Neverending Book List

New and improved! The Neverending booklist are books we've read and want to recommend, or books we're planning to buy. They're linked to Amazon.com. I mainly use this page to give myself an extra discount for books the family buys, but if you want to buy a book through one of these links, please help yourself.

  If there are any books you would like to recommend, please leave them in my Guestbook Sign Guestbook

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• Old favorites
• Young Adult
• New Science Fiction (expect lots of SF in "Old Favorites")
• Other
• Michael's Books
• Lydia's Books
• Kevin's Books
• Videos & Albums

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Old favorites

• Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein -- This is the book that has had the most impact on my personal philosophy. It takes place on the Moon during a revolution. The similarities between their War of Independence and America's is pointed out. Mycroft, the sentient computer, spends a great deal of time trying to find out what humor is-- some jokes are "funny once", others are "funny always", and still more are only funny in the correct social setting. That there ain't no such thing as a free lunch becomes a war cry and a mantra. This book also taught me my most important lesson in problem solving. I can always hear Professor de la Paz and Manny breaking down the complex into solvable, workable components.

Young Adult

Harry Potter	Roland Smith Thunder Cave by Roland Smith is an adventure set in Africa. Lots of fun! Jaguar by Roland Smith is a nominee for the SSYRA for the year. It's a sequel to Thunder Cave set in South America and about creating a Jaguar preserve. Love the ultralight! The Last Lobo by Roland Smith is a third in the series with Jaguar & Thunder Cave. Set in the Southwest on a Hopi Indian reservation, it's every bit as good as the first two.
	Cinderella is my favorite fairy tale, and this rewrite is absolutely enchanting (pun intended). Ella has unique problems. A fairy showed up and gave her a "gift" at her christening, she was to follow orders-- all orders, without question. That includes being told to eat, dance, sleep or even kill! When she falls in love with the local prince, she realizes that marrying him will put him and the kingdom in great danger and she can't even explain it to himbecause her dear dead mother had ordered her never to tell anyone about the curse. A little magic can certainly be a dangerous-- and heartbreaking thing!
Carolyn Cooney   You're having lunch in the cafeteria like always, and you are about to trash your milk carton when you take a look at the picture of the lost kid on the side-- and that's you staring back. You remember the dress, you remember the hairstyle, but you're sure you weren't kidnapped! This happens to Janie in the first book of this gripping trio of books. Sorting out her life is complex, and dealing with her lost family is terrifying. Then just when things are getting better, the one person who has been her rock throughout the nightmare betrays her! Read these books with a box of tissues close by.	Squashed by Joan Bauer -- How can a book about a pumpkin be this interesting? The main character brings a fresh look at her small town's harvest festival. As an inhabitant of a small town that goes through it's own insanity at harvest time, I found this to be an accurate and hilarious portrayal.
Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block -- You either love this book or hate it. A modern fantasy about fanciful characters in the la-la land of L.A. Weetzie Bat and her best friend Dirk look for love and find both love and heartache. The frank talk about sex, both straight and gay will undoubtably offend some, and vindicate others. I found it charming and fascinating.	Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville. I haven't read this one yet, but with authors like this you can't go wrong! The story involves a religious cult whose believers are awaiting the end of the world on a mountaintop. How can anyone resist a millenium story right now? A fast read, but a good one. I really enjoyed it.
	A sequel to City of Ember

New Science Fiction

• Shelters of Stone by Jean Auel. I read Clan of the Cave Bear when it was first a book club edition. A friend gave me a pre- publication edition of Valley of the Horses (Which I still think contains some of the hottest love scenes in any work of fiction.) I loved both Mamoth Hunters and Plains of Passage. I'm thrilled that Ms. Auel has finally gotten around to writing Jondalar's homecoming!
• A Deepness in the Sky-- ISBN: 0312856830 by Vernor Vinge. This is a prequel to Fire Upon the Deep which is one of the all time best SF books I've ever read. Fire, however, was not an easy read. It was such hard SF that physics and religion were interchangeable concepts.

