"Ghost Canoe" By Will Hobbs

Title: Ghost Canoe
Author: Will Hobbs
Published Year: 1997
Pages: 195
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Mystery

Geared more toward the adventurous male leaning toward the earlier teens and pre-teens. As a female, I did enjoy the book, even as someone in my late twenties. There is much to be captivated by and a want to keep reading the book.

The book takes place during the times when Washington state was still referred to as the Washington Territory and the Makah's were still able to fish and live as their tribe had for hundreds of years in the Neah Bay. Being from Washington myself, just these facts made the book more enjoyable and I was able to get into it no problem. Top this with treasure, ship wrecks, and thieves it is every boys dream of adventure. It is a chapter book, so younger than the fifth grade age could enjoy it as well if they are up to the reading challenge or it is a book read to them.

The author brought me into the book so well, I am interested in more of his other books. He has won awards for best mystery in previous books.

"Wyoming Ghost Stories: Eerie True Tales" By Debra Munn

Title: Wyoming Ghost Stories: Eerie True Tales
Author: Debra Munn
Published Year: 2008
Pages: 205
Genre: History

I do tend to read a lot of books on ghosts and the paranormal. I can't help it, I just find the subject so interesting. Its not just the stories of the ghosts themselves, but the history behind the story. Every ghost has its own story, and each one is usually based on some type of history. Some of these may not be as well known as others as is the case for some in this book, yet they all deserve their stories to be told. One half of the investigation fun is just doing the research, the other half is getting scared by an actual ghost.

I know not everyone believes in ghosts, but reading about them never hurt anyone. Wyoming is a much more interesting state after reading this book. Discover the Old West through these tales.

"50 Years of Stock Car Racing" By Ken Breslauer

Title: 50 Years of Stock Car Racing
Author: Ken Breslauer
Published Year: 1998
Pages: 143

The reality of this book is that it actually talks about the different types of collectibles that stock car racing has. Each area is looked at, and advice on how to obtain items and just facts about the different types of collectibles are included. My favorite part of the book is actually in the pictures that are found throughout it. Old programs, tickets, even patched and old official arm bands have pictures in the book.

I am one of those people that saves every little ticket and program I pick up at the track, so I was able to identify with the idea behind collecting these types of things. This book though is just an idea starter and not an actual go-to for the actual collecting. The author does include other places to seek out for more information in the end. The reader also needs to know before reading that some of the terms are already outdated and some of the facts are no longer accurate for the present times.

"Camp Dracula" By Tom B. Stone

Title: Camp Dracula
By: Tom B. Stone
Published Year: 117
Pages: 117
Genre: Pre-teen
Series: Graveyard School #6

I do read everything I can get my hands on, and kid's book is no exception. Books are a real love of mine, and reading all kinds feeds this love of mine. This book is no exception to this love of mine.

This book is a starter point for kids starting to get into chapter books. Unlike the Goosebumps stories of R.L. Stine, the print is not as large as those and not as spaced out. So I would put this as an advancement from the Goosebumps Series, but before R.L. Stine's Fear Street series.

Camp Dracula  takes place in a camp as the title would suggest. Of course it places a new kid in a camp that seems to have the same campers from previous summers. Two fears of many kids, being away from the family for a time period and being the only new kid. In saying this, kids should be able to picture themselves in the main character's shoes. In addition for those curious about vampires, it brings into account this subject as well, without overdoing the whole idea.

"Memoirs of a Monster Hunter" By Nick Redfern

Title: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter
Author: Nick Redfern
Published Year: 2007
Pages: 253
Genre: Paranormal/Memoir

The premise of this book is for the author to tell about his monster hunting adventures over a five year period. He has written another book about searching for monster types in Great Britain which is where he is originally from. This one however goes a little further and incorporates personal experiences and how he met his wife, to aliens and even ghost spirits.

Since the book is written as a memoir, I view it more of a personal account of multiple paranormal experiences than actual concrete evidence. However, the wide array of experiences he has and the fact that there are many organizations that come to him to help them out whether it be presenting on these subjects or helping out with live investigations, he is becoming quite a name in the paranormal research field.

How you take this book will depend on how you interpret it and how you feel about the author's personal accounts. Some may laugh at his tales, while others will identify with them and some may become even more curious on the subjects. There are multiple areas of paranormal being taken into account throughout the book, so for the curious, have a great read!

