Childhood's End

Book Description

Without warning, giant silver ships from deep space appear in the skies above every major city on Earth. Manned by the Overlords, in fifty years, they eliminate ignorance, disease, and poverty. Then this golden age ends--and then the age of Mankind begins....

Rainbow's End: A Memoir of Childhood, War and an African Farm

Average customer rating:

Life in Rhodesia
Been there, done that.
Rainbow's End
Another Farm in Africa...
Rainbow's End review

Rainbow's End: A Memoir of Childhood, War and an African Farm
Lauren St John
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

Zimbabwe | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

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History | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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When She Was White: The True Story of a Family Divided by Race

ASIN: 0743286790

Book Description

This is a story about a paradise lost. . . . About an African dream that began with a murder . . .

In 1978, in the final, bloodiest phase of the Rhodesian civil war, eleven-year-old Lauren St John moves with her family to Rainbow's End, a wild, beautiful farm and game reserve set on the banks of a slowflowing river. The house has been the scene of a horrific attack by guerrillas, and when Lauren's family settles there, a chain of events is set in motion that will change her life irrevocably.

Rainbow's End captures the overwhelming beauty and extraordinary danger of life in the African bush. Lauren's childhood reads like a girl's own adventure story. At the height of the war, Lauren rides through the wilderness on her horse, Morning Star, encountering lions, crocodiles, snakes, vicious ostriches, and mad cows. Many of the animals are pets, including Miss Piggy and Bacon and an elegant giraffe named Jenny. The constant threat of ruthless guerrillas prowling the land underscores everything, making each day more dangerous, vivid, and prized than the last.

After Independence, Lauren comes to the bitter realization that she'd been on the wrong side of the civil war. While she and her family believed that they were fighting for democracy over Communism, others saw the war as black against white. And when Robert Mugabe comes into power, he oversees the torture and persecution of thousands of members of an opposing tribe and goes on to become one of Africa's legendary dictators. The ending of this beautiful memoir is a fist to the stomach as Lauren realizes that she can be British or American, but she cannot be African. She can love it -- be willing to die for it -- but she cannot claim Africa because she is white.

Customer Reviews:

Life in Rhodesia.......2007-09-19

I grew up in Rhodesia and can relate to all the animals and the terrorists and see the Rhodesia troops know someone who was in the army. Fortunately for those who grew up in the Rhodesia Era, have a better understanding of the meaning of life. No computer games, but real life. One thing that I hope to pass on to my kids is the love of animals, and how to survive without all the time spend in front of the TV and computers and be a real kid. Living in Bannockburn, traveling to Bulawayo, or Salisbury, stopping in Gweru, the Victoria Falls, Kariba, and buying mealies cooked on the side of the road, the braais, Renaults, the food, the wildlife, the smells of freshly rain on ground, elephants crossing the road on the way to Victoria Falls, and Matopus, all the baboons and monkeys running around, the rhino, giraffe, the lizards stealing food. The good life.

Growing up in Rhodesia makes me live life, like it were overflowing. The good times, the best of times, the real times.

Been there, done that........2007-08-23

I lived in Rhodesia in the time period this book was written. Although some minor facts are not quite correct, it gives an excellent feel for what it was like to live there and experience the multitude of changes.

Rainbow's End.......2007-08-14

This book is very good. I was a teenager in America when this was happening in Rhodesia. I remember it changing names and I remember there being some type of war, but I don't remember much else. I was shocked at some of the things that happened, but I really enjoyed the book. It should be required reading for anyone studying histories. I have passed this book on to some one who was born in that country and was just a few years older than the author and she has other memories, but she also said it was good. I definately recommend this book for anyone who likes books about history. It was very personable. The author made you really visualize the scenes as she described them.

