also mentions the lesser-known (and by all accounts, far more interesting) Johnny Staccato which starred John Cassevetes who was infinitely edgier than Craig Stevens' Gunn character.

These guys have done their homework and more, and it definitely shows. It's a shame this book is out of print; it's terrific!

This book delivers on the promise in its jacket cover with Rose's enchanting, lilting rhymes and Munsinger's uproarious and lively watercolor illustrations of a zoo full of animals putting on a birthday party for a delighted young boy. It is "a birthday present to open again and again." The irresistible rhymes include: "'But where to begin?' asked the shy tamarin. `Blow up balloons.' puffed the raccoons." Laughter or at least a broad smile will erupt when this verse is read in its full-spread illustration of eight raccoons eagerly blowing up colorful birthday balloons and cheerfully floating up to the ceiling with them while a bewildered tamarin looks on. Similar hilarious delights fill the entire book as the animals progress from setting up the party to a playful and joyous celebration complete with presents, games, and cake. But, don't forget to turn the over the last page or you'll miss a great surprise. Highly recommended for ages 2 to 6

Birthday Zoo is a joyful picture book by Deborah Lee Rose about the most exciting birthday celebration ever. A whimsical poem about fun activities suggested by various playful animal friends, and cheerful color illustrations by Lynn Munsinger make Birthday Zoo an upbeat, entertaining, and highly recommended picture book for beginning readers.

What do children enjoy more than a birthday party? Young folks find a visit to the zoo exciting. The combination of the two in "Birthday Zoo" is bound to bring smiles of delight.

Illustrated in engaging watercolors and presented in catchy rhyme, the story opens with a question, "`Hey, what's the big deal?'" noticed the seal." When it's discovered that the big deal is a birthday preparations begin.

"`What do we do?' asked the emu. `Make everyone happy,' said the okapi." And that's precisely what this joyful narrative will do as balloons are blown up, party hats distributed, and refreshments served.

At the last, imagine being wished happy birthday by a whole zoo!

- Gail Cooke

Ms. Sanders pulls no punches with this honest and gripping story of racial tension and hate at Prescott High.

This is the story of Brandy Morgan. She is a typical teenager, wanting to fit in and have friends. But she's black and poor. Not the qualities needed to be cool at Prescott High. Cool would be Ian Fuller and his buddies.

Brandy gets the feeling that Ian isn't like his friends. He's not outwardly cruel to Brandy. He just ignores her when his friends are around. But Brandy is persistent and keeps trying to befriend Ian. Finally, Ian takes up Brandy's offer to help tutor him in math. From there, their friendship blossoms.

But not without problems. The high school students will not tolerate the mixing of the two races. Brandy is harassed and assaulted in various ways. No one should be subjected to the humiliations that Brandy must endure. As Ian's feeling for Brandy change, he is drawn into her everyday troubles.

The reader gets a glimpse inside Brandy's mind with excerpts from her diary. It gives insight to her unwavering spirit, but also her struggles not to hate those that seem to hate her.

This is not an easy book to read. It brings forward feelings of racial tension and distrust of someone that is different from yourself. It's hard to imagine that such reactions are still present in modern society, but current events make it all too clear that it's still prevalent in our generation.

Ms. Sanders closes out the book with examples of recent hate crimes that were in the media. Fans of the A&E program American Justice will be familiar with two of the cases listed: Teena Brandon and Matthew Shepard.

I suggest this book as recommended reading to everyone. If nothing else, it would provide a heated discussion on where our society is headed.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

This is a great book. The author is very poetic and an elegant writer. You really feel for the character and how they have to deal with real issues. I could not put the book down!

This book was a great read. It has vivid characters, excellent plot, and is well written. Most it's a romance story but it also educates the reader about hate crime and racism.

My favorite part of the story was the end when the plot takes a surprising turn. I love the main character Brandy for her persistence and determination.

"A Black and White Case" provides a comprehensive history of affirmative action of value to anyone interested in race in America. As the subtitle ("How Affirmative Action Survived its Greatest legal Challenge") suggests, Stohr tends to favor the proponents of affirmative action. At the same time, however, he shows sympathy and insight into its opponents. For example, Stohr's portrait of Carl Cohen -- the Michigan philosophy professor who first unearthed Michigan's statistics on affirmative action -- reveals that the intellectuals behind the recent challenges come from backgrounds far from the mainstream of the conservative movement.

Stohr also presents an account of the Supreme Court that in many ways outshines that of Bob Woodward's and Carl Bernstein's in The Brethren. In contrast to Woodward and Bernstein, Stohr lacks Woodward and Bernstein's instictive hostility to the Court's right wing.

Finally, Stohr does an admirable job tying together chacters and events covering a broad scope of time and space into a book with suprisingly strong narrative force. Shelby Foote once said that in writing, plot is the last thing that a writer masters, if he masters it at all. Stohr succeeds in this important respect.

This is an excellent book.

Whether or not we choose to acknowledge it, every student who has entered an American university over the past 50 years is a product of the affirmative action and diversity policies of our nation's education system. The U. of Michigan case that is the heart of "A Black and White Case" is a landmark ruling that impacts the admission policy of every U.S. university. The issues described in this book are extremely important to each of us as citizens. Everyone interested in the American higher education system sould read this book.

Greg Stohr provides an incredibly balanced account of the highly charged issue of race-based admissions policies. Mr. Stohr also does an excellent job of taking very complicated legal facts and analysis and turning them into a fast-moving story that non-legal scholars can follow and understand. This is the most important legal book I have read in several years. It is also a terrific read. I highly recommend this new author.

Stohr's book reminded me of an old television program hosted by Walter Cronkite. It reenacted significant events in history and he always ended it by saying, "You were there." I felt as though I had been behind the scenes as those involved with the two affirmative action cases worked for victory. Stohr explains the legal terms clearly without being condescending. He delves into the personalities and the politics which determine the outcomes. I especially enjoyed his coverage of the Supreme Court. Stohr is an excellent, fair minded reporter.