Clubs Books

This is the best book for moms to read. I received mine when I was in the hospital for 2 weeks and I read the book from cover to cover in one sitting. I couldn't see my kids during my stay at the hospital but the book made me vow to be a better mom once I was able to go home. It also got me through days when I was at home with my own three children and babysitting 5 others all at the same time. So inspiring and encouraging like other reviewers said. Makes you laugh out loud and cry your eyes out too. Every mom should read this especially on days when you feel like you can't take another second of motherhood. I've bought 3 more books since and given them all away as gifts.

I purchased this book for a friend of mine that was a new christain and she absolutely loves this book.

I bougt this book because, as a busy mom, I really don't have a lot of time to just sit and read, so the one-page mini-devotionals were great. However, once I started reading the first page, I could not put this book down. It made me cry at certain points, but laugh at others. The stories touch your heart and you will find yourself nodding, "I've been there before!" Awesome book!

Great book to read. Incouraging and inspiring. I've bought three of them, so far. Two to give others. Every mom should read.

Humorous. Thought-provoking. Inspiring. As a mother of three girls, I figured I'd try to squeeze in a few pages at a time - but I couldn't put it down! If you want to say "Thanks! I love you!" to your mom, grandmother, or woman who has influenced your own life, give them this devotional book. The format is simple: a quote and Bible verse on the left page, a short anecdote on the right. Some pages made me laugh out loud. Others (as my pastor likes to say) made me say "ouch!" The Acknowledgements section in the front of the book credits people for the quotes. I found myself flipping back and forth to find out who offered such words of wisdom on motherhood. Two of my favorite quotes are "The best time to give children your advice is when they are young enough to believe you know what you are talking about." And "Give your troubles to God; He will be up all night anyway." A great mother's day gift!

The final weeks before any wedding are crammed with last-minute details. But few brides expect the groom to disappear without warning. With little evidence to suggest cold feet, bride Brandi can only speculate at what sort of foul play might have caused her groom to vanish--or is it his love of a good prank? One possibility after another unfolds as "Gone with the Groom" brings out the detective in each reader.

Gone with the Groom is a charming read. In the midst of the busyness we all experience, it is surprisingly relaxing to plunge into Annie Peterson's flurry of activity in preparation for her daughter Brandi's wedding. When the groom goes missing, readers follow amateur sleuth Annie as she tries to unravel the clues and find her future son-in-law. Author Janice Thompson keeps the reader guessing through unexpected twists and turns in this cozy mystery and she has a gift for keeping the reader engaged (pun intended) right to the end.

Annie's faith carries her through the drama along with faith reminders from dear friend Sheila, and mother-of-the-groom, Nadine. The faith example of trusting God in the midst of trials sends a message to the reader without sounding preachy.

Despite the peppering of cliché's throughout the book--whether intentional or unintentional--Janice Thompson knows how to tell a good story. "Gone with the Groom" is entertaining and alluring.

Thompson tackles this mystery with family love and fun. Annie's sleuthing to find the missing groom takes us to the edge of panic but releases us with humor and the belief that God will see Annie and her family through this. We can grasp the message of faith throughout and know it doesn't hurt to have a spunky little dachshund either

Sasha's back! Along with Annie, Sheila, and the rest of Clarksborough, PA. And like seeing old friends, we're happy they're here. After Sasha and Annie save the day in The Wedding Caper, this dachshund/mother duo now has a missing groom on their hands. Annie's daughter Brandi is just about to marry "said groom" (to use Annie's vernacular) when it happens. The devoted Christian mother of two twin daughters and a son, as well as the extremely submissive wife of Warren, Annie manages to fulfill her never ending duties as mother-of-the-bride while trying to find her missing future son-in-law, Scott.

Last time Sasha was the center of attention, involved in most of Annie's antics. But this time Sasha makes only a scant appearance in the story during the first half, even when the scenes take place in her home, where the dog should be around somewhere. Then it's almost as if Thompson remembers her mid-stream, and Sasha is rushed to the hospital after getting into a bottle of heart medication. We see for the first time in this book the love and concern Annie and Warren had for Sasha all along. And from this point on, Sasha once again becomes an entertaining and integral part of the sleuthing for the rest of the story. In fact, she ends up having an even more prominent role in solving the crime.