Another Farm in Africa..........2007-07-30

Lauren St. John's tale of family life, strife and growing up in Rhodesia during "the War" -- the guerrilla war that lead to the creation of Zimbabwe and Mugabe dictatorship, is beguilling and frustrating. She talks several times about her unprounouncable Dutch name, but I'm not sure if I ever saw it in the book. She says that the entire family changed names by deedpole, but they all took different surnames, hers being what she now uses, St. John. Wha? Everybody in the family changes their names and no details? After black rule is established, St. John undergoes an eleventh hour realization/guilt trip about her previous life. She feels sympathy toward her black African compatriots and understands some of their excesses after "liberation." But the book glosses over the real twists in the plot. Something is going on between mom and dad, Mom is always getting on a plane and flying around the world, but we dont find out until almost the end of the book. Even then, she doesn't do more than hint until the last few pages. Dad was unfaithful. Why all the secrecy? She tells us anyway, but makes us roll our eyes first. For all her tiptoeing around family disputes, St. John is ultra-descriptive about her daily life, from the vanilla-licious Cerelac she had for breakfast, to her particular preferences in biltong. The book is a fascinating look at a white paradise that, in later years, became more threatening, but still pampering to those fortunate enough to be white. As Lauren undergoes her sudden realization about the Realities of Black Life in Rhodesia, she sees former heroes as less than noble...the Selous Scouts, honored soldiers during the war, are revealed to be something else indeed. The glitter comes off a lot of the gold, but the book is still a entertaining insight into a life, a lifetime, and a lifestyle. This book holds its own among the recent spate of books about the end of Rhodesia and its impact on white farmers and citizens.

Rainbow's End review.......2007-07-17

An excellent memoir of life during troubled times during the bush war in Rhodesia and birth of Zimbabwe.

Average customer rating:

loved it
Dark, fearful, and moving towards chaos.

New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 1
Craig Kyle , and Christopher Yost
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 2
New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 3
New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 4
New X-Men: Academy X Vol. 2: Haunting
House of M: New X-Men

ASIN: 0785118314

Book Description

Red-hot X-23 writers Craig Kyle and Chris Yost, and rising star Mark Brooks (Ultimate Spider-Man Annual, Amazing Fantasy), take New X-Men in a bold new direction. Spinning directly out of House of M, the New X-Men deal with the changed world. Will X-23 join the team? Will friendships persevere? Will the kids survive? No one is safe, and not everyone will live through this incredible change in status quo. The rules have changed, and the safety is off! Collects New X-Men #20-23 plus bios.

Customer Reviews:

loved it.......2007-05-13

i loved the whole stort line the new muntans and hellions are a great new treat i would how ever like to know what happen to jean grey

Dark, fearful, and moving towards chaos........2006-06-10

This is by far one of the best X-men spinoff comics to be written.
The plot ties in with the story of "M-Day", and a large number of mutants have lost their powers. This, of course, leaves the remaining mutants very vulnerable. And it doesn't help that few of the students trust the newcomer, X-23/Laura.
The artwork is superb, the story is more than dark enough to grab your attention, and the "new X-men" are easy to relate to. However, not many of the classic mutants appear- but don't worry, it's got Wolverine.

Note: This particular comic (and probably the volumes that follow) will be a lot more interesting for you if you read "X-23: Innocence Lost", by these same authors. The story of X-23 is one of the most gripping stories I've ever read, comic or otherwise.

Average customer rating:

New X-Men: Childhood's End Review
good read

New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 3
Craig Kyle , and Christopher Yost
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 2
New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 1
New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 4
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3: Torn
New X-Men: Academy X Vol. 2: Haunting

ASIN: 0785120254

Book Description

The New X-Men have been killed, blown up and absolutely decimated. Now, they're on the offensive! But after all they've been through, will they have the strength to defeat their toughest enemy yet? Hey, maybe the New Avengers could help! Collects New X-Men #28-32.

Customer Reviews:

New X-Men: Childhood's End Review.......2007-05-14

When New X-Men first came out, originally entitled Academy X, I did not care. The characters were second rate, the stories bored me, and it never really caught on. Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost breathed new life and excitement into these characters, in particular Hellion, Surge and X-23. More people should read this title. It's that good. It reminds me of the desperation and unpredictability of the 80's Uncanny X-Men. It's fun, wild and.... well... unpredictable. I highly recommend this book.

good read.......2007-02-18

This one was a good read I like the charactor X-23 that is way I have choosen to get this. The charactors are good and the story line is good. This one I felt like they left me hanging though. Good quality print if you are a collector.

