Ray's Reviews: MSU Trivia Book by Michael Emmerich "100 Things that Michigan State Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die"

Dedicated sports fans are going to love Michael Emmerich's new paperback book "100 Things That Michigan State Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" (Triumph Books, $14.95).

Focusing primarily on football and basketball, Emmerich's enthusiasm is clearly evident as he offers an amazing cornucopia of Spartan sports history.

It's presented in a smooth and entertaining manner, starting with an opening chapter on Magic Johnson and closing with insights from Duffy Daugherty.

In between, Emmerich glides through Spartan sports history, highlighting the successes of numerous coaches, stars, and heroes.

He deftly probes the past, emphasizing the winning sports teams and why they were successful, analyzing the facts, foibles, and attitudes of players and coaches.

The 336-page book features photos and is divided into 100 brief sections, varying in length, ranging from easily recognizable to somewhat obscure.

Historic, memorable events include the famous 1966 MSU-Notre Dame 10-10 "Game of the Century", earlier Rose Bowl appearances, basketball playoffs and championships.

Many football players are profiled, including Kirk Gibson, Bubba Smith, Sherman Lewis, Earl Morrall, Plaxico Burress, Brad Van Pelt, George Webster, Dan Coleman, Lorenzo White and Kirk Cousins.

Numerous basketball players receive recognition, especially Mateen Cleaves, Greg Kelser, "Jumpin'" Johnny Green, Steve Smith, Jay Vincent and Scott Skiles.

Other chapters explore team rivalries, with special focus given to games between MSU and University of Michigan as well as Ohio State University.

Details are offered on the history and careers of the college's football coaches, including Charlie Bachman, Biggie Munn, Darryl Rogers, Nick Saban, Bobby Williams, George Perles and of course Mark Dantonio.

Basketball coaches and their varying degrees of success are also showcased, with close-ups of the strategies and careers of Pete Newell, Jud Heathcote, Forddy Anderson, and Tom Izzo.  

There's also a quick look at the many different awards that the MAC/MSC/MSU teams have won over the years.

Emmerich is an MSU graduate who's spent 25 years in the sports publication business; he's gathered facts from a variety of sources, utilizing numerous books, newspaper articles and the internet.

Since the Michigan State Spartan football team won the Rose Bowl and the basketball team is having a great season, Emmerich may soon have to put out a new, revised edition!

Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop, 

has reviewed Michigan books and crime novels regularly since 1987.

Find this book and other MSU books, game programs,

ticket stubs and Spartan memorabilia

at the Curious Book Shop, an independent 

book shop in East Lansing, founded in 1969.

GO GREEN!

Curious Book Shop

307 East Grand River Avenue

East Lansing, Michigan

517.332.0112

A print version of this review was published by the Lansing State Journal on Sunday, January 26, 2014.

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Ray's Reviews: Sycamore Row by John Grisham

"Sycamore Row" by bestselling author John Grisham (Doubleday, $28.95) is another top-notch legal thriller by one of the masters of the genre.

It returns to the 1980's in Mississippi, three years after attorney Jack Brigance triumphed in "A Time to Kill", Grisham's first novel, which came out almost 25 years ago.

While it features some of the same characters, this is a totally different case, although there are references to the earlier murder trial.

The oppressive racial attitudes haven't changed much either. Brigance faces real challenges when he opens his mail one Monday morning and discovers a handwritten will and clear instructions from Seth Hubbard, who he has never met.

Hubbard, who was dying of lung cancer, hung himself the day before; he's willed 90% of his large estate to Lettie Lang, his housekeeper, who worked for him for three years.

This by itself would be a bit unusual, but since Hubbard was white and his maid is black, it's quite controversial.

In the racially tense, small fictional town of Clanton Mississippi, this behavior is unheard of; the reclusive Hubbard specifically left nothing to his two adult children or his grandchildren.

Hubbard left 5% to his church and another 5% to his long-lost brother; other family members are furious. Many assorted attorneys and relatives come out of the woodwork to join the chase and get part of the money.

With over $20 million at stake, Hubbard's family members are protesting the will's legality. Their attorney's are claiming that Hubbard was confused and out of his mind on pain killers when he wrote the updated will and instructions.

The attorneys dig deeply, trying to discover anything that will discredit the wealthy businessman or the housekeeper.

Reuben Atlee, the feisty judge who's handling the case, has his own legal opinions; Brigance gets help from other friendly associates, police officials and unexpected sources.

This is a well-written book, with smooth storytelling and many vivid plot twists and turns. The strong characterization makes Grisham's novel quite entertaining; the shocking conclusion is dramatic yet believable. It'll make a great movie.

Grisham's written over 30 books, including some for children; if you haven't read any in a while, this would be an excellent place to start.

Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop, 

has reviewed crime novels and noir thrillers regularly since 1987.

Find this book and other great titles

at the Curious Book Shop, an independent 

book shop in East Lansing, founded in 1969.

Curious Book Shop

307 East Grand River Avenue

East Lansing, Michigan

517.332.0112

This review was originally published by the Lansing State Journal on Sunday, January 19, 2014.

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Ray's Reviews: The Last Dead Girl by Harry Dolan

Harry Dolan will be discussing writing and signing copies of his books 

on Saturday, January 11th at 2 pm at Schuler's Books, Meridian Mall, Okemos

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"The Last Dead Girl" by Harry Dolan (Amy Einhorn/Putnam, $26.95) is a highly entertaining, exceptional crime novel. 

Scheduled for release on Thursday, it's a prequel to his two earlier compelling mysteries set in Ann Arbor - his acclaimed debut novel "Bad Things Happen" and its fast-paced sequel, "Very Bad Men."