Annie's thoughts and observations are humorous and relatable. "A tightening in my gut signaled a problem. I shouldn't have skipped breakfast-not on a day like today. I needed protein-or at the very least, artificial sweetener..." and her well intended but unsuccessful efforts to get to the gym in order to fit into her dress for the wedding are a constant source of guilt for her, but in a funny way.

Try not to notice that although Scott's cell phone sends a few cryptic messages, the police never check for pings, which might give them its location. And we've got a cornucopia of possible suspects here. The pharmaceutical company Scott works for is having trouble getting FDA approval for its new drug, and the companies very existence depends on it. Could Scott's concerns about the dangerous side effects caused someone to get him out of the way? And what about Brandi's new job at the real estate agency, and the scam she is discovering?

Scott's mother is running for city council of her home town. Could her crooked political opponents have tried to distract her by kidnaping Scott? Could his estranged biological father, who has just surfaced after years of absence have something to do with it? Or did he just get cold feet and become a runaway groom? With the wedding fast approaching on Valentine's Day, should they cancel it or continue to pay the vendors?

There is a deep bond between the women in the story, both spiritual and emotional, as they gather around the hurting family. We see them stand by each other, forgive past hurts, hold one another up in prayer, and share each other's burdens. These women are guided by the Spirit, comforted by the Scriptures, and eventually led to the answers they desperately need. Thompson beautifully portrays a mother's heart.

With a prolonged feel-good ending, there are no loose ends left to our imagination. But it's fun to solve the crime along with Annie, as Thompson gives us just enough clues without giving it away. And there's a surprise addition to the family, who I suspect will be joining the "Agatha Annie Crime Solving Agency" next time. At least, I hope so.

--Reviewed by Carol Kurtz for TitleTrakk

Sasha and Annie Peterson are off again in another quest for truth. Janice Thompson has again given us a delightful tale as Annie seeks the real reason behind the disappearance of her future son-in-law only a few weeks before the big day. Using all the skills learned in her internet detective course, Annie sets out to find the young man. No way will she believe he simply left her beautiful daughter. When all of his and her family descend on the Peterson home a few days before the wedding, they all have their own ideas about the disappearance. Annie has a list of suspects that range from someone out for revenge against the groom's politician mother to his long lost father to his friends playing a prank. Even his boss and the company he works for come under suspicion before it's all over. Annie has her work cut out for her, but she rises to the task with her ever faithful dog, Sasha, and saves the day as well as the wedding. Get on board for a fun ride and see if you can unravel the clues Annie finds.

Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (7/07)

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Brandi Peterson and Scott Cunningham on February 14. That's only 2 weeks away and the Peterson house is very chaotic. Rather than just the regular preparations for the wedding, the family is also involved in a missing-person search. The missing person is none other than Scott Cunningham, groom-to-be.

Brandi's parents, Annie and Warren, are playing host to Brad and Nadine, Scott's mother and stepfather. Having the future in-laws staying with the other in-laws can create interesting memories. It's a full house when Annie's parents arrive from the Deep South for the big event, if there is still to be a wedding.

Annie is known to be quite a sleuth. Well, she's going to have to use all her skills and Sasa, her dachshund, to sniff out clues and find Scott before the big day. Annie is nicknamed Agatha Annie. She is not a professional detective and finds her some strange, and some very hilarious, situations along the way.

Janice A Thompson has created a wonderful book. "Gone with the Groom" combines mystery, humor, a fantastic storyline and unforgettable characters. With its many twists and turns, "Gone with the Groom" will keep you involved from cover to cover. The Peterson family's faith in God is tested throughout the book, but with the help of their church family and faith in God, they will get through this time of their life. Perhaps they will even be blessed through this trial.

Plan now to check in with the Peterson's for the biggest event in Brandi's lifetime!

This is fantastic book. The threats to the Great Bear Rainforest are increasing in 2007 and support is vitally needed. To see what is happening, go to the Raincoast Conservation Society web page and see what major threats to the Great Bear are coming in 2007.

For years, I had always heard snippets here and there about the Great Bear Rainforest of Northwestern British Columbia, supposedly even more beautiful, wild, untamed, and much larger than other gorgeous temperate rainforest locales like Olympic National Park in Washington. But I didn't really know much about it. Where exactly was it? What does it look like? Is any of it protected in province or federal park land? And many more questions.

Then, years later, I stumbled upon this book. WOW. That about sums it up. This is an amazing book about a place of transcendent, almost ethereal beauty. This book is an enchanting mix of imminently readable and interesting text and absolutely stunning photographs. It almost makes you feel like you are there, immersed in this incredible rain drenched emerald cathedral of trees.