• "The Sparrow" and "The Children of God" by MaryDoria Russell-- The characters created in the first of these books are some of the most likeable and realistic characters I've ever met. This is not a don't-put-it-down book, but better than that. You want to put it down and walk away and think about what is happening before you continue. The first contact with aliens is explored in an agonizing, heartfelt way. When SETI signals are discovered to be music broadcast from a ridiculously "close-by" planet, a group of Jesuits outfit an asteroid as a continuous-acceleration spaceship and visit the planet that is only a few decades away. The parallells to Jesuit contact in North America are heartbreakingly apparent. Faith and the very existance of God is called into question again and again. I believe that only someone with a good grasp of their own faith will truly enjoy this book, although I don't think that faith need be either Christian or Catholic. Be prepared to love Emilio, Ann, Jimmy and the others and suffer along with Emilio through both books.

  

  Other

  
  
  • Vision of the Future
  • HTML4 for the World Wide Web by Elizabeth Castro. This website was designed using the information in Ms. Castro's earlier book: HTML for the World Wide Web. It was a wonderful, easy to read, starter book that remains valuable for reference about all those pesky little tags. I look foward to using this newest version in the same way.
  • Gifted Grownups : The Mixed Blessings of Extraordinary Potential by Marylou Kelly Streznewski

    I'm ordering this one for school too. With two gifted kids, I think I'll find this one interesting.

  • The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines

    A book about archetype characters, using pop culture characters as examples. Explores both male and female characters.

  • Dreamweaver 4 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual Quickstart Guide I love this series of books. The explanations are easy to follow and the examples are numerous and clear. It can be used as a step-by -step tutorial or a reference when you get stuck. Great index.

  • Honeypots: Tracking Hackers Do I have the skills to be a hacker? No. Am I fascinated by them? Yes.
  • I chose to do a report on him for the gifted class I'm taking. I want to know more about this flow thing.
  • I've been taking this quilting class. Bargello quilting is fascinating me. I've made a couple of items, but want to learn how to make more exotic items.
  • Another bargello book that looks interesting.
  • I saw the author of this book on Simply Quilts, the HGTV quilting show. I'm making a quilt of houses for Lydia using an outrageous collection of prints, including lips and purple flames.

   

  

  Michael's Books

  
  
  • The Complete Farside Michael's favorite cartoon, all collected in one place.
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit includes disk with helps and add- ons for windows.
  • Tangled June : A Dave Garrett Mystery by Neil Albert. Michael has really enjoyed this modern day mystery series which starts with January Corpse and continues through Tangled June -- so far.
  • Michael's Camera Stuff

  • Nikon HN-CP14 Lens Hood for Coolpix 8800 Digital Camera

    Nikon EN-EL7 Li-ion Rechargeable Battery for Coolpix 8400 & 8800 Digital Camera

  • 

  • Delta Search: Quest for Tomorrow-- ISBN: 0061057428 A new series by William Shatner. Amazon.com compares it to Heinlein's Juveniles, so how can I resist!

  • In Alien Hands -- ISBN: 0061057436 The second in the Quest for Tomorrow series by Shatner.

  • The X-Files : Whirlwind

  • The X-Files : Goblins

  • Step into Chaos : Quest for Tomorrow (Shatner, William. Quest for Tomorrow.)

  • Bigelow's Build Your Own PC Pocket Reference-- ISBN: 0070371393

  • Troubleshooting Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional-- ISBN: 0735611653

  • Windows 2000: Quick Fixes-- ISBN: 0596000170

  • The Hacker Diaries by Dan Verton. Reviewed on Tech TV's Screen Savers
  • The Bread Machine Cookbook IV: Whole Grains & Natural Sugars Michael likes whole grain breads. I'm getting him a bread making machine for our anniversary. (Shhh!)

  

  Lydia's Books

  
  

  The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats

  I-zone camera Lydia wants this for her birthday! Wonder if she'll get it.