Average customer rating:

A correction...
amazingggg!
what is marvel thinking?
Good...but....

New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 2
Craig Kyle , and Christopher Yost
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

X-Men | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 1
New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 3
New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 4
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Astonishing X-Men: X-23 - Innocence Lost (Wolverine)

ASIN: 0785120246

Book Description

If you thought Volume 1 was intense, buckle up. The dire consequences of recent actions have put the students of the Xavier Institute in their most dangerous situation yet. Reverend Stryker has replaced his crucifixes and prayers with bullets and hand grenades. Can the kids survive his brand of conversion? Collects New X-Men #24-27.

Customer Reviews:

A correction..........2007-06-20

Messrs. Yost & Kyle did not make the characters "connectable" or "meaningful", except for X-23.
Icarus, the younger brother of X-Men Cannonball (one of the original New Mutants), and Husk (Generation X), first appeared in ROM Annual #3 (dated 1984), written by Bill Mantlo. Chuck Austen gave him the red wings (first seen in "Uncanny X-Men" #437) and healing factor (discovered in UXM #441), in a storyline reprinted in UNCANNY X-MEN: SHE LIES WITH ANGELS (which also contains the dubious scene of Husk and Archangel -- the original X-Man known then as "Angel" -- flying up into the air to make out in front of Husk's mother.)

Dust was created by Grant Morrison and first appeared in "New X-Men" (1st series) #133, which is reprinted in NEW X-MEN: NEW WORLDS (issues 127-133) as well as two hardcover volumes --
NEW X-MEN volume two ISBN-10: 0785111182 & ISBN-13: 978-0785111184 (issues 127-141) and the NEW X-MEN OMNIBUS ISBN-10: 0785123261 & ISBN-13: 978-0785123262 (issues 114-154 and Annual 2001)
Notes: the first "New X-Men" series is actually "X-Men" (2nd series) #114-154 & the 2001 Annual. The main characters in Grant Morrison's highly acclaimed issues are Beast, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Jean Grey (Phoenix), Professor X, and Wolverine.

Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir deserve the credit for fleshing out Dust, making Icarus more likeable than he was in SHE LIES WITH ANGELS, and creating the students whose deaths upset and/or alienated some readers, including myself. Most of their issues are reprinted in NEW MUTANTS: BACK TO SCHOOL ("New Mutants" (2nd series) #1-6), three NEW X-MEN: ACADEMY X volumes -- CHOOSING SIDES (#1-6), HAUNTING (#7-11), X-POSED (#12-15 and the special); and HOUSE OF M: NEW X-MEN 16-19 & Secrets of the House of M -- darker than the writers were allowed to be in the other issues). While the earlier stories focused on the New Mutants team, their rivals had a four-issue mini-series reprinted in NEW X-MEN: HELLIONS.

I recommend reading the earlier volumes to really get to know the characters.

amazingggg!.......2007-02-20

In response to the other reviews- yeah, this is more violent and darker than some other comics, but WHO CARES? The fact that people are affected by the death of certain characters shows how incredible the writers were in making the characters connectable and meaningful! It's sad, but beautiful and even neccesary for the poignancy of the plot. I can't wait for the next one!

what is marvel thinking?.......2007-01-06

i have been incredibly disappointed in the new series of new x-men: academy x, and this book is even worse than the first one. my main problem w/ this book is how incredibly (and fairly unnecessarily) violent it is. how in the world did it get by w/ a T+ rating? it's as graphically violent as an R rated movie. and i'm also disappointed w/ the number of characters who are getting killed off. what was the point of having these characters in 50+ books if you're just going to get rid of them all? wasn't it enough to have them depowered? it really makes you wonder what their strategy is for keeping their fans interested in the series. also, the whole stryker thing has already been done at least twice now (and last time less than three years ago in x-treme x-men), and the religious zealots thing has been overdone as well. and killing characters off is such an incredibly cheap way of trying to get readers, which i hate, and which marvel already does too much of. of runaways, new x-men, and young avengers, runaways is great b/c it has great writing and great characters; young avengers is good b/c it has great action and cool characters; and new x-men is waaaaay in the back b/c it has mediocre action and mediocre characters since they keep killing off all the good ones. at least mercury's still alive. here's hoping that marvel gets it together, although i don't see how this series is going to recover its momentum w/ such a tiny number of the original characters remaining. i was a big fan of the writers' work on x-men evolution, but i'm going to be avoiding them from now on.