The Great Bear Rainforest is located on the British Columbia coast. It starts a few miles north of Lund and extends all the way north in Canada to the BC's northernmost limit, around Port Rupert, and extends only a few miles inland. It is home to the largest remaining contiguous temperate rain forest anywhere in the world. You probably already know this, but a temperate rain forest is much different than a tropical rain forest because of climate. Temperate rain forests are cool and moist, whereas tropical ones are hot and moist. Anyway, enough of the obvious.

What I really like about this book is that it isn't a condescending piece of fluff, and it gave me *exactly* what I wanted from it. Even though it's no easily readable, it is no fluff piece that waxes prettily poetic but doesn't really tell you anything. It takes you on an incredibly detailed tour of nearly every major rain forest valley in the Great Bear Rainforest. And it doesn't just name-drop valleys that have no meaning to you, it provides you with maps that show exactly where it is that they are talking about. I think this is the greatest feature of the book, I've read too many books about geographical places that tell you the names of certain interesting areas, but you don't quite know where they are. Not so with this book.

Not only that, the book covers a wide range of topics concerning The Great Bear Rainforest. Ecology, economic pressures, animal and plant life, geography, even a lot of interesting history and contemporary issues concerning the First Nation (who we in the U.S. refer to as Native American) tribes who traditionally lived (and still live) in and around the Great Bear Rainforest. I found the parts about the Haida tribe to be particularly edifying. All of these facts and themes are woven into the narrative of the authors' journey through the Great Bear Rainforest (which spans many years) incredibly seamlessly - you might think it's difficult to talk about the flora and fauna of the area while giving a history lesson on the Tlinglit people, but like I said, this point interweaves all points flawlessly. It also does social justice by presenting an unflinching look at the environmental horrors that await the Great Bear Rainforest through resource extraction and recreation at the hands of an apathetic public if current trends remain unchecked.

And then there are the photos. Gorgeous. Vast stands of huge, majestic trees, so much green it's almost blinding; a spirit bear chowing down on salmon in an unbelievable action shot; stunning shots of a coastline where fjord and mountain come together; and of course, the grand British Columbia ocean itself.

This book is a real gem. It's crime more people haven't had a chance to go through it. Read it. Take your time, don't just skim through it and goggle over the pictures. Trust me, the time will be worth it, you'll be glad you did. A must-have for anyone who considers themselves an environmentalist, a nature lover, and especially for people who have stood in awe in a temperate rain forest and said "I need to know more."

A powerful book on this special place. But, now she's discovered

This book is written as a journal of a sailing voyage. Although the authors had previously visited the remarkable areas they photograph and describe six times before, the seventh visit is chronicled in these pages. Thus there is a great depth of knowledge and experience inherent to this work which transforms a simple if elegant journal into a powerful, somewhat doleful, environmental monograph.

This is a beautifully done book with many fascinating photographs of rainforest topography and the diverse life forms which abide therein. The accompanying text is well-written and consistently informative and interesting. But the overarching theme here is that pristine environments which are critical to the survival of untold species of flora and fauna are in jeopardy. Grave jeopardy. Moreover, the McAllisters take great pains to point out that the small islands of preserved and protected ecosystem created in compromise between commercial interests and environmentalists are insufficent to protect wildlife (bears, for example) that depend upon an interlinked vastness of unspoiled terrain in which to flourish.

So this book is as much an alarm and a plea for action as it is a wondrous presentation of its picturesque subject matter. As such, it is urgent reading for those of us concerned about the ravages unleashed when a society values short-term economic advantage (as when untouched river valleys are clear-cut by logging companies) over the work nature takes eons to complete.

This is a wonderful book for both nature and bear lovers alike. It is packed with beautiful color photos. Many interesting facts about the wildlife & plants of the area are detailed in the captions.

The landscape photos feature vibrant wildflowers, ancient forests, & mountains. There are also many remarkable pictures of several bear types. I loved the close-up shot of a bear eating a fish & another of a sprit bear on a log.

Stunning photos of some other animals include a puffin close-up, a bald eagle mother with baby, & an elephant seal gathering. If you can tear yourself away from the pictures, the text is equally impressive.

The authors tell of their experiences while exploring the rainforest. They also discusses the environmental concerns of the area. Journal entries from the trip are scatted throughout the book.

