The Unofficial Squidoo Book Club

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Book Lover's Club

Consider this lens to be Squidoo's Unofficial Book Club located in a beautiful mansion that is rumoured to be haunted.

Inside, besides the occassional ghost you might come across, you will find many rooms where you can go and see what books the librarians are suggesting as good reading material.

You may even recommend some yourself.

Neat, eh? Well, I think so anyway.

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The Mansion

type=textFirst - I must warn you that the mansion is haunted and every now and again a ghost shows up. DO NOT WORRY... it will not harm you. The ghosts reside here because they are book lovers just like you ... kindred spirits so to speak.

Oh and one more thing - this mansion was opened to the public on December 17,2011 and some areas are not completely accessible. The staff here are working very hard and you will see changes almost every day.

Within the mansion, there are many rooms. In each, there is a librarian who will assist you in finding something worthwhile to read. You can visit the Dungeon, the Mystery Room, the Adventure Room, the Kitchen and many others.

In the Reception Room, guests can use the Recommendation Board where you can post what you think should be considered by visitors to that room. Of course, there will also be a Review Committee and a Rating Board.

Isn't that The Cat's Meow? And better yet, it's FREE to join - No Membership Fees EVER !!!

This is better than Cheese Whiz on Toast ....

The Books Within

The books within this mansion are of high calibre. They are rated at least 4 stars out of 5. There is no junk here.

There is only one exception perhaps, and that is on the Recommedation Board where our guests may recommend books. They are encouraged to discuss only quality reading material but every once in a while, we find a guest may have had too much to drink. However, we have security guards watching all the time.

Secret Passageways and Forgotten Tunnels

type=textThrough out the mansion, lies many secrets. Treasures in fact!

For those guest who leave comments in the Guest Book, secert passageways and tunnels will be shown to you. There you will find treasures that we don't show to just anybody - only to those guest who are kind enough to leave us comments.

That's right, the more interactive you are here in the mansion, the better things get for you.

The Rooms in The Mansion

Now don't be going around wandering all by yourself. Just follow your guide, Wong Lee as some of the room are off-limits.

You are welcome to view a good portion of this estate. Here are the rooms that are currently open to the public (that's you, in case you weren't sure):
  1. The Kitchen
  2. The History Room
  3. The Mystery Loft
  4. The Dungeon
  5. The Explorers' Lounge
  6. Scrooge's Corner
  7. The Workshop
  8. The Planetarium
  9. The Observatory
  10. The Basement
  11. The Chapel
  12. The Great Hall
  13. The Bathroom
  14. The Lookout Tower

Scrooge's Corner

type=textYes, Scrooge has his own room here and when you drop in, he will share his knowledge with you. He'll put you on the "fast track" to cheap .... yes CHEAP reading material. Good stuff it is too. Now, keep in mind that Scrooge is a very busy person and prices may have changed without his knowledge, but if he tells you it is cheap ... he meant it when he last looked.

Scrooge figures you should never pay more than 99 cents for anything ... and it is so much better when it's FREE.

He has his own module below where he shows you where to get the "goodies".

The Mystery Loft

type=textMystery and Crime reside in this room. If you dig through all the body parts, you might find a few good books. We did.

It also looks like one of our guests was in jail at one time. Seems he left his diary behind. "Prisoner #12973 Thoughts and Reflections from Prison" by George Martorano. It has a Smashwords stamp on the back cover so I think it must have come from there.

The Kitchen

type=textThis is one of the more peaceful rooms. It is a place where you should find things related to cooking, baking and fine dining. Just check in once in awhile to see what Mabel has cooking on the stove just for you.

The Dungeon

type=textIn the Dungeon lurks things of a sinister nature. You will encounter unexpected horrors - things that may give you nightmares long after you leave our mansion.

It has been said that the Ghosts of Edgar All Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker and others have been seen in various parts of the mansion. Will you be lucky enough to spot th

Look at what the spies have found .... a Smashword story called "The Crows" .... SCAREY !!!
(see the link in the Spy Report below)

The Basement

type=textYou have to be careful in here. There's a lot of stuff in here which we were not able to put in a specific room. Some of it is even unpacked - that is to say, we really do not know what the contents are but we expect that it deserves to be here in the mansion.

