Clubs Books

So, I purchased this book and didn't really expect to enjoy it. I loved The Brother's K, but I thought that maybe I was biased towards the book because I'm such a big baseball fan. I have no interest in fishing.
The River Why is not about fishing. It's an exceptionally insightful look at life. Our idols, our loves, everything. I was so impressed by this book and especially by the writing of David James Duncan.

I think one wouldn't pick up this book casually. There'll never be a lot of hype about it and it takes about 100 pages to hook one. And then: oh, it is a good story. Reading a few chapters a time at night before I went to sleep, I was conscious how I came tired to this book as to bed, and left it with new energy - courage? Laughter? A sense of well-being.

What did I learn from this book? On page 227 in the paperback edition, there's the story of Nick which seems to me the book in miniature. A certain quiet is needed to tell a story which depends on the listener. Setting and introduction are essential (that's why the main story takes 100 pages to get going.) We cannot be in a hurry for the story of our lives. It's worth the read.

The best book I have read in years. I would recommend this book to anyone that has a hard time believing in the traditional answers to the questions of life. Great!

Duncan delivers a heart warmingstory about family and love and even a little about fishing. While set in Oregon, near Portland and the coast, I believe that this "why" river might actually be in Northern California. You be the judge. His writing style is imaginative and fluid. I would reccomend this book to anyone who can read.

Even though I hate fishing and have maybe done it once, the first few chapters of this book are humorous and interesting, in particular Bill Bob, Gus' younger brother. Unfortunately, Bill Bob's role is small to almost nonexistent as the book goes on and the author makes him say some pretty idiotic pseudo-philosophical/religious ramblings, such as a long discussion with Gus about how shadows are our guardians.

The book is largely predictable from the beginning until the end and it's almost like a bunch of authors get together to provide the same theme. The overall structure of the book is Gus starts to question life, including death, ultimate meaning, his meaning, and other philosophy 101 questions. And, of course, Gus ends up finding his meaning in the eyes of some backwoods hippie chick and has a religious experience (if you can call it that) while walking home from a long, incredibly drawn out trip down a river following a fish in his line.

I'm sure many people will see this book as being "deep" or "an interesting discussion of blah blah blah", but if you've even remotely dipped your foot in philosophy this book is hardly enlightening. I pushed through the book simply because I got past the half way point, then promptly threw it in the trash when I was done.

Purchased a lot of 8 books. All were in perfect condition, arriving in a timely manner. Great seller!

My husband and I both loved the Grinch as children. The book is wonderful and when read, you can't help but think of the animated short film and its music. Our son had his first Christmas this year and we've made reading about the Grinch part of our Christmas Eve traditions. It brings back such fond memories while creating new ones.

who doesn't love this book also love the shinny new cover

What I love about Dr. Suess is that he makes moralistic points without being preachy. And in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Seuss creates a villian as enduring as Scrooge. Like Scrooge, the Grinch shows all of us that change--real, sincere change--is possible. That's a great message for young and old alike!

Also recommended: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--another story (however, definitely not for kids) about an individual who ultimately is healed and transformed.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas is a classic tale about greed, materialism, and the kindness of man for his fellow man all wrapped up in one great big package! The illustrations are wonderful and the rhyming text impresses me. This is a story by Dr. Seuss that is so popular it was made into a Christmastime TV special; and it deserves every bit of recognition that it gets. (Note: this story is very popular; and because many, many people know it all the way through there are spoilers in this review.)

When the story begins we are introduced to the Grinch. He hates Christmas with all celebrations down in "Who-ville," a village he can see from his home on a mountain. The Grinch hates the noise, the caroling, the sharing of presents and the feast of "roast beast."

Eventually the Grinch gets an idea--he dresses up as Santa Claus and uses his dog Max for a reindeer; and this perverse take on the real Santa Claus tale is meant to strike people as ugly. The Grinch comes down from the mountain with his sled and his dog Max made up to look like a reindeer. Soon the Grinch steals all the presents, the stocking hung with care on the fireplace mantle, the roast beast, the Christmas trees--and even the firewood!