"Northwest Basic Training" By Greg Eiden & Kurt D. Hollomon

Title: Northwest Basic Training
Authors: Greg Eiden & Kurt D. Hollomon
Published Year: 2001
Pages: 161
Genre:Humor

When you need a dose of laughter, be sure to pick this book up. It is one that does not have to be continually read and can be stopped and picked up at any time without losing track of the story. The reason is that there is no real story line, just types on how to survive in the northwest for those that are just visiting, to people moving to the area and those that are native to the area. All of these groups of people can learn new things about the northwest. I know that I continually learn new things about that northwest, and that is primarily because I have lived just in western Washington my whole life. There is much more to the northwest than just western Washington as this book shows.

Despite being broken up into the three different categories, it is worth the read to go through each section. I was silently chuckling away in my head, especially in the visitor and newcomer sections as I can see native northwesterners acting in these ways. The whole book brought a much greater love for my home than I have ever had before and helped remind me of what makes us so unique. Not everyone will agree with things mentioned in the book, but these things are what makes the northwest my home.

"Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" By Mary Roach

Title: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Author: Mary Roach
Publish Year: 2003
Pages: 303
Genre: Non-fiction, Science

First off this book is not for the squeamish, as the title portrays. If you are not interested in what happens to human cadavers, as in those people who leave their bodies to science or are organ donors, then don't even attempt to read this. The book is detailed in what happens to different cadavers, such as those that are used to train medical students, crash test participants, and even used as fertilizer.

Having said that, this book is for the curious, and I am definitely one of the curious. The writer makes it simple to follow, despite all the medical terms used, and she also makes it light and entertaining. It is definitely not a dry book, and many times I found myself chuckling to myself.

Human cadavers is one of those subjects that is always out there yet it does not come up in conversations. Anyone who is thinking of donating their body to science or being an organ donor should read this book, unless you are too squeamish of course. Also it is a good read for those that have not decided what they want done with their bodies when they pass. At the end of the book the author dwells on this subject with her own body in mind.

"Premonitions and Psychic Warnings: Real Stories of Haunting Predictions" By Edrick Thay

Title: Premonitions and Psychic Warnings: Real Stories of Haunting Predictions
Author: Edrick Thay
Published Year: 2005
Pages: 192
Series Information: Ghost House #50

Classified as a non-fiction book, the reader could easily disagree with this notion. There are no references, but the book is based on actual accounts of people and how psychic warnings and premonitions have played a part in their lives. Normally I may not have picked this book up to read, but since I collect the other books in the Ghost House series, I wanted to pick it up to work on my collection. The other books in the series mainly deal with hauntings, and they as well do not have a reference list which is unusual for these type of books. However, I do enjoy the ones about hauntings based on the fact that they are a quick and entertaining read for myself and they usually lead me to something else that peeks my interest.

Having said this, I would only recommend this book as a jumping point to grasp the idea behind it. Reading others with actual references and specific cases that can be tracked and referenced in other works will have more basis in my own opinion.

"Monsters of the Northwoods" By Paul & Robert Bartholomew, William Brann & Bruce Hallenbeck

Title: Monsters of the Northwoods
Authors: Paul & Robert Bartholomew, William Brann & Bruce Hallenbeck
Published Year: 1992
Pages: 136

It is hard to find a book on Bigfoot/Sasquatch specific to one area unless it is the Pacific Northwest in the United States. That is why this book is so intriguing to me. It specifically documents sightings in New York and part of Vermont, with the majority being from New York.

There are actual transcripts that the authors have collected during interviews with witnesses that claim to have seen Bigfoot/Sasquatch. One of the best things about this specific book is that the authors are all interested in the phenomena, yet they do not push their ideas hard against the reader. Instead they let the reader develop their own ideas from the facts and eyewitness accounts that they provide. As mentioned in a previous entry, reading these types of books just furthers my own personal opinion on the subject and become more and more precise as I read more about it. In addition, it also brings more questions for my further readings. Continuing to question what is set before you is one of the best things you can do for yourself, this is how I learn the best. Keeping my curiosity alive is one of my favorite things to do, and reading books like this on things that have yet to be proven helps with that.

