Clubs Books

You are never going to sing the song, "I've Been Working On The Railroad" quite the same again after reading this air hammer of a book. The milieu of the Fifties and the pressure to conform is as stifling as a 102 degree summer day standing on the rail lines with your pick and shovel in Central Ohio. You can sense the pressure, feel the heat and the limestone dust seeps in and stuffs up your nostrils and clogs your lungs. What this boy goes through and what happens to him still wakes me up sweating in the night. Best of all, it's Part I of a four part novel... I can't wait to get the rest of this series!

Excellent! In the song, Gandy Dancer's Ball, you'd think a gandy (railroad section hand) would get to dance. This one missed the ball all around and I won't reveal the big surprise ending...The story is absolutely masterfully handled.

Before Elvis and Rock and Roll and Marlon and James Dean the Fifties "Happy Days" were pure teen hell, and some of us expatriates were around to notice. Damn, this 44288 guy got it down; you feel like you're there, or back there, and you just want to come up to suck real air. It's a wonder anybody survived and more of a miracle anybody managed to grow up. Kudos to 44288, I really would have liked to have met the man. And kudos to Perry Aayr for rescuing this treasure from certain destruction. National Book Award class. I look forward eagerly to the rest of the Some Die Mad series: Gandy; Auschwitz, Ohio; The Place To Wait; Islands In Time. Get in at the beginning on a sure international winner.

Gandy Dancing is a super book. As lead volume in a four book series called Some Die Mad, it just couldn't be better. It has got the ten scene of the Fifties DOWN, baby. Why you can just feel all the pressures of conformist youthful hell before the explosions of Elvis, Jimmy Dean, Marlon Brando and the tumultuous Sixties. Perry Aayr's presentation of 44288's work does this world a service. I've also read Auschwitz, Ohio, which is Part II of Some Die Mad and the implosion of this man, this time and this era is like you're standing in a pressure cooker with the lid closed and the heat turned on high. Believe you me, this baby is going places and I can see there's a big bang cooking up in the real near future...

Novels about Hitler lay themselves open to the charge of humanizing a monster. Yet when I finished Geli, I felt even more distaste for the man than when I had started.

I had thus far cauterized the evil that infested my history book by imagining an abstract, inhuman machine. S. Chesterfield gives flesh and blood to that lie by chillingly illustrating how a human intent on a master plan would stop nothing - not even in his private life - to achieve it.

This intimate portrayal of Hitler reminds us - lest we forget, especially in the age of Osama - of how men who were once considered ordinary can subsequently commit unspeakable evil.

This book, altough based upon fact, reeks of suspense. It tells the story, not often done, of Hitler's early years. Dealing with the troubles he had setting up the mechanism which would make him, for a short time, dictator and conqueror of nearly half the world. It tells the true story of Angela, "Geli" for short -- Hitler's half-niece -- and her suicide, or was it a covered up murder? And why? It covers such interesting character bits as where did the ogre, Hitler, spend his Christmas Eves. A clever device is the fictional character, from World War One, Sergeant Strobel, who makes appearances from time to time as Hitler's debating conscience, and in the end deserts him as his character deteriorates. Included, also, is the true story of Hitler's vengeance, shortly after his election, upon those whom he considered enemies, a story of horror and mass execution. And, remember Hitler was elected by the German people. (Hitler was an Austrian citizen until a minor political appointment gave him German citizenship long after his joining the Nazi party.) There are excellent character delineations of Hitler's mob. The book features a unique ending to Hitler's life never before discussed, but of highly paractical circumstance.

Hitler is universally viewed as a monster, and the evidence of his evil has been both well documented and analyzed. The majority of this evidence largely involves his acts of cruelty and brutality against those with whom he had no relationship. In this excellent book the author adds another aspect of Hitler's persona, namely, what he was capable of doing to those he supposedly cared for. By presenting this more personal aspect of Hitler's inhumanity, the author adds a new, fresh and disturbing dimension to our understanding of Hitler.

I could not put this book down. Mr. Chesterfield has taken an old topic and revitalized it. Hitler's character is abhorently fascinating and just when you think you have read enough to understand the person along comes a new perspective worthy of further exploration. This book makes for a great read and even better dinner conversation. Bravo!