The Grinch gets quite a surprise when on Christmas day the "Whos" of "Who-ville" celebrate and rejoice anyway--without any material things to mark the holiday spirit. This shocks the Grinch and he must consider the possibility that Christmas doesn't just "come from a store."

Of course, once the Grinch learns his lesson he returns everything and there's quite a huge celebration with the Grinch leading the way as he carves the "roast beast." It's a very positive ending.

The moral of the story for our children is, of course, that Christmas DOESN'T just come from a store. The importance of Christmas with its religious significance and its message of good will toward all mankind is stressed without banging the child on the head too aggressively. The story overall makes for a fascinating experience for the children. I have many fond memories of watching this TV special and reading this book when I was a very young child.

As with many Dr. Seuss books, children can use this book on a concrete, literal level to improve their vocabulary and reading skills. Older kids will learn the importance of Christmas and the need for all mankind to respect each other and share the beauties of the world together.

I highly recommend this exceptional children's book.

Follow the life and love of an orphan .. turned spy .. turned hero. Travel India and Afganistan with the back drop of the British Colonization of India.

This is one of the best Historical Fiction books ever written. A classic, must read. Don't expect to put this one down. Put aside a weekend or two - this is one book you'll want to read over and over again.
This was my introduction to historical fiction. M M Kaye brings India to life through her research and life experience. The detail is outstanding.

**Don't watch the movie. You'll be disappointed.

Like a lot of other readers here, I read the book for the first time as a teenager, when the romance of the couple, the Raj, the Door Kahima and Rajasthan captured me. But at that age, to me it was a historical romance.

I had the opportunity to work and live in Afghanistan and got hooked on the history of the country, and then read the Far Pavilions again. It was then that I came to appreciate the nuances and authenticity of the detail of the Afghan war that are the latter part of the book.

A book that did stand the test of time from my teenage years to my adulthood - I'd recommend it to anyone.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction, in fact the only other novel of that genre that immediately that comes to mind is Gone with the Wind, but I had heard only good things about this epic, the story of a young British boy who grows up in colonized India. Stretching over several decades and including many historical events (though with a few fictional locations) and a detailed portrayal of the culture and traditions of India, "The Far Pavilions" is certainly comparable to Margaret Mitchell's Civil War masterpiece.

Orphaned at a young age, Ashton Hilary Pelham-Martyn is born at the time of the Indian mutiny against the British Empire and the East India Company. As the son of an Englishman, six-year-old Ash is in terrible danger, and it is up to his Indian serving woman (who becomes his mother for all intents and purposes) to disguise his true nature, rename him Ashok, and raise him as an Indian. It would be wrong to give away too many of the wonderful twists and turns of this novel as Kaye recounts Ash's extraordinary life, but she manages to create a rich and vast experience without it ever seeming unrealistic or melodramatic. Although Ash's fortunes do hinge on a lucky turn of fate, he is very much the master of his own destiny, and the story itself never spirals into the realm of the silly (and I only say that because many historical-fiction-epics *do* tend to do this).

The story is quite episodic in form, with the events of Ash's life told in reasonably structured segments: his childhood, his time as a servant in a rajah's palace, his romantic youth, his great love story with Anjuli, and his time as a spy working at the time of the Afghanistan war. Naturally, some of these are more interesting than others: I loved reading about Ashok's time in the Indian court of the spoilt and pitiful Lalji, a young rajah who is surrounded by friends and foes - but has trouble differentiating between the two. It is here Ash befriends a young Indian princess named Anjuli who is an outcast in the court, despised by her stepmother and ignored by most of the court.

Years later, Ash and Anjuli are to cross paths again, but in the most impossible of circumstances: Anjuli, along with her little sister Shishula, are being sent as brides to a dangerous and loathsome rajah. As they attempt to keep their passion for one another secret, Ash desperately tries to find a way to help her escape from her arranged marriage, whilst Anjuli is torn between her love for Ash and her devotion to her little sister, whom she feels she cannot abandon to a loveless marriage. It's heartbreaking stuff, as these two lovers - who are obviously meant for one another - fight within themselves between their duty and their love for one another, in which you're not entirely sure what is the best course of action for them both. As in all epics, there are some sluggish parts and I must say that after the romance between Ash and Anjuli comes to its conclusion, the novel slows down a bit.