Melody Beattie is at her best in "The Grief Club." She used losing her son as a basis for writing this book. The stories are all very unique within themselves and offer much to the reader. As a person who is going through the grieving process right now, I didn't find this book difficult to read through. I found it comforting, though one doesn't have to be grieving to enjoy or get something out of this book. I would recommend this book to anyone and there is always something to be said about someone who uses their own trials as a means to help others.

Subtitled: The Secret to Getting Through All Kinds of Change

The New York Times best-selling author of Co-Dependent No More has lived through many crises: becoming sober, living with an alcoholic, losing her son to an accident, getting Hepatitis C, having chronic back problems--and many other losses. So she isn't writing this from a "professional or clinical viewpoint."

"Welcome to the club," someone might say to you (or at least think it) when you have something happen to you they have already experienced. You may see your life in the chapters on death, Alzheimer's, suicide, divorce, job loss, childhood grief, alcoholism, empty nest, and much more.

"Did I do something to tick God off--so that I got to join one of those clubs," we might wonder. Beattie says, whether we believe it or not, life hasn't signaled us out for tragedy, and depersonalizing a loss helps us detach and lessen the pain.

You won't catch trauma from a person grieving or in pain--and much of her book is about seeking and offering help to those who are hurting--one-on-one or as part of a support group.

The other day a woman told me her mother died seven week ago and now her friends are ready for her to be back to her old self. Obviously they are not a member of that club yet--or they'd be more understanding. Relative to grief, Bettie said, you either pay now or you pay later, and she said, "Once I cried for eight years."

She explains radical faith (vs. simple faith: If I am good, only good thing will happen to me). Radical faith means you can be good and still bad things will happen to you--and it's nobody's fault.

Every chapter ended with statistics, such as 2.5 million Americans die every year, and of that, 45-50,000 are under 25.

Well worth your read because everyone will join some kind of "loss" club--whether you want to or not.

Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommend to anyone going through grief, pain or loss--and those who want to understand better.

I was walking through my local bookstore when my eyes caught sight of this book. The title drew me in, as I am grieving the death of my brother. I saw the author and thought, "Oh, no - not that Codependency woman..."

Melody Beattie - who was the first author I ever knew to use the term "Co-Dependent" a term that had come for many to mean "whiney person who thinks of himself/herself as a victim of everyone and everything."

I decided I would give it a "cup of coffee" dry run, to see if my assessment was correct... or not. I am pleased to announce that my assessment was exceptionally far off and this book is a resource that belongs on bookshelves across the country, since Grief is something we will all touch and the majority of us are less than well equipped to manage.

I remembered as I opened the book I had wondered where Beattie went, as I remember the early 90's and the plethora of Codependency titles I saw springing up and then... I couldn't really remember hearing of her since then. It only took a moment to see why.

Her son had died at age 12. How had I not known this, I wondered?

She wrote about this major loss with candor and frankness, without glossy coating. This is the way she tackles all the losses she discusses in the book - both her own losses and the losses of other subjects in the book.

In the back of the book there is a Master list of losses which is very helpful as an initial assessment and an ongoing tool as you read (actually, work through) the book. Each chapter includes activities to further integrate the material presented.

This is a book I will revisit right away, and then I will most likely revisit it. And I will recommend it to people regularly.

It's a club none of use would choose to belong to, yet with this book as a guide, it will feel that much more "normal."

This is Melodie Beattie at her best relation to her own experience about losing a son. A lost loved one, a change in one's life and a move to a new city(Losing all old friendships behind) can be very traumatic.
I liked the chaper on WHAT NOT to say at funerals...like "I'm sorry"
Melody gets another thumbs up from me!!!

Reviewed by Shannon Bailes for Reader Views (9/06)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it enlightened me to the fact that our lives are full of grief, we just might not see it that way. The chapter I most related with was the one entitled "Remembering Changes: Facing Alzheimer's Disease." My father died from complications of this disease almost 11 years ago, and I could really relate to all that was written in this chapter. It is always good to read or hear about someone else's journey through this dark tunnel where there are so many unknowns.

Another chapter that moved me was entitled "Time Changes: Empty Nest and Other Rites of Passage." While we are not yet there completely, in less than two years the last of our four sons will leave our happy, little nest, and even now I grieve about that passage.

Throughout the book, Beattie is solid in bringing out the best of all grief situations in our lives. Her writing shows that even through the worst situations, there is hope in everything, if you choose to find it. In almost every chapter we read about a seemingly lost and hopeless circumstance, but by the end of the chapter, we feel that the voyage you are on does not have to consume you, it can make you better and stronger.