In those books the main character, going under the name David Loogan, has gotten a job editing "Gray Space," a crime fiction magazine.

Dolan's new book is set in 1998, in the town of Rome, New York. Loogan is living and operating a small building inspection business using his real name of David Malone.

After viewing a sudden car accident, Malone comes to the driver's aid, helping beautiful Jana Fletcher, a young law student.

The chance encounter turns into a fast romance, but both lovers have their own dark secrets.

When Fletcher is murdered, Malone becomes a prime suspect; he decides to investigate and makes unnerving discoveries.

Fletcher was living in a run-down apartment with few possessions and had a nasty bruise on her face. Malone is also hiding the truth and is trying to figure out what to do about an unsettling, life-changing situation.

Detective Frank Moretti is working the case and doesn't want Malone's assistance - there are many other complications and more suspicious murders.

Dolan again has created a strong cast of likable and despicable characters and a clever killer with his own agenda.

The author deftly shifts viewpoints as the plot develops, with numerous surprises and deadly situations.

Dolan is one of America's best new crime writers; if you haven't discovered him, you're in for a real treat!

Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing's Curious Book Shop, 

has reviewed noir thrillers and crime novels since 1987.

Find this book and other great titles

at the Curious Book Shop, an independent 

book shop in East Lansing, founded in 1969.

Curious Book Shop

307 East Grand River Avenue

East Lansing, Michigan

517.332.0112

This review was originally published by the Lansing State Journal on Sunday, January 5, 2014.

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50% OFF! The Sale MUST Go On!

Happy New Year, Booklover!

In accordance with a proclamation with Ray...

We're staring 2014 on the right foot, by extending our store-wide CLEARANCE SALE!

From now until January 7th, almost everything is a staggering 50% off (and most of our prices are awful low to begin with), and anything that isn't 50% off is still 20% off.


GO GREEN!

ROSEBOWL MEMORABILIA is on display at Curious!
We have original programs, pins, newspapers and unusual Rosebowl mementos sure to please your favorite Spartan.


Let Curious help you keep your resolutions, this year.

Want to acquire an greater understanding of the world?
Read books! Visit our Current Events and History sections.

Want to save money? 
Our books offer affordable, reusable and renewable entertainment opportunities without the need for batteries, chargers or expiration dates.
(They're especially cheap right now!)

Want to get fit? 
Check out our Fitness and Nutrition sections!
(Or, carry around a bunch of books.)

Want to grown your own food?
We have what you need to get your hands dirty!

Want to make art?
Study the masters of painting, photography, sculpture and writing with our massive collection.

Want to get organized?
Peruse our fairly-organized self-help and home-organization sections.

Want to travel to exotic and magical lands?
We're your portal into Narnia, Middle Earth, Oz, Pern and Westeros!
Or, for a more earth-bound experience, stock up on fabulous travel guides and coffee-table photo collections.

No resolutions? 
No problem! Come down to the shop and putz around with the best of us (and the rest of us).

THANK YOU for continuing to support this independent bookshop in the heart of East Lansing. We'll celebrate our 45th birthday this fall. Hooray!

Here's wishing you a joy-filled, book-filled 2014.

Many thanks,
Ray, Audrey and the Curious Gang

To receive our monthly newsletter in your email inbox, please email us at curiousbooks@gmail.com

Find us on FACEBOOK for daily updates on cool new acquisitions, special sales, book news and more!

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Ray's Reviews: Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow

Here's a quick look at an unusual best-selling small volume that's going to make most Baby Boomers smile with fond memories of childhood.

Younger generations will likely grin, too -- particularly if they came from a family of readers, where doting relatives gave their growing children shiny new illustrated books.

"Everything I Need To Know I Learned From A Little Golden Book", by Diane Muldrow (Little Golden Books, $9.99), is a warm and humorous look at many of the important positive guidelines provided by the memorable children's books.

In the brief two-page introduction, Muldrow reminisces about the influence of Little Golden Books, Big Golden Books and Giant Golden Books.

She succinctly discusses many memorable images of childhood, including pride of ownership -- like printing your name on the area of the inside front cover that said "This Little Golden Book Belongs To: ______".

Muldrow, a longtime editorial director for the publication, is also a prolific author of children's books. She notes, "We at Golden Books think there's a good chance that many of us learned pretty much everything that really matters about life from what we read between those stylish gilt-bound cardboard covers. It's true!"

This colorful book is filled with many bright, almost glowing images from childhood classics such as The Poky Little Puppy, The Shy Little Kitten, Scruffy The Tugboat, The Saggy, Baggy Elephant, and Chicken Little.

Striking images abound, including great graphics by well-known illustrators such as Richard Scarry, Eloise Wilkin, Garth Williams, Gustav Tenggren, and Tibor Gergley.

This highly entertaining book contains drawings primarily from the 1940s through the 1950s, with some as late as 1963.

They are arranged by relevance, not chronologically, with short bold-faced captions relating to behavior accompanying the pictures.

In teeny tiny type at the bottom of most pages, astute readers will notice information regarding the book's title, author, illustrator and year of publication. Bifocals may be useful!

This is a delightful trip down memory lane that's ideal for those trying to escape the many depressing pressures of contemporary times.

Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing's Curious Book Shop, 

grew up with Little Golden Books and has reviewed books regularly since 1987.

Find this book and other great titles

at the Curious Book Shop, an independent 

book shop in East Lansing, founded in 1969.

Curious Book Shop

307 East Grand River Avenue

East Lansing, Michigan

517.332.0112

This review was originally published by the Lansing State Journal on Sunday, December 29, 2013.

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