Since I've never studied Indian history or culture, I have no idea how accurate it all is - all I can say is that it certainly *seems* accurate. Kaye writes with a confidence and genuine interest in the historical workings of India during this time, and provides enough detail to bring India to life in the reader's mind. However, the real spirit of this novel lies in the rendering of the culture clash between two great countries, and within the protagonist himself. As an English boy who has been raised to believe he is Indian, and then returned to England to complete an English education (and returning to India as part of the military), he stands with one foot in both camps, empathizing with both, but belonging to neither.

This conceit provides a wonderful look into the inevitably tragic occupation of India by the British Empire, and the seemingly-impossible historical situation that this creates. On the one hand, only natural that the Empire would want to control India for the sake of Progress and Trading - and in the meanwhile, they did outlaw the terrible custom of the suttee (the burning of widows alive). On the other hand, it is absurd to suppose that any country or individual has the right to take over another country for the reason that they cannot be expected to run it properly themselves. In one of her best passages, Kaye has Ash wonder if his imperialist uncle would enjoy his household (which is full of corruption and tyranny in the servant's quarters) being taken over by an Indian man who could run it better than himself.

It is for this reason that Ash and Anjuli are perfect for one another, as Anjuli too is half-caste and so fated to belong nowhere. Throughout the story the couple make many friends from many different faiths, but in all cases in which they are shown kindness, there is also the sense that they are not given acceptance. Amongst Muslim friends, they are aware that they are considered infidels, among Hindu friends, they are aware that they cannot share the same food utensils, among British friends, there is the sense of social snobbery and bemusement. This sad sense of separation among the members of the human race permeate the entire book, and linger long after it's been finished.

It's a pretty hefty volume, but I definitely think it's worth the time it'll take to read it.

After being banned from watching the mini series as a child of 10years
I was captivated by the images of Anjulie and Ashook based on the previews of the mini series, I decided that I would eventually watch it and was convinced at the time that my parents were being unfair since I had watched Chariots of Fire with Ben Cross. At that time I had watched every single Ben Cross mini series, so what was different about this mini series? Forbidden fruit?

Imagine my wonderful surprise when I found this book 4 years later at a neighbour who was planning a garage sale and needed help "SORTING" things for such sale. I immediately claimed it and felt as if I had come upon pirate's treasure.

I finally had my hands on the book and it was a treasure indeed! This was a major challenge for me at the time because of the volume of the text itself and the theme however I have read it several times since then and have come to list this novel as one of my favourites of all times.

The journeys that MM Kaye took me through the Himalayas and through the cultures of both Britain and India really ignited my imagination. A truly great book where the characters develop and you live their experiences with each chapter.

I have to say that this was the book that turned me into an avid reader who learnt not to judge a book by the cover.

I've found that often books I thought were fantastic when I was young have not stood the test of time when reread later. However, even though I've read and reread this book countless times over the years, each time it comes up trumps.

Set against a backdrop of India from the mutiny to the second Afghan War, this is a huge saga of the British Raj under Queen Victoria. It follows the lives of Ash, the son of British parents who is initially raised as a Hindu servant, and Anjuli, an Indian princess, from their childhood through their various emotionally charged meetings and partings.

M.M. Kaye obviously has a strong affinity with India, and it rings out through her wonderfully elegant and colourful descriptions of the landscape, customs and people. An added bonus is that she has obviously done a great deal of research into the history of the times, and many of the characters (such as Ash's friend Walter) and the events described are factual.

The Far Pavilions is a beautifully written novel and I thoroughly recommend it to those of you who (as I do) prefer your historical romances to be strongly rooted in history.

The Cruel Sea, is one of the best sea/war stories that I have ever read. I was interested to see how well the movie followed the book. Naturally, the film had to condense the book, but it did follow the sequences of the story faithfully.

Written by someone who experienced WWII in convoy escort duty, The Cruel Sea is quite realistic in a double sense: You get the drama of the war as well as the times when war is dull or frustrating, for example when an officer dumps paperwork onto subordinates. Realistic without being cynical is a good combination.