  

  Kevin's Books

  
  

  • Star Trek the Next Generation: Forgiveness
  • Dark Victory (Star Trek)
  • Godzilla : Journey to Monster Island (Official Godzilla) ISBN: 0679889019 by Scott Ciencin. These books are recommended by Kevin-- who'll read or watch anything about Godzilla. If you're fond of the big scaly guy, you'll probably like it.

  • Godzilla : King of the Monsters (Godzilla Digest Novel Ser.)-- 0679882200 Another Godzilla book for Kevin!
  • Godzilla Invades America (Godzilla Digest Novels , No 2)-- 0679887520 I am moster hear me ROAARRRR!
  • The Bacta War (Star Wars - X-Wing, Book 4) by Michael A. Stackpole
  • Iron Fist: Star Wars, X-Wing , No 6 by Aaron Allston
  • Solo Command (Star Wars X-Wing Series , No 7)
  • Isard's Revenge (Star Wars: X-Wing, No 8) by Michael A. Stackpole
  • Vector Prime (Star Wars) by R. A. Salvatore
  • Pod Racer (Star Wars) CD ROM 21 different characters with individual racing pods 25 race tracks 4 circuits per track: amateur, semi-pro, pro, and invitational 3-D graphics Includes DirectX 6.1
  

  Music/Video/DVD favorites

  
  

  • Apurimac III: Nature-Spirit-Pride by Cusco
  • Denke-Denke Mamar Kassey. This African music from Niger was reviewed on NPR and has an african beat with a bit of salsa and carribean thrown in.
  • Ghostbusters: Original Soundtrack Album [SOUNDTRACK] Who ya gonna call? This one's for Kevin!
  • Beach House On The Moon [ENHANCED CD] How can you live in Florida and not be a parrothead. And how can you be an SF fan without loving this title! The best song on the album, though is the gumbo song, which inspired Michael to start making Gumbo.
  • Ring Of The Dolphin Cusco
  • October Sky (1999) Based on the book Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam, this is a terrific story about a boy who wants more than he will find in his small coal town home.
  • What Dreams May Come (1998) DVD-- this is one of the most visually beautiful and creative movies I've ever seen. And Kevin and I both loved the plot, with soulmates and eternal life.
  • Smokey and the Bandit (1977) DVD-- One of the funniest movies-- I think Michael and I went to see this one more often than Star Wars when we were dating.
  • Space: 1999, Set 1 Soon to arrive on DVD-- Space:1999. Each set contains 6 episodes on 2 DVD's. There will be 2 sets released during the first quarter of 2001. Set one contains Breakaway, Matter of Life and Death, Black Sun, Ring Around The Moon, Earthbound, Another Time, Another Place. My favorite here is probably Another Time, Another Place
  • Space: 1999, Set 2 Set 2 of the Space:1999 DVD's. This volume containes Missing Link, Guardian of Piri, Force of Life, Alpha Child, The Last Sunset, Voyager's Return. My favorite out of all 6 here is Last Sunset.
  • The Harry Potter Movie Soundtrack! I'm a BIG Harry Potter fan. They're undoubtedly the best children's fantasy since the Chronicles of Narnia. And the soundtrac is by John Williams, so how can we go wrong here.
  • 6" Lord of the Rings Figure 4-Pack Value Bundle #1
  • 6" Lord of the Rings Figure 5-Pack Value Bundle #2 2 sets of action figures. Unfortunately, Strider is not among them. Grrr.
  • Antrax (The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 2) Michael and I are both reading the first volume of this series and enjoying it.
  • The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK] I can't wait! Sounds terrific.
  • Talented Children and Adults Jane Piirto. Do I want it? No, not really. Do I need it for Gifted Certification? Duh. If you're casually interested in the topic, buy the Gifted Grownups book above.
  • Super Bad Sounds of the 70's Tim Wilson The Booty Man song alone is worth the price of admission. It's a riot!
  • Graphire2 cordless mouse and drawing tablet.Although I have no problem with a touchpad for most activities. But more control for drawing is a must.

  • 		West Wing Season Two

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