By the way, this is the place where the Ghosts are seen most often.

Looking around quickly we can see a box from Smashwords.com that contains:

"The Tree that Walked" by Alan Grainger
"Taking Care of Old Bert" by Eric T. Reynolds
"Crusader of Corrisville" by Brian Crossa

The Chapel

type=textThis area is set aside for books that deal with Religion, Philosophy, and Self-Improvement.

The first book you will notice coming into this room is "Silent Cries" by Jason Richardson. The book cover says:

We don't always get second chances, but for Jasper Alexander it would be the difference between moving on and being stuck in the world of spirits for eternity. Having led a life of alcoholism and abuse, Jasper has been chosen from among a host of others to join the Guardians. His assignment, befriend a physically abused, mentally challenged girl of eight.

Looks like it might be a good read for 99 cents. Funny, Scrooge hasn't mentioned it.

The Planetarium

type=textThis area is of course dedicated to the mysteries of the universe. But, besides, Astronomy, you are likely to find books on Astrology and even books that deal with mysteries here on Planet Earth. Mysteries such as how the Pyramids were build, UFOs, Crop Circles, Sasquatch, etc. We aren't really sure until we shake the dust off the shelves to see what's on them.

Scrooge found a Free and Interesting read about daeth and dying - " Preparing for Death: The Science of Dying"
(see his links below where you can get it free)

The History Room

type=textLots of dust here in this room. I'll have to have a talk with the cleaning lady but I have noticed a few gems here.

There's "A Night of Horrors". It's a thriller about the 24 hours leading up to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. This tightly plotted novel captures the single day when John Booth and his conspirators plot to kill President, VP, and Secretary of State; the Cabinet plans a post-war US; and the Lincolns dream about their future. It builds to the simultaneous and brutal attacks that left lives shattered and a nation paralyzed.
Book price is $2.99.

4.5 Stars - a very enjoyable read - well written. I usually plod my way through most books but this one kept my interest the whole way.

Another book, from Smashwords, for just 99 cents is highly rated.at 4.57 from 14 reviewers. It is "Quatrain" and is is a suspense mystery novel centered around the 1557 prophecies of Nostradamus. The author is John Medler

The Bathroom

type=textHere in the Bathroom, you will find short stories and small novels only. No novels like "War and Peace" - after all, somebody might need to have a whiz !!!

We had a quick look in here and we saw, scattered all around:

"Ziggy Two Step:Courier Extraordinaire" by Mark Goodwin
"From the Bone" by June O'Brien
'The Deep and Dark Woods Behind Us' by Bernard Fancher

The Lookout Tower

type=textSituated in the back of our mansion is the Lookout Tower. It's in the back so that it isn't conspicious - it's really a Spy Station.

Inside is all kinds of surveillance equipment - wire tapping, computers to hack into other computers, and everything else we need to keep an eye on Internet sites that have good books to read. We identify them here and pass the information on to our guest - discreetly of course.

We keep an eye on such places as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, LibraryThings, Smashwords and a dozen or so others. Nobody can avoid our scrutiny. Sometimes, they will change their prices on us. They are mean like that but our spies try to do what they can.

If you want to know what our spies have uncovered, just check out the module entitled "Spy Report" below.

Bookmark this site ...

type=textBecause it will be frequently changing.

There will be new books placed in many of the rooms and our spies are constantly finding new material which they will be passing on to you.

How many books in 2012?

Not counting short stories, let's see how much the average person reads in a year.

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Scrooge's Goodies - Great Reads at a Great Price !!!

He might be a scrooge but he's a nice guy just the same.

Here are his recommendations for Great Reading at a Great Price. Nothing over 99 cents - ya gotta like that.
Wreck of the Marie Jenny
This is a tale of gold, sailing, and revenge. Captain Jack Talbot takes a secret shipment of gold onto his schooner,the Marie Jenny. Unfortunately, someone else knew the secret too. Pirates, gold and guns, it's high adventure in the 1870's on Lake Superior.