And if you'd like to read another book on this theme but with more of the immediacy of the war, try C. S. Forester's, The Good Shepherd, the classic account of a single convoy at the height of the war with U-boats as told by the captain of a US destroyer. Unfortunately, new it seems to be available only in an overpriced but ugly reprint, so you might want to find a used copy. I have a paperback version that I reread every few years.

--Michael W. Perry, editor of Chesterton on War and Peace: Battling the Ideas and Movements that Led to Nazism and World War II

I read this book in spanish. The traduction was poor but still, I was able to flavor and sink myself into the reading from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book for those who have a devotion or at least an affection for the sea.
In my case, I am the son of a boat owner, was basically born on it but was cursed with unavoidable seasickness. Reading the chapter when the Compass Rose goes on its first convoy with extremely rough seas I felt identified. I could perfectly picture myself in the middle of the Sea of Ireland riding 20 feet waves in 30 knot winds on a tiny ship with leaks everywhere. Knowing what it's like, I suffered every single line of the narration.

I praise sailors of convoys during WW II, I can only imagine all the hardships and horrors they went through. Thanks to Mr. Monsarrat for displaying it!

This is a gritty, realistic (real warships), technically correct story about the entire war in the Atlantic. Life on board a corvette and frigate during the Battle of the Atlantic.

The unrelenting echo of the sonar punctuates this understated J. Arthur Rank film with a taut atmosphere of suspense. Novelist Eric Ambler's intelligent script remains faithful to Nicholas Monserrat's novel about the last voyage of HMS Compass Rose and all who sailed on her. The splendid performances of Jack Hawkins as her captain and Donald Sinden as his First Mate bring the novel to life, as do the performances of the entire ensemble cast, which includes Denholm Elliott. One of the best aspects of the Rank organization films of this era is the devotion that went into the delineation of even the minor characters.

Some viewers (an example being my son) may shun this picture because it was filmed in black and white. This is a shame, because "The Cruel Sea" is so absorbing that such details as lack of color become totally irrelevant. Simply put, "The Cruel Sea" is a masterpiece of cinematic art.

Awesome Book! A must read for those of us searching for a deeper relationship with our Savior! Highly Recommended!!!!

This was a really good, easy-reading book. It's surprisingly insightful being written by a man. It's a book that speaks to the single woman hoping for a mate, as well as the married woman. I gives insight on how to understand how men think and feel and what they need, as well as how women feel. It challenges us to understand why we're have broken hearts and disappointments and how to become more whole.

T.D Jakes has written a book that every woman should read. Each page gives tremendous insights into the needs of a woman. Quite surprising to me, was that it was written by a man. I believe though that he was inspired by God - the Creator of women.
I have bought several copies to give to women I minister to from prison. There are golden nuggets within each page which will bring insight, love and healing to the reader. It's a good read for men, but may be a bit hard to understand all the emotion that is involved within it's pages.
I cried often and when I finished the book, I felt loved by God.

I got this book yesterday from a friend and I have only just read the introduction and T.D Jakes described me and the story of my life in a few sentences - It was amazing! I know I am going to love this book; for this book was wirtten for me...and it contains important messages tailor-made for me...So I suggest that you get this book too and it will speak directly to you too!

I cant imagine going through life as a woman without having read this book. I have read this book over and over again and I have given it out to my girlfriends as birthday gifts. Every woman just has to have it on their shelf-next to the bible.

I was first introduced to this book when a friend's toddler received it for Christmas. He loved it. That was 5 or 6 years ago. Recently we found it at the library and my boys loved it so much that we bought our own. My 2yo son loves it and even the 4yo still asks to read it. It's a keeper!

Our school district had a paperback version of this book (not cardboard) as a part of the reading curriculum for the kinders and it was so cute I had to buy it in order to keep it at home. The facial expressions of these sheep are too adorable, the sentence structure is kept simple, and it rhymes. Plus, the kids love it :^).

As a Jeep owner, when I saw this book at my library's book fair - I just HAD to get it for my toddler. A year later, we still love reading it. The rhymes are great and so memorable that we find ourselves using some of the lines whenever a mishap occurs in our daily lives. Whether you're a Jeep owner or not - this book is a MUST have!