"The Haunted Whaley House" By Robert & Anne Wlodarski

Title:The Haunted Whaley House
Authors: Robert & Anne Wlodarski
Published Year: 1997
Pages: 116

The Whaley House in San Diego, CA is one of the most famous haunted houses in all of the United History. Not just famous to those that are specifically interested in hauntings, but also famous people and casual visitors to this historic landmark. Thousands of people visit this historic home throughout the year, including local residents, school children and tourists. It is my wish to see this house sometime in my lifetime and find out if I can have one of my own experiences.

This book is good in the fact that is provides a history of the house, how it became and the historical facts that could lead to why it is haunted today. I do personally believe it is haunted based on the many accounts I have read, not only in this book, but other accounts as well. Within this book, you will find many first hand accounts that people have had within its walls, not only from the people who work there, but famous people and everyday visitors. Is it haunted? You know my opinion, now it's up to you to develop your own opinion.

"The Box: Uncanny Stories" By Richard Matheson

Title:The Box: Uncanny Stories
Author: Richard Matheson
Published Year: 2008
Pages: 258

My Take:

Richard Matheson is an amazing author, and this book showcases his awesome abilities. The following short stories are included in this book:

• "Button, Button" 1970
• "Girl of My Dreams" 1963
• "Dying Room Only" 1953
• "A Flourish of Strumpets" 1956
• "No Such Thing as a Vampire" 1959
• "Pattern for Survival" 1955
• "Mute" 1962
• "The Creeping Terror" 1959
• "Shock Wave" 1963
• "Clothes Make the Man" 1950
• "The Jazz Machine" 1962
• " 'Tis the Season to Be Jelly" 1963

I have been addicted to Matheson's works since I originally read Hell House and Nightmare at 20,000 Feet. He has a knack for taking ordinary human fears and turning them into extraordinary works of fiction. There will be at least one short story in this collection, if not more that the reader will be able to identify with. Some are hilarious, while others are just plain cunning and smart.

My warning for this collection is to look at the years that the stories were originally written and published in first. There are references within each one that are no longer part of our times (at least in the majority) and the reader should be prepared for this before they read these short stories.

If you have seen the movie "The Box" with Cameron Diaz, you will notice that the first short story in the novel is the premise for this movie. Many of his other works have been made into movies, and it would not surprise me if even more in the future years will be made into movies as well.

"Roadwork" By Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman

Title: Roadwork
Author: Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman
Published Year: 1981
Pages: 307

My Take:

The Richard Bachman books are Stephen King's earlier years in writing. Instead of using his own name, use used the Bachman name as a pseudonym to get started. To me, the Bachman books have a different feel than most of the Stephen King books I have read. They are not as gory or paranormal (which I love those just as much) as his later works. Having said this, these works are ones that anyone can enjoy.

Roadwork is a wonderful adventure into the mind of a man who acts as if he is losing everything he has due to a construction project. As the novel proceeds, he continues in a downward spiral that continues to build up until the climax in the novel with multiple life altering events happening along the way. The reader can not help (at least me) but sympathize with him for the troubles that are taking place in his life.

For a great read on man versus the establishment, Roadwork is the book for you. After reading this book, I can not help but think back to Stephen King's later work Bag of Bones. Both show the struggles the little guy has against a supposed more elite power and is a true story of the human spirit.

"Sasquatch:Bigfoot: The Continuing Mystery" By Thomas N. Steenburg

Title: Sasquatch:Bigfoot:The Continuing Mystery
Author: Thomas N. Steenburg
Published Year: 1990
Pages: 125

My Take:

The longer my blog goes, you'll notice that I have a strong interest in the paranormal and unknowns of the world. I read more to get a better understanding and to develop my own personal opinions on the matters. This is why I initially picked up this book and read it.

This is a wonderful starting point for those that are interested or even just the slight bit curious about the phenomenon known as Sasquatch or Bigfoot. These legends and sightings tend to take place in the Pacific Northwest of the United States primarily in Washington, Oregon and California. Sometimes these sightings go out from there, but it is hard to find a book that includes these sightings. This book is one of those that does.

In this book, it takes into account sightings of Bigfoot in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. The cases presented are those that are considered personal accounts by those that witnessed the events. It is up to the reader to develop their own idea of whether they believe in the legend or not.

I absolutely enjoyed this book, and I have for the most part developed my own personal opinion on the matter. The more I read on the subject, the more that opinion becomes more precise. Highly recommended for anyone that has even the slightest curiosity on the subject.