Good...but...........2006-08-16

Why are they killing off almost every major character from the entire series of New Mutants to Academy X? Also, why are the new X-Men comprised mainly of Hellions? Although, yes, the artwork is amazing, the story is positively gripping, why the heck is everyone dying? Nothing like this ever happened to the original X-Men, so why are the writers having such a grim hey-day with the New X-Men? Look, call me a hyprocrite, but you must buy this because it is exceptionl, BUT be forewarned it is one of the most grim, violent TPBs I've ever read...and is so cool.

Average customer rating:

good story
Great Character Moments and Conflict

New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 4
Craig Kyle , and Christopher Yost
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

X-Men | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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Marvel | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 3
New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 2
New X-Men: Childhood's End, Vol. 1
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X-Men Vol. 1: Supernovas

ASIN: 0785122389

Book Description

X-23's past returns to haunt the New X-Men. Sure, the team needs a break after the horror and insanity of the last year, but too bad! When Wolverine brought X-23 back into the Institute, only Emma Frost tried to stop it. Here and now, you'll find out why she was right! The fallout from X-23: Target X begins here! Collects New X-Men #33-36.

Customer Reviews:

good story.......2007-09-18

this is a good story that ties into (or is rather, a sequel to) x23: target x (which was also a good story. some of the plot is a little iffy, but in this story we learn that even a hardcore living weapon like x23 can have a crush, much liek wolverine, although her luck seems to be better than his, his crushes usually die. its not too late for hellion to die though! LOL.

the artwork is pretty good too, i'm not too into the whole 'i like this character because she's drawn hot!" thing, because unlike my peers, i've BEEN with several women in my life :) but yeah, x23, kimura and even mercury are pretty curvy drawings if i do say so myself! BOOSH!

Great Character Moments and Conflict.......2007-08-01

This volume which seems to be a straightforward rollercoaster ride of the team colliding with the Facility has some excellent character moments. Julian Keller officially graduates from arrogant fratboy to morally upstanding hero by acting as X-23's conscience. Another great moment is when Cyclops finally recognizes the great things this young team has accomplished. Buy this volume and you will not be disappointed. If you are new you should really start at Childhood's End vol1. There is quite a bit of violence, but it is all important to the plot and the character development as X-23 is on a pinocchio's journey from assasin clone to human being.

Average customer rating:

Childhood's End
Authur C. Clarke
Manufacturer: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Childhood's End
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ASIN: B000B7I5NG

Too Many Mothers: A Memoir of an East End Childhood

Average customer rating:

Too Many Mothers: A Memoir of an East End Childhood
Roberta Taylor
Manufacturer: Atlantic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Didn't Like It
Glad It's Available
Interesting subject - boring author.
Great Insight
A son's tribute to his dad, a moving biography

Me and the Dead End Kid
Leo, Jr. Gorcey
Manufacturer: Leo Gorcey Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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From Broadway to the Bowery: A History and Filmography of the Dead End Kids, Little Tough Guys, East Side Kids and Bowery Boys Films, with Cast Biographies
Lou's on First: The Tragic Life of Hollywood's Greatest Clown Warmly Recounted by his Youngest Child
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Dead End
East Side Kids Double Feature: Ghosts on the Loose & Spooks Run Wild

ASIN: 1929753152

Book Description

Leo Gorcey, The Hollywood Legend - Leo Gorcey, Jr., His Happy Ending: The son of a Hollywood legend takes you on a humorous and heartfelt journey of survival, strength, forgiveness, and hope.

Customer Reviews:

Didn't Like It.......2007-04-23

I couldn't finish this book and returned it to the library. Fortunately I did not purchase it. I was excited to read it, but after the first few chapters I quit. I read LOTS of bios, but this one I couldn't get into. His style of writing I think it was. He wrote mostly from the first person and in the speech manner which Leo Gorcey used in his films, but this made it difficult. I would have much preferred a straight forward biography and the authors personal thoughts tossed in. It just wasn't the kind of book I like.