I particularly enjoyed the statistics at the end of each chapter. All are enlightening, and added support to the reading of this book.

I would recommend "The Grief Club" to any person that I know, especially those who are struggling with a grief issue in their life. It is an uplifting, sometimes heart-wrenching expression of what life really brings--hardships and joys. The majority of life is filled with joy for most of us. We find while reading, that some have dark clouds and are not so fortunate. More importantly, we find between the cover of this book, that at times the only thing you have to grab onto is hope. Look for it--it is there!

I teach Health Science to high school students. I have purchased Grossology, Hands On Grossology, and Animal Grossology to be used in my classroom. It is a little immature for the students however they LOVE IT. I use this at the end of the school year as a treat for them and me as well. They all are arguing over who gets to read the topics for that day and I use the Hands On Grossology to do activities with most all topics. It's an awesome way to keep all of the kids involved when we are all tired of school.

Who says science has to be boring? Our kids (7, 6, 4) are about the ideal ages (better for the 7 year old than the 4 year old though). Our daughter enjoyed it as much as our sons - don't think it is just for boys. Kids have an odd fascination with all of the topics in the book (e.g., snot). The grossness draws them in, and the text is engaging so that they actually learn something while having fun. Recommended.

This is a great book. It uses all the correct terms, shows the child how to say the word, and presents the facts in a fun and easy way for children to understand, not to mention a few giggles to boot! I bought the Grossology and you book also!.

The perfect learning book for kids ages 6-10.
Girls are not exempt from loving gross.

How can a 10-year-old NOT read the pages on boogers or poop? Meanwhile, the writing is clear and the essays even teach you a bit of science. Fun book, highly recommended.

A mystery without a murder, Albert Champion's 3rd quest is to prevent a crime. LOOK TO THE LADY, by Margery Allingham is a fresh delight away from grizzly murder and mayhem. This title is my first experience with Albert and Lugg, it won't be my last.
Ms. Allingham's take on the Grail legend and the quests it entails is funny, adventurous and an outstanding puzzle. All the elements of a great mystery without a murder. The current name for this genre is cozy, but there is a movement afoot to change it to "classic" mystery.
If you've never read Allingham, pick up one today and you'll be a fan of the solution, the quest, the characters, the location and the writing. All of which are what keeps her title in-print so many years after her death.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

An early entry in the Mr Campion saga. He is young and rather obnoxious, irritating all and sundry with his (often hilarious) brand of humour. The opening of this book is superb - an empty envelope bearing his name leads a downandout toff to a restaurant that just happens to be open at 2 am... The rest of the book contains many superb set pieces and unexpected characters: a witch, a likeable professor, a jewelry expert whose ancestors "talked to the Almighty". The ending is a stunner and a puzzle. What is the Gyrth treasure exactly? Why is Mr. Campion intimately connected with it? Who is its Guardian? The Professor has the tantalising last word.

"The Gyrth Chalice Mystery" was the first Allingham mystery I read. By coincidence, I was then the same age Allingham was when she wrote it (despite there being several wars in between). I was immediately taken with the story with its heady mix of adventure, English snobbery, humor and the supernatural. When I was done reading I was a British mystery addict and an eternal fan of Albert Campion, Allingham's detective.

I am much older now, and this is the third or fourth time I've reread this novel. I can only report that it gets better with age. Unlike some authors whose work is best remembered rather than reexperienced, Margery Allingham's works are every bit as much fun now as they were then. Perhaps the secret of their long popularity is that they are the highest order of entertainment, full of adventure and humor.

In 'The Gyrth Chalice Mystery' Campion's assignment is the protection of the ancient Gyrth chalice from theft by a nefarious ring of art collectors. The secret of the chalice is passed from fathers to sons on their 25th birthday, and this is the time that the chalice is most vulnerable. Campion must first track down the current heir, Percival, and bring him home for the ceremony. No sooner is this accomplished when Percival's somewhat flaky aunt is frightened to death by the 'chalice monster.' With that we are off and running.

Allingham does her usual best to delight and bemuse, mixing forgers, racing people, gypsies, academics and other English country folks of every sort and form into the heady stew which is a Campion adventure. Campion has matured tremendously since the first novels and is in full possession of his role as the somewhat zany yet brilliant master of the chase. Allingham doesn't write mystery stories as such. Often she gives the villain of the piece away and the real mystery is how Campion will manage to save the day. "The Gyrth Chalice" is just such a tale. The ending comes as a complete surprise and adds a dimension to the tale, which makes it especially remarkable and memorable.