99 Cents
Castle in the Clouds
One of Scrooge's Favourites - he doesn't stop talking about this one !!!

It is early twentieth century, and Thomas Llewellyn is a prominent City banker who purchases a castle close to the north east coast of England. The aim of his acquisition is to accommodate and entertain his wealthy clients, but a shipwreck he witnesses is about to change his life forever. Llewellyn's dream existence is about to become a nightmare.

99 Cents
At Harper's Ferry
This one is on Scrooge's "to read" list.

Jack Blackwood is a widower and a drunk. Ezra Miller is an ex-slave in a white man's world. Together, they run a detective agency in Washington DC. As the Civil War looms, they are given their hardest case. A retired congressman asks them to find his missing son and the Union plans that could change the very course of the war.

99 Cents
The Death House
Another on Scrooge's "to read" list.

In the early days of rail, a shack was built on railway property to house the bodies of those killed on or near the rail. It became known as the Death House. this collection of short stories features mysteries all connected to the death house in some eerie and evil way.

99 Cents
The Gunpowder, Torture and Sorrow
It's the night before his execution, and lying tortured and distraught in a cell in the Tower of London, Guy Fawkes despairs. This short story explains the final thoughts, memories, pains, beliefs and love of the man at the centre of the legendary gunpowder, treason and plot.

And it's FREE
The Secret Life of Gonner Andling
A traveling artist happens upon an old hermit with an incredible secret.

Another FREE one.
Joe' Ghosts
The lives of Joe, Claire, Scott, and Buster are intertwined as they search the secrets in Joe's inherited home. Joe's Ghost is the story of hope and forgiveness as these folks come to grips with where their lives are heading and how to deal with changes they didn't choose.

99 Cents
Jesus The Extraterrestrial - Origins
What is the true origin of Jesus? Who is the real Jesus Christ? Who is the real Satan? What is the true origin of mankind? These and many other questions will be answered in this novel which is based on historical documents.

FREE
Bobby A Troutt
7 FREE Stories from a Smashwords author.
1984 (Download Site)
A site to download the novel 1984 by George Orwell.

FREE
Preparing for Death: The Science of Dying
Death is the topic that no one wants to talk about. Yet every body dies, and we all know without a doubt that our body will surely die. Are we ready for death? Do we understand what will happen when our body dies? "Preparing for Death" provides us with the solutions for dealing with our inevitable death and the death of our loved ones. It succinctly delivers the modern research along with the ancient science of dying. These reveal the facts regarding our identity and the reasons for life and death. The mysteries of death are further unraveled as we discover where we go after death - and we gain the essential wisdom to be able to navigate the journey.

Free
A Kentucky Cuckoo's Egg: The Clay-Randolph Duel of 1826
A Kentucky Cuckoo's Egg is a 2500 word history short about the duel between Secretary of State Henry Clay and Senator John Randolph in 1826. It also delves into the history of dueling generally and specifically in Virginia. Who died, who lived, and who showed up to duel in a white bathrobe? Find out by downloading now! (www.katecooch.com)

FREE
THE GREAT AMHERST MYSTERY
THE GREAT AMHERST MYSTERY

FREE
Hillbilly Hell (A Jacob Smith Short Story)
It's 1866, and the Civil War has just ended. Reconstruction has begun. But, there are still those who wish to obstruct the reformation of the United States. Enter Jacob Smith, an ex-cavalry soldier turned Knight Templar from Kansas, who fought for the North in some of the bloodiest skirmishes of the war. His mission? To recover a book of incomparable evil that was stolen by the Confederates just months before the end of the war.
Hot on the Trail
Cougars and snakes and...smugglers? Oh my! For Hal Davis the walk from Mexico to Canada along the PCT was meant to be a relaxing journey of self discovery. What he got, however, was a tag-along rookie hiker from Indiana named Terra, a jilted ex-hiking companion, large carnivores, and armed smugglers. For Hal and Terra, getting to Canada will have more obstacles than they could have ever imagined.
Black Sheep and Gold Diggers
The personal stories of two men who were transported to Australia as convicts. Both were pardoned for very different reasons. The two never met but some of their many children did, and the two families became linked. The book spans the years from 1830 to 1902 and follows them through their convict years, the settlement of Port Philip, the beginnings of Melbourne,the gold rush,and other events.