Glad It's Available.......2007-04-11

Leo Gorcey is best known for his stint in B-movies, a tough guy and comic actor. He started out with the Dead End Kids, moved onto the East Side Kids, and graduated to the Bowrey Boys. There is very little information available about the man other than his penchant for women and his rough demeanor. Gorcey's son attempts to shed some light on the man who was vastly different in his real life than his on-screen persona. He also goes on a personal journey of forgiveness to an abusive father.

In the early days, Gorcey wanted to be a plumber but stumbled upon acting accidentally. His authenticity helped him and soon he was getting rave reviews although he rarely stuck to his scripts. As he aged, he became further dependend on alcohol and tempestuous women. His selfishness led him to ignore his family, many times more interested in his gun collection than the people around him.

This is certainly not the definitive biography, but it does shed some light into the personality of the star. It also helps to know that the stars were not necessarily what they appeared to be on screen, just as Gorcey was not.

Interesting subject - boring author........2007-01-10

This is an interesting story of a colorful but very troubled actor. Unfortunately, the son and author has incurred a similar set of demons. After reading the book, I felt I had a lot of knowledge of Leo's bad behaviour, but didn't come away with much respect for the lingering attitudes of the son. Maybe not his fault, but he just doesn't come across as a sympathetic character.

Great Insight.......2005-10-22

This book is a wonderful gem, well written, from the heart of Leo Gorcey, Jr. Absorbing, serious, funny, heart wrenching, a REAL story.

A son's tribute to his dad, a moving biography.......2005-03-05

Well, the way I figure it, Leo Gorcey felt that he earned so much fan adoration, became one of Hollywood's biggest money makers, and wielded power in the movie board rooms because his character - Spit/Muggs/Slip - was loud-mouthed, smart-alecy, bullying, hat-pounding, overbearing, and childish. It certainly wasn't because he had talent; he never wanted to be an actor, never liked the movie business. (At least that's what he claimed. I think he secretly did enjoy it, otherwise why would he do it so well for so many films until his father's death made it impossible to work any more.) Therefore, to earn the love of the women in his life, and his children, he just had to turn it up several notches to become a drunken, gun wielding, abusive, screaming husband and father. Then everybody would love him. At least that's what I garnered out of the terrific biography of Gorcey by his son, Leo, Jr.. This is the story of an actor's rise from a plumber's helper to the star and centerpiece of one of the most successful movie series of all time: The Bowery Boys, nee the Dead End/Eastside Kids. The realism captured here is overwhelming. The son puts us in the world of the dad and it is if we are there for the meetings, the confrontations, shooting on the set, the explosive family occasions, many of which happened before the author was even born. The feelings he generates and the language he so perfectly captures makes the scene come alive before our eyes. Yes, Leo, Sr., is quoted in his Lower East Side accent throughout the book, both in character and out, which leads me to think, because of this consistency, that maybe that's the way he talked in real life. In these scenes we feel the star's wonderment at his fast rising success and grasp of power, his love and pledged support to his parents, his destruction at his father's unexpected death. But, this is more than a story of an actor out of control; it is as well the attempt of a son to reconcile his love for his father with the constant abusive attention he received. The book moves along quickly to a soul-searching letter from son to now-deceased father that Leo, Jr. shares with us. A sequel is promised in the book; what more he could write about I can't imagine, but I am waiting its publication. (Upon checking with Leo, Jr., I am told that plans for the sequel have been put on hold while their energies are earmarked for making a movie of the first book. Who will play Leo? How about the kid from Malcolm in the Middle?) I will remember this book for a long time and look at the next Bowery Boy film I happen to see with increased respect.

THE ROAD TO NAB END: AN EXTRAORDINARY NORTHERN CHILDHOOD.

Average customer rating:

THE ROAD TO NAB END: AN EXTRAORDINARY NORTHERN CHILDHOOD.

Manufacturer: Ted Smart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0316861006

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