Good basic rhyming vocabulary with plenty of humor. Nicely done lesson on consequences of not focusing on the task at hand. Good clear illustrations. Good to hear now with lots of sound effects and to read alone later.

Sheep in a Jeep is a fun book using rhythmic wording. The pictures are humorous. My disappointment was with the small size of the board book. No where did it say the miniature dimensions of the book. I prefer board books that are in the larger format of 8x11.

I read this book 60 years ago as a young boy of 10. It made a tremendous impression on me with regards to the geography of the Great Lakes of the US and Canada. I was thrilled to find that it is still being printed and the pictures are the same as I remember--excellent. A wonderful story.

As others here have said, this is a true keeper. A babysitter read it to me when I was 10, and I never forgot it. I bought and read it to my kids when they were around that age, and they wouldn't let me put them to sleep without reading at least one chapter. It's educational, beautifully illustrated, and a touching story. I may have to fight with my kids over who gets to read it first to their kids! A treasure.

Wonderful illustrations and a book that will not bore an adult. Great learning tool for young readers.

This book was recommended to me on a recent sailing trip thru the Great Lakes. I bought it for my hometown library as it was a wonderful geography lesson. Truely a dateless book and a lovely present for a child or library.

I read Paddle-to-the-Sea as a child (I was born in 1942), and its story, illustrations and maps have left lasting impresssions on me. It blends social studies, geography, 20th Century American history and wonderful artwork into a gentle, loving tale. It ought to be required reading for all American youths.

I LOVE all of Holling Clancy Holling's books, but I have to admit that Paddle to the Sea is my favorite. The story of a little boy who carved a little man in a wooden canoe, and the adventures encounterd by the little man just captured my imagination. I never knew the Great Lakes until after feeling as though I had been there with Paddle to the Sea. H.C. Holling books are works of art packed with wonderful facts from science and geography. Any teacher's dream curriculum because you'll have the children enrapt attention! My sons love them as much as I do, and even now, they remember reading them as great memories.

This novel brings you to the late 1700's and offers the drama of a modern romance with all the trials of war while in another era and country.
Twists and turns along with an easy/quick history of early Poland will keep the pages turning. Quickly went to buy the sequel before starting a new book b/c I was up in arms to find out the happenings of these compelling characters.

This book is a page-turner right from the beginning. I loved reading in this time period when men spoke to women like this (from page 23):

"See the two meadow flowers, the yellow and the violet? One is as different from the other as day from night. Yet who will say that one is more beautiful? Oh, a fool might. But only a fool... But do you know what may determine the desirability of one over the other?... The fragrance!"

Be still my heart! If you love that kind of subtle romance, you will love this book.

Anna shows such strength despite the overwhelming tragedies (one after the other) she faces in her young life. And even though she is a Countess, she is very down-to-earth and sensitive to those "under her" although it was a no-no for those of such high society. Her tenderness and innocense makes her so very likable.

The book goes back and forth between family life and what's politically going on in Poland during the late 1700s with the underlying romance throughout. You're always wondering about what will finally happen with Jan Stelnicki. At no point was this book boring!!!

I loved it.

I loved this book. There are so few novels on the market about Poland and Polish history (I don't know of any others!). This is indeed a rare find. The characters are well developed, the descriptions of locations and activities are wonderfully detailed and passionately written. The setting and content about the significant historical moments are woven in expertly. It really is a history lesson embedded in a very fast-moving and dramatic story. Yes, sometimes it may be a bit overly dramatic, but I really enjoy that rich, gossipy style. So cool that it is based on REAL journal entries. These characters come alive and will stay with you well after you are done reading. Great ending, too.

Looking forward to reading Chrimson Sky.

I found this historical fiction text to be absolutely enthralling! It has not only provided me with hours of enjoyable, page-turning reading, but has also given me great insight into my Polish ancestry and heritage. The strength, spirit, and heart of the Polish people--MY people--is wonderfully portrayed within the pages of this book. I'm so looking forward to receiving Mr. Martin's sequel, Against a Crimson Sky. I'm sure I'll not be disappointed!

I found the book very engaging. I loved the characters and can't wait to find out what happens next.