Look to the lady.
- response to Lady Macbeth's fainting fit, MACBETH, act II, scene 3

"We can't fight a ring like this forever. It's incredible; they're too strong."
"There is the point which resolves the whole question into a neat 'what should A do?' problem. We've got just one chance, old bird - otherwise the project wouldn't be worth fighting and we should not have met. The rules of this acquisitive society...are few, but they are strict. Roughly, what they amount to is this. All members' commissions - they have to be for things definitely unpurchasable, of course - are treated with equal deference. The best agent is chosen for the job; unlimited money is supplied; and there the work...ends until the treasure is obtained...However - and this is our one loophole - should...the owner of the treasure in question kill [their agent] to save it - then they leave well alone, and they look out for somebody else's family album."
"Who is the agent employed to get the Chalice?"
"That's the difficulty. I don't know...so you see what a mess we're in."
- Val Gyrth and Albert Campion

While the U.S. title - THE GYRTH CHALICE MYSTERY - is easy to associate with the events of this book, it's something of a misnomer; this is more an adventure story or a thriller than a mystery, and in a way, it's the reverse of a mystery. Campion's ultimate goal isn't to *solve* a crime, but to prevent the theft of a national relic by any means necessary, beginning with unearthing and joining forces with Val Gyrth, the estranged only son of the family devoted to protecting the Chalice on behalf of the Crown. Val - destitute to the point of being out on the street in the wake of a failed marriage - is to come of age in a few weeks time and be initiated into the Gyrths' deepest family secrets, and has become a target of the anonymous society of wealthy collectors whose current target is the Chalice. Campion and his valet Lugg together manage to locate Gyrth, establish that he hasn't been corrupted, and explain the danger to the Chalice in an extended sequence that alternates between comedy and suspense, beginning with Val escaping arrest as a vagrant on his own doorstep, identifying himself by the tailor's label in his decrepit suit, and dodging an unsuccessful kidnap attempt before fetching up at Campion's flat in response to a mysterious trail of messages.

Campion, with Val and Lugg in tow, is soon installed as a guest at the Tower at Sanctuary, the Gyrth family home in Suffolk, Val's quarrel with his father only having dragged on this long through his own stubbornness. Not that there isn't plenty of conflict and excitement to spice up matters when the Chalice almost immediately goes missing from its supposedly burglar-proof niche in the family chapel. That turns out to be a fairly clever move on the part of one of the family, though it almost immediately backfires (only the first of several such reverses in the story, which is full of alternating comic and dramatic episodes).

"'...it's like a Welsh rarebit nightmare with you as the hero.'
'With me as the *rabbit*,' said Mr. Campion feelingly."

As for the original U.K. title of LOOK TO THE LADY, the story has an unusual number of women in supporting roles, such as: Val's foolish aunt Diana (New Age and fancies herself as a patron of the arts, with a number of suspect hangers-on); his charming and tough sister Penny and her best friend Beth Carey (daughter of an American professor eager to study the Chalice); Mrs. Dick Shannon, an obnoxious local horse-breeder whose shadier racing associates are becoming obtrusive; and Mrs. Sara, an old friend of Campion's who with her family are part of a large group of gypsies camping out near the Tower. Blessedly, none of the players are saddled with ridiculous cooing dialogue as are some of the characters in such stories as THE CASE OF THE LATE PIG.

I highly recommend the unabridged recording narrated by Francis Matthews, who does an amazing job with Lugg and the varying Suffolk accents of the Gyrths' neighbours, though he has a tougher time with the New England accents of the Careys. In either written or audio format, the story is a romp, a comedy and a thriller by turns; just don't expect it to be a conventional mystery.

Drive-in totals:
- Two deaths.
- Three kidnappings with unlawful imprisonment.
- Two riots.
- One "secret room" with family "secret", the existence of which is actually common knowledge, though not the details.
- Two alternate identities of Campion's, complete with their own names.
- One of Allingham's "darkest England" episodes, involving some creepy bits of local superstition (with some *very* funny reactions by Lugg, who disclaims any belief in such stuff despite his obvious discomfort with it). There are also some very moving scenes involving the Gyrths' secrets and their devotion to the relic.
- Some very entertaining and enlightening exchanges between Lugg and the Gyrths' butler Branch, an old acquaintance with an only slightly more respectable background. "You'd be doin' me a service, Mr. Lugg, if you'd refrain from referrin' to me as number 705."