"Nothing In This Book Is True, But It's Exactly How Things Are" By Bob Frissell

Title: Nothing In This Book Is True, But It's Exactly How Things Are
Author: Bob Frissell
Published Year: 1994
Pages: 244

My Take:

I am still overwhelmed by all the things that are brought up in this book. To start with, if you have no imagination and are not willing to think outside of the box, this book is definitely is not for you.

This book's whole premise is to take paranormal and metaphysical ideas and tie them together over time. Henceforth, this book is considered a work on non-fiction, but at times it may not seem to be so. There is nothing but kookiness in this novel from my own personal perspective. Conspiracy theories and what is known as "New Age" ideas are prevalent throughout the book.

Usually I am open to these types of ideas, but this book stretched the idea from part to part, and bringing in new ideas I had never even heard of. There are items from the Egyptians and Da Vinci, as well as current times with aliens, rebirthing and a "secret government" references along the way.

Definitely not for everyone, but if you're curious, take a peek.

"1984" By George Orwell

Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Published Year: 1949
Pages: 268

My Take:

1984 is a definite classic. Written well before the actual year, the book is one that gives a futuristic view of what could have happened by the year 1984, thankfully none of it has happened. However, the book is a wonderful warning of what we could become if we do not learn from our mistakes and history, not only as individuals but as a society as a whole. It brings a view of absolute socialism at its worse, with heavy indications of brain washing.

The novel takes place in a time where there are two different social groups in what would be known as London as the time of the writing, and as London at the current time, here in 2010. There are the members of the "Party" and those that are referred to as the "Sproles". The party members are those that work towards the benefit of Big Brother and are continuously watched throughout all their actions in life to make sure they are not undermining the work of the Party. The Sproles are those that remind myself of present day, they go about their own lives and do what they want in life, with the majority of their days dedicated to having large families and enjoying life. They have been pushed down so far they do not even take a second to thing of rebelling against the party.

The whole premise of the book is that the world has been pushed into 3 major controlling groups and they are continuously fighting among each other to control certain portions of the world. To understand all that is going on, a reading of the entire book is needed.

Personally the first time I tried to read it, I had a hard time getting into it. A few years later (just recently as I finished this book yesterday), I found once I got through the first 40 or so pages, it became more intriguing. The further into the book you get, the more intriguing it becomes as there remain many unanswered questions without completing it. I highly recommend this to anyone and I hope that with more people reading it, there will be a less likely chance of this fiction becoming a reality.

"Slow Burn" By Pamela Britton

Book Facts:
Title: Slow Burn
Author: Pamela Britton
Published Year: 2009
Pages: 377

My Take:

Slow Burn is definately not for the guys, unless you're into the whole romance novel, and yes I said romance novel. This is not your ordinary romance novel, as it is NASCAR based. I have yet to read any other type of romance novels, only the ones about NASCAR drivers and owners and their tangled love lives.

For me personally, this is my type of book that I read just for pleasure. Being around racing my whole life, and seeing what I have seen, what I read just does not seem plausible, so the book becomes a kind of "what if" for me. I have yet to be proven wrong.

Being female, the book is a quick read for me, since I am wanting to find out what happens next on the quest for Prince Charming, or in the case of the male characters in these books, Princess Charming. Before reading the book I know there will be a happy ending, and I have yet to be disappointed. Always a good thing for those times when you're a little down and looking for a glimmer of hope.

I will continue to read the various NASCAR romance books, since they are a fun form of book candy to me, sweet indulgence that they are.

"The Eyes of the Dragon" By Stephen King

Book Stats:
Title: The Eyes of the Dragon
Author: Stephen King
Published Year: 1987
Pages: 380

My take on the book:

I personally do enjoy many of Stephen King's books. Having read some of the "Gunslinger" series, I became interested in some of the books that are tied into the series; The Eyes of the Dragon is the first book in this list. Before I finish the "Gunslinger" series (I have only read the first two books), I want to read all of Stephen King's books that tie into the series in one way or another.

The Eyes of the Dragon is not your typical Stephen King novel. Many readers and others as well think of Stephen King as an author who is into gore, horror and the supernatural. This novel does have some supernatural elements, but none that are truly out there. The novel is one that any reader should be able to enjoy.

The story takes place in times of a kingdom and has your normal king, and princes and a battle for the throne. Like I mentioned earlier, not what I have typically thought of as a Stephen King book. The trials and tribulations of the characters in the book are highly believable and well worth the read.

For any reader, not just those interested in Stephen King or medieval times, I would highly recommend this selection.