As I often (probably too often) do, I just checked the ranking of MY young reader's novel, "Hubert Invents the Wheel," against others in its category and was delighted to find "Mad Scientists' Club" one slot of ahead of "Hubert." What great company to be in!

40 years ago, I read this paperback so many times that I wore the cover off and had to re-attach it with duct tape. I didn't realize it at the time, but Brinley gave me a HUGE push in the direction of my current writing career, by combining highly accurate and detailed scientific know-how with crackerjack tales of suspense, action, and humor.

I dusted off my copy of MSC a few years ago and was astonished by how up-to-date it still felt. Much of the scientific equipment mentioned is still used today (gastroscopes, thermocouples) -- one only wonders what Brinley would've had to say about the Internet!

Like several other reviews, I first read this book in a Scholastic Book Club edition as a kid, which I enjoyed and kept. I somehow later found the second book as well.

Now I've replaced them with these new hardback editions, and can now read the 'new' (to me) volumes.

As a scout, I also liked the stories where the club was shown to be Explorers. And, as a long time viewer of the Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights, when they showed an adaptation of one of the stories, I knew where they got the story from (which I was able to verify as an adult).

I loved these books as a boy, and I still enjoy them now. Yes, the science is a bit dated in a few places, and yes a few of the stories don't stand the test of time quite as well as others. However, the fact remains that these books mix fun, curiosity and scientific exploration in a way that is still very appealing. Get these books for your kids and for yourself!

It was so cool to re-read these stories! I first read these in 6th Grade in the 1960s, and the idea of a lake monster stayed with me all these years. Just the kind of stuff I used to love to daydream about when I was a boy. I even bought an extra copy for my nephew.

I first read this book when I was about 11 and loved it. I thought it was so cool these guys had all these great ideas and equipment to pull them off. The book now reminds me of a simpler time when kids knew how to have fun with their imagination instead of a $400 video game.
I was so glad when I found the book available again. I look forward to when I can give it to my nephew and hope to instill in him the same sense of wonder books such as these instilled in me.

This was one of my favorite children's books ever, and we had a lot of them. My sons now feel the same, apparently, because the one we bought on an auction site has been completely worn out by their repeated reading of it. So now I need to get a new one so we can wear IT out, too!

Often, boys fantasize about cool things they could build, and Andrew Henry does that in spades. The beautiful ink drawings show the kinds of a details a child or adult would want to see in order to trigger the imagination but not replace it. Wonderful book.

I happened uponthis book while on vacation near the author's home. I found it delightful with an engaging story and pictures that can be examined over and over again. My son shared this book with his first grade class and the teacher called me to ask if she could keep it for a while to read to the other first grade sections. She raved about the book saying, "It is perfect for first graders". My only quibble about the book might be some mild sterotyping about what boys do vrs what girls do (boys build and fish, girls watch birds and play music)

My mother saved this book from my childhood. It was a favorite of mine. I liked to imagine a town where kids each got to be themselves. A place where they could really enjoy who they were without interference from adults or disapproving children. I would recommend this book for ages 8-11 years.

I have been looking for this book off and on for the last 15 years or so. This book was so much a part of my childhood. I remember it being in my church library and I would read it during Sunday School when I should have been paying attention to all of the God stuff. I spent hours imagining what my own hideway would look like.
When I was older, all I could remember was that it had Meadow in the title and it was about a bunch of kids who ran away to build creative forts.
I can't wait to get my copy and share it with my family and students.

As a child my husband got into his father's tools and fixed the door knobs and his mother's vacuum cleaner. Like Henry, he had two older sisters, and unlike Henry, only one older brother, and he did not mind being alone because he was always working on things.

My husband had mentioned this book before, and how about he used to tell his other classmates to read it because it was such a good book. He checked it out from the school library frequently. I ordered a copy and quickly read through it realizing why he liked the book so much: he was just like Henry, and now I live in his meadow, lol.

If you know a child inclined to work that is hands-on or making their own place, I am sure that they will enjoy this classic book. The illustrations are very endearing in that 1950's style. My husband thought it was the goldmine among his more expensive anniversary gifts this year.;P