ISBN 0595207146, Title: Geneva's Hope, Pages: 387, Author: Payton Lee, Genre: Historical, Main Characters: Kerry McGillinen and Braden Wessex. Also the entire McGillinen Family including the Shoshone camp. Overall Quality: My favorite type of reading. Plenty of Humor, action, romance, good dialog and solid characters with unique plot. Story Plot: Kerry meets Braden Wessex and English Lord and his son, Bennett. It's love at first sight for Bennett and then his father Braden, a widower. A jealous suitor and governess do everything in this story to control their destiny, but a shaman Shoshone prophet had foretold this future and good wins over evil. Especially when three brothers unite to keep Braden straight and protect their sister. They go from New York, to Ely to Great Britain, back to Ely. The Action never stops.
What I liked: I like it when Native people are portrayed as they really are, not hollywood stereo types. I like the hook, action, and plot. What I didn't like: I liked everything. When I finished her book I wanted to buy more. This book made me feel like I was right there with Kerry.

The characters become part of your family early in the book. The book contains as many twists and turns in the plot as the number of cities Kerry McGillinen and Braden Wessex find themselves in. The book portrays the late West and the people that lived there. The story contains philosophy of the Shoshone tribe. With the drama there are plenty of laughs. It is a book that is a real page turner.

I loved this book so much - I couldn't put it down once I stared reading. It has breathtaking romance, adventure and endearing characters that I fell in love with.

I just hope that the author doesn't keep me waiting too long for the sequel!

The McGillinen family is wonderful! This book is funny, warm, romantic with plenty of adventure and face paced action. Braden loses his heart to Kerry who is as kind as she is beautiful. His son Benett, by his first marrige, is adorable. Kerry's protective big brothers are funny and tender as they hover over her not too sure about the 'Brit' who has stolen her heart. The villian is wonderful and it's a laugh a minute when he gets what's due him. A must read...I couldn't put it down!

I loved this novel from the first page to the last. It has so many elements; love, action, hate, Indian lore, and mystery. The author did a great deal of research. Although a time-travel, each action seemed real and heart warming. Hope he writes many more.

Wow! This story of mystery, hope and love was engaging from the beginning to the end. A really great find. Original and well-written.

The Ghost of Little Fawn held me spellbound. Not only was it a classic western, but it also included mystery, drama, romance, time travel, and so much more. A very entertaining book and I am anxiously awaiting the author's next one! Bob Kody is a winner!

The Ghost of Little Fawn is exciting reading. The author must have done a great deal of research on several Indian tribes. The story covers several genres and is well put together. It is what I call a page turner. Buck Davis encounters, ghosts, and learns Indian lore while tracking down a serial killer. The ending is delightful. I hope Bob Kody writes more books.

Very good book! I think Bonnie did an excellent job with this one. I love it when the girls go to the Bar None because it's a completely different story each and every time. This is my favorite one that takes place at the Bar None. It's a little disapointing when Steve ruins Lisa and John's moment--but it made me laugh for about 5 minutes--I thought it was great!
I highly recomend this book to Saddle Club readers--especially if they love ghosts and Halloween--like me! :-)

It was really good but I still don't get what really happened. I mean I know it was a ghost. But I don't beliave in ghosts!

This book was so good! It was great how Stevie and the others made Halloween fun for the children. I also thought the story of the stallion was good. I was a little disappointed that Stevie accidentally ruined John and Lisa's moment, though.

The Saddle Club go to the Bar Just so they can Help Kates Mum plan a Halloween Party. Then kate tells them about this Magnifasent Whiteish grey stallion that she wants to adopt. A ranch Hand called john tells Them a storie that warns them to keep their distence. Then funny encounters with the stallionHelp them Change There Minds. I thought that this is A great Magical storie. A Must Read!!!

I think I read about your book in Essence or saw it on Oprah, can't remember, but I am so glad that I did. It has helped me start a book club with a few friends that enjoy reading, but also just enjoy the company of other african-american women. It's a great way to get away from the husband and kids and bond with your friends. One thing that we are going to add to our club is a community kitchen, we will be cooking with one another also.

Great book!

This book is just what I needed to start a book club in my area. I have not quite read all about the different authors. Telling us from start to finish is the best outline I have ever read in starting a project like this one. Thanks so much for sharing a book like this for African American women.I will keep you in touch about the one I am going to attempt to start here in Columbia ,Tn.