The Most Popular Rooms of the Mansion

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The Recommendation Board

Don't Cry If You Don't Try
Well wouldn't you know it. The owner of this lovely mansion put the first recommendation on the board.

It's an inspirational book and not meant to chastise you. On the contrary! It is meant to inspire you to do the things you have always dreamt of doing. I tell you of my personal experiences and how I have become a happier individual by following my inner voice.

And best of all - it's FREE.
Free Kindle Civil War Books
Don't thank me ... thank the lensmaster who wrote this. What a great resouce for anybody that likes history (like me).

The Spy Report

Find out what great things our agents have uncovered.
Grave Situation (uncovered from Amazon)
Yep ... Amazon is selling this one for 99 cents. It's a detective story that takes place in the Master's home town - Halifax, Nova Scotia. We might even recommend this as the book to read in our reading group ... once we establish one.
The Girl in the Italian Bakery
Our agent were keeping an eye on the bakery because of the lovely lady that works there. This one is a Freebie from Amazon !!!
The Groundhog: A Short Story
Agent Seymour just cracked the code on this one. It's at Smashwords and it's FREE !!!
Moonfish (where the spies hang out)
Moonfish is the Fan Page of Mark Goodwin who owns this mansion. This is often where you will hear the latest exploits of the Mansion Spies.
Tony Hageman
Agent Snodgrass stumbled on a transmission out of Smashwords that concerns a prolific author of more than 7 mystery novels. We known nothing about him but we are going to keep our eyes on him.
THE HOWLS OF WOLF CREEK (Legends, Tales and Other Stories)
Agent Harper overheard this discussion of Wolf Creek:

Wolf Creek is a quiet, scenic town in southern Oregon about one hundred miles north of the California border. It's nestled amidst forested mountains with about six hundred people living in a five mile radius.

It began as a stagecoach stop on the stretch between Sacramento and Portland. Then placer gold was found which attracted miners and Chinese migrant laborers. Later, the many giant trees provided jobs for workers of the timber industry. Hippies and counter-cultural folks began arriving in the seventies.

The author lived for twenty-five years in Wolf Creek, serving as its civic association president, mail carrier, county park caretaker, pre-school teacher and newspaper correspondent. These stories are the legends and folktales he gathered from various sources including his own eyewitness.

Harper thinks we might have a 4 Star read here.
Bobby A. Troutt
Another Smashwords author our spies are watching.
The Crows
In the middle of the forest, a man shoots down a crow as it flies by, for no other reason than to simply see it die. As he makes his way back to his hunting cabin, he finds himself watched by other crows. Ones who are not so easily frightened off by his loud noises and threats. Now, trapped in his cabin, he begins to fear what the true purpose is behind the presence of the crows.

FREE

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FAQs

  1. Question: How often will this lens be updated?
    Answer: Almost every day until Jan 1, 2012 and then it should be every week. That's why it is important to bookmark us.
  2. Question: If I see a book I am interested in, how do I go about getting it?
    Answer: Most of the time you will find the book in a link or if not, there will be a clue where the book is described. For example, it was in a box labelled Smashwords or perhaps it had an Amazon sticker on its cover. Then you just go to Smashwords, Amazon or wherever and do a search for the book. You should be able to find it. If you can't - contact us for help.
  3. Question: How can I ever repay you for such a great site?
    Answer: Next time you are in Halifax, Nova Scotia, you can take me to lunch. Another way, send me coupons for beer. Oh wait, there is a 3rd way - if you feel the books you found here saved you a few dollars, why not give a small donation to some organization that helps animals in need.
  4. Question: I am an author. Will you help me by promoting my writings here?
    Answer: Perhaps. Tell you want ... you send me a FREE copy of your book and if I get a chance (as I am a very busy person) I will read it and if I think my readers would be interested, I would then promote.