Allingham is without a doubt, the best mystery/suspense writer that ever lived. I don't say this lightly. There is absolutely no one that can compare to her and to her hero, Albert Campion! I had read most of the Allingham stories a very long time ago, but when I checked there were some that I missed, so I decided to make up for that oversight. The Gyrth Chalice Mystery is one that I somehow missed. I am very glad that I made up for that oversight now. If you have not read an Allingham mystery, then you do have a treat in store for you. I heartily recommend that you begin to read them all as soon as possible. How else can we have a benchmark to grade the authors that have come afterwards. As far as I'm concerned, Allingham is in a class of her own. Her books are thrillers really more than mysteries, but what wonderful stories they are! In this book Albert connects up with a young kinsman of his to help protect an ancient relic that the young man's family has been responsible for for hundreds of years. We also are treated to large doses of the wonderful Lugg - Albert's man of many talents. I'm not going to say any more about this wonderful book. You must read for yourself, and be prepared to be awed!

Our young daughter asks us to read this book on a daily basis. So, although this book has been around for decades, it seems to transcend time.

There is something so warm and comforting about the illustrations and the gentle, fun dialog. Somehow the pictures give a sense of stability and safety. It is a brilliant marriage of text and illustration.

The understanding and humor that passes between the three generations speaks to the intricacy of relationships and the intelligence that young children possess. The author knew how to communicate her story without being condescending to children or adults.

I highly recommend this book. It is especially effective as a bedtime book because it has such a calming effect.

Another fun, sweet story about little bear and his family. My son (almost 3 years old) and I have been reading this book every night since I gave it to him.

My kids have been captivated by this book from the time they were barely old enough to look at the pictures. My oldest is almost five, and she still asks me to read this book, even though she has it memorized! It is a charming tale of Little Bear's visit to his grandparents' house. The love in this bear family is so heartwarming, and the sense of fun so nicely realized that adults will love it too. Maurice Sendak's illustrations, which have a 19th Century feel, are the perfect complement to this story. My only complaint is I can't find this book in hardback, and our paperback version is worn out! Two other books in this series - Little Bear and Little Bear's Friend are also great for kids from age 2 to around 7.

Our 3-year-old granddaughter just spent almost two weeks with us. Reading to her has been both a daily (several times a day!) ritual since she was a baby...as well as a source of delight for both her and us. Her favorite story is still the "Goblin Story," which appears in this book. You can easily read it to your young one so that he or she is excited, giggling, and having a wonderful experience with you!

There are four separate but related stories in this "I CAN READ Book" and they are all delightful. They flow from one to the other so that first story has Little Bear visiting his grandparents, while the second and third stories are tales that Little Bear's grandmother and then grandfather tell him. And the final story has Little Bear's parents coming to take him home after a wonderful, but tiring day of fun.

To parents and other caregivers this structure means is that we can read/or be read to big chunks or small.

Contents:

Grandmother and Grandfather Bear
Mother Bear's Robin
Goblin Story
Not Tired

Now my children like all these stories but there favorite is the one about the goblin who jumps out of his shoes. It never fails to get a howls of laughter from them.

Five Stars. Great artwork by Maurice Sendak. The stories are heart touching and humorous. The book is a Great Read-aloud and a more challenging reader for young children.

The reading level on this book is higher than some of the other Little Bear books and it is listed as 2.3 or suitable for a child reading at the second grade level. There is more vocabulary, more dialog, and more text per page.

~a review by Pam T.~

What a terrific guide through the obstacles of life's financial hiways and biways! Written succinctly, intelligently and humorously--this book is a must have for women of all ages who are recognize the importance of understanding how to handle and plan our finances to achieve our life's goals--- while also getting us through the occassional bump in the road or traffic snarls that affect our money issues. Easy read and great maps/questionnaires help to keep us on track while having fun too! A man is not a plan -- and small steps lead to big success are positive themes throughout.

Mystified by money? Using a crystal ball to plan your retirement? Burdened with credit card debt? Lacking health insurance? Budgetless? With humor, charts, user-friendly quizzes, and common sense, this book will prod you into taking the small steps needed to get a grip on money. Your money. Earning it, keeping it, growing it. You'll find the scoop on a broad range of financial topics, sprinkled with quotes from the likes of Confucius, Dear Abby, Mark Twain, and Erma Bombeck. Discover ways to put brains and muscle into your personal money management. I found each chapter to be clear, motivating, specific. A great gift.