Where else can you find: 1. The history of African American reading groups in America 2. The history of African American literature genres 3. The history of the only African American national reading group network

4. Previews of the works and interviews of national best-selling, award winning authors

This is a goldmine of information!!!!

This book is more than just a guide to starting your own book club. It includes lots of excerpts from wonderful fiction that the Go On Girls members have read--folks like Tina McElroy Ansa and Octavia Butler, April Sinclair, Valerie Wilson Wesley, Diane McKinney Whetstone, Walter Mosely--a lot of great Black writers, plus Q&As with each one, and a reading guide. It was more than I expected, a delight overall.

This book was great for my existing book club- it gave us new ideas and discussion questions to liven up our meetings. The recipes are delicious and add to the "flavor" of our discussions. This is a beautifully done book- anyone thinking about starting a book club or if you have a club already can appreciate it's elegance
and insights.

This book provides the reader with helpful hints for starting a book club as well as a wide selection of books and discussion questions that will leave book club members reading and discussing for years. The reader will also not be able to resist trying out one of the delicious recipes that are beautifully displayed throughout the book. A very beautiful as well as useful book!!

Good Books, Good Friends, Good Food is a book that is of great interest to me on a number of levels. I like reading, especially the classics. This book gives a quick synopsis of some really good books as well as tidbits on the authors. I found these little sidelights to be very interesting. The recipes have produced some truly delicious foods that were most delightful. These are my favorite parts and I am sure others who are interested will appreciate the wonderful, step by step suggestions on how to start a successful book club. Included are great questions and ideas for discussion in a book club. In addition, it is a beautiful book to look through. I liked the book so well I bought 10 and gave them to my 4 daughters, my Mom, my sister & sisters-in-law, a dear fried, and of course, one for me.

This book is so versatile! It is a great resource for book ideas, discussion topics for book club meetings, and a recipe book as well. There are so many great books and recipes, it can be used over and over.
It is also great for personal use even if you are not in a book club as it gives great ideas for books to read, and interesting facts to think about as you read the book.

This is a wonderfully written account of some of the most interesting animals in the ocean, the whales. The author has composed a great book that is divided into well devised chapters that use one whale to explain these giants of the sea.

Douglas Chadwick has written and excellent book on several different types of whales but, really, about whales in general.

A wonderful eye-opener to those who just look at them as "fish". These creatures seem to be intelligent beings not far behind us (or maybe far ahead of us). Chadwick brings us into a relationship with them that will change your opinion. This book would be especially good as an excellent summer read for someone in junior or senior high school who may be thinking of their future.

The older I get, the more I realize it's a big world out there and we're just a small part of it. This book makes me feel more militant in protecting our sea-going friends, the grandest of lives.

Once again, scientist/author Doug Chadwick has written a book that charms with its prose and intrigues with its message. One of the finest nature writers of our time, Chadwick has outdone himself with this book on whales and other cetacea. It provides a wealth of information on these animals that was previously hidden away in scientfic journals. Beyond that, it provides a very personal glimpse of how whale research is being conducted and of the researchers themselves -- how they relate to whales in ways that never make it into technical articles. Yet, best of all is Chadwick's exploration into the nature of whale societies or cultures. Careful not to slip into anthropomorphism, Chadwick deftly graples with some of the most compelling issues of our time, concerning conservation of highly intelligent wildlife. Conventional wildlife management focues on numbers of animals, thinking of each member of a species as being equal to every other member of that age-sex class, then striving to maintain optimal numbers in each class to maximize harvstable yield. Only recently, with in depth studies of known individuals, have scientists begun to glimpse how much chimpanzees, gorillas, bears, and yes whales differ as individuals and groups, and how this affects overall welfare of populations and species. There is no book on non-primate animals to equal this one in trying to look beyond humanity to understand 'minds within the skins of other kinds.'
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Stephen F. Stringham, PhD, Wildlife Biologist

When I was very young (about five years old) in addition to insects I was in love with sea monsters- squid, octopi, manta rays, sharks and of course whales. What fascinating creatures! After I became a biologist, specializing in arthropods, I sill found sea life of major interest and so it was that I joined a whale-watching cruise to the Coronados Island off Tijuana, Baja California, that was offered as a side trip after a scientific meeting in San Diego. It was a great experience (we saw about 2 dozen gray whales, including one pod that swam right by us in the late afternoon). Until now I have been generally disappointed with books on the subject of whales as they somehow did not seem to capture the real experience of seeing a whale in real life and in the process express the actual atmosphere of it all.