Flipped through this book looking for tips on getting out of debt and realized it would help me with all of my money issues. (In fact it made me aware that I had more money issues than I thought I did.) Thanks for a good solid guide that I can understand! These authors should do seminars too.

This book has a wealth of information from getting out of debt to amassing a personal fortune. It's easy to read format helps the reader access topics of personal interest quickly and effortlessly. Get this book if you need to take control of your finances or if you know someone who would benefit from financial help and support. It makes a great gift for the women in your life from mothers and daughters and sisters too.

This is a personal finance book you'll actually ENJOY reading!
It doesn't contain any get-rich-quick schemes, nor does it offer any unrealistic promises or guarantees.

What it does do is help you identify your own "money type" (how you use money in general), and then gives simple lessons on how to best improve what needs improving.

Easy? Not exactly. As I said, there are no quick-fixes offered here. The lessons take time and effort. But if you do them, they're sure to work, because they're based on good sense, and an understanding of how women relate to money issues.

Reviewer: Linda Painchaud

I remember reading this book over and over and over when i was nine or ten. It was such a good book!! Although it wasn't as spooky as Stacey And The Haunted Masquerade(or whatever it was called)...

This is a great book! My mother just bought it for me and I'm really caught up in it. It's sort of like a Babysitters club book(which it is, of course) and a ghost story. I don't usually read ghost stories (ocasionally I read Goosebump books) but the the Babysitter's club and a ghost story goes really well together. The first chapter is a bit boring but all in all it's one of the better Babysitter's Club books.

In Mallory and the Mystery Diary, Stacey and Mallory find a trunk. Stacey wants to throw away the trunk, but Mallory refuses. She takes it home and can't find the key to open the trunk. Finally, her younger brothers undo it. She reaches far in the trunk and finds a diary belonging to Sophie, a girl from 1894. I found this book interesting because I like mysteries and history. It was a fast read and had a good ending.

This book was great! It is about a diary Mallory finds in Stacey's attic. The diary was a girl called Sophie's in the 1800's. She told of how her mother had died at the birth of her baby brother. Her rich grandfather then hated her father and blamed him for stealing a painting he had of his daughter. The diary didn't say anything about who was the culprit, only that Sophie was sure it wasn't her father. Mallory then found the old man's confession about covering up the portrait and then went on to find the atchual painting. An exelent read.

While helping Stacey move back into her house, Mallory finds an old diary about a girl namd Sophie, she used to lived here when it was the year of 1970 i think. So when the BSC goes up to the attic, they found a painting of Sophie!

In this book, Mallory finds that boys and gym are big bad things. The only good boys are her boyfriend and his brothers. But soon Mallory learns the truth about boys. And about gym.

I could relate to hating gym and being ridiculed but it was sooo funny when mal thought the hobarts were angels and learned the hard way that they were brats and her own brothers were the real angels. You have to read it to know what I mean, it's just sooo funny!!!

I hated gym too so much, I was always clumsy myself and volleyball was a nightmare. I was always getting hit in the face just like mallory and it broke my glasses one time. I developed a phobia for big balls flying in my face ever since and I would be depressed after class because I wanted to impress them and do well, but it just wasn't my thing. And mallory's character spoke about myself.

I wish I had read this book when I was in jr high, because I can really identify with Mallory and what she goes through. I dropped out of P.E. in 8th grade because I couldn't take it anymore what was happening to me in our co-ed P.E. class. I wasn't the athletic type and was a klutz, and was harassed by the guys who would call me fat, etc. and it was a totally humiliating experience for me. I especially hated soccer, I just couldn't get it, and the guys took total advantage of this by slamming the ball into me ow!! They thought it was the funniest thing in the world to see me in pain. Like in Mal's situation, the school authorities couldn't understand why I'd refuse to go to P.E. Like Mal, I too was punished due to my failure to participate. By highschool I had a medical waiver so I didn't have to do P.E. at all. I was free! I don't think kids should have to suffer through P.E.; It is a dumb rule to have it as a requirement. What does it matter; it's not doing anything for your education...

Mallory has never been a sports person. In fact, you could say gym is her least favorite subject. Nut now Mal's worst subject has turned into an absolute nightmare. Gym classs has gone co-ed.