Douglas Chadwick has changed all that. His book "The Grandest of Lives: Eye to Eye With Whales" is a labor of love and it shows. His descriptions of experiences with, and the biology of, five examples of the Cetacea- the blue whale, the humpbacked whale, the orca, the minke whale and the northern bottlenose whale are golden! He captures the whales, their environment, and the people who study whales, so that you can almost catch the smell of the sea and the cries of sea birds. Most importantly he explores the mysterious lives of his subjects in a way I have seldom seen in any book. This is the next best thing to actually going out on a whale watch and a excellent read in preparation for going out to sea or after you have returned.

Chadwick also investigates the "scientific whaling" industry in which whales are "harvested" for "scientific research" by some of the countries who are members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The meat usually ends up on store shelves, sometimes including meat from species that are not even allowed to be taken for "science." He is pretty accurate in his observations and presents the views of the people who are involved in whaling as well as the reasons against such practices. This activity, along with overfishing of other marine organisms, and pollution and bycatch problems, is rapidly leading to the depletion of ocean life in some areas. However, whales are increasing in numbers along the Pacific coast of the United States and Mexico and a few other places where the whales are better protected.

Whales are wonderful creatures and if, after you have read this book, you are not impressed by them and the need to protect them I would be very surprised. These are indeed, the grandest of lives!

I purchased a copy of this book over twenty years ago when my children were young. It quickly became a favorite of ours as it also became a family tradition. Each Thanksgiving at bedtime I would begin reading a few pages to my son and daughter, and continued until the week of Christmas. My children were always as eager to hear the story no matter how many years I read it. I teach first grade and also read it to my students each year. They love it! I now am purchasing a copy for my two grandchildren so they can begin their own and continue the family tradition. A great book with a wonderful plot, dialog, and super characters. I recommend this book for parents to enjoy with their children.

AND it's not being published! Tell me where I can get it! Please! Have searched my brain for the name of this book and just got lucky. Wonderful book, from what I can remember, since I, too, read it long ago. If the reader from Tampa FL can tell me where to get it, I would be forever grateful!

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this tale one Christmas over fifteen years ago, and ever since, my dramatic reading the story one chapter a night until the finale on Christmas Eve has become a cherished family tradition. I admit I have read the other Marvin, Fats & Raymond stories as well, but this one often seems to be the one that keeps us coming back year after year. I hope the story one year take its place next to Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree & The Christmas Box. Don't miss reading this classic.

I read this book as a child twenty years ago and now find myself narrating this wonderful story to my children. It is as exciting to them now as it was to me then. The never ending excitment and suspense captures the imagination of all children as they see themselves living in the dollhouse at Macy's among their favorite toys. No library should be without this book.

This book is great... I got it when I was nine, and I loved it. Now, I am becoming a certified babysitter, and this really prepped me for what to do in an emergency, meal prep, games to play, bath/bedtime, babies, toddlers, bigger kids, it was an excellent reference to look back to when you don't know what to do with something. If something goes wrong, you call 9-1-1, but what do you do with the other children? What about bathing? What happens if the baby won't stop crying? What happens with fights? Is it rude to dicipline other people's children, even when you are watching them?

I got this book when I was 10 years old. I always wanted to babysit, but I was too young. This book got me prepared for babysitting. It tought me what to do and what not to do, while babysitting. It also gave me suggestions on things to do with children of all ages. This is a great book! If you want to or already do babysit, this is one of the greatest books you can get!

I thought this book was good. It has very, very helpful tips on advertisment, getting started, meal tips, and so on. I liked the part with questions answered and a place to write about jobs and other info. I wish they print more things to do with kids at different ages. I mean you can't play games all the time. But the part with what to do in emergencies was GREAT!

This book is a must have for good baby-sitters! It offers tips on everything from snacks to bathtime to bedtime. It even has a first aid section! Ms. Martian answers questions, there are pages about other baby-sitting clubs and there is even a section in the back to help you start a record book, notebook, client book and for your earnings. I would buy this book!!