Our Ghosts

Staff

3 Comment Areas

type=textBelow this module are 3 comment areas. Please pick the one or the ones which appeal to you.

Thank you for visiting my lens. I hope you have found something here to add to your personal bookshelf.

Scrooge's Reading Corner (Short Stories)

Here we will find people who like what is on Scrooge's reading list. They are Free books and easy to find on the Internet.

Tell us what caught your eye and if you will be reading it. After you read it, why not rate it and give it a short review?

Here is his current reading list:
The Picture of Dorian Gray (Public Domain)
The Judge's House (Public Domain)
Taking Care of Old Burt (free at Smashwords)
Hurricane (free at Smashwords)
Silent Cries (free at Smashwords)
The Gunpowder, Torture and Sorrow (free at Smashwords)
The Secret Life of Gonner Andling *(free at Smashwords)

  • charlb May 24, 2012 @ 4:52 am | delete
    I would love to get lost in the rooms of this mansion. Very smart way of designing a lens, very much impressed. Will be back!
  • AnthonyAltorenna Mar 26, 2012 @ 10:41 pm | delete
    Very clever! LensMasters can check in any time we like, but can we ever leave?
  • JaguarJulie Jan 31, 2012 @ 5:01 pm | delete
    Hello? Is anybody there? Please send help ... I am stuck in the dungeon.
  • Zut_Moon Jan 31, 2012 @ 5:19 pm | delete
    Nah ... it's a good place for you .. LOL
  • Bookworm25 Jan 24, 2012 @ 6:17 pm | delete
    Thank you for including my lenses, i have added them and hopefully you approve. i love this page and will be back often! :)
  • vbright105 Jan 22, 2012 @ 6:26 am | delete
    How clever! Enjoyed this lens thoroughly! Blessed by an angel
  • GayleMcLaughlin Jan 21, 2012 @ 7:48 pm | delete
    Absolutely wonderful article--thanks for the picture! Squid Angel blessed!
  • NAIZA Jan 20, 2012 @ 9:46 am | delete
    Very nice idea! That just motivates me to read more books this year as much as I can. :)
  • happynutritionist Jan 16, 2012 @ 8:35 pm | delete
    I'm always on the lookout for free books to read on Kindle or Overdrive, an there seems to be plenty of them:-) Thanks for many more ideas.
  • TopMovieOST Jan 11, 2012 @ 2:42 am | delete
    Interesting lens!
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The Best Books Ever !!!

We all have our favourites. One of mine is Robinson Crusoe.

Why not tell us a few of yours?

  • ChrissLJ Feb 20, 2012 @ 11:54 pm | delete
    The book I reread at least 6 times per year... The Wedding by Julie Garwood. While one might think from the title that it's a typical romance novel, it's not. It's about a young English woman who must find her own way in the Scottish highlands after being forced to marry a stranger.
  • KathyMcGraw Jan 25, 2012 @ 12:44 pm | delete
    Pretty clever :) One of my favorite books is When the Rabbit Howls, I've read it several times and each time get something else from it.
  • Bookworm25 Jan 24, 2012 @ 6:18 pm | delete
    My favourite is The Picture of Dorian Gray which i have a whole page on. one of the best books, amazing writing, dark subjet matter and it is an incredible book that i have read several times!
  • bossypants Jan 22, 2012 @ 12:24 pm | delete
    How to choose? Today, I would say the "Griffin and Sabine" series by Nick Bantock, because I'm feeling playful and I love the clever interaction of those books.

    This lens is a delight! I plan to come back to the mansion again.
  • LittleTwoTwo Jan 22, 2012 @ 2:41 am | delete
    One of my favourite books is a old book from the 1950s I believe, called Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft, Thor Heyerdahl. I have a super old beat up copy that I have loving read the pulp right outta.
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Check out My Books at Good Reads ...

my read shelf:
Moonfish's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

Suggestions and Comments

  • FantasticVoyages Mar 30, 2012 @ 10:34 am | delete
    This is such an amazing website. I like the haunted house, and the description of all the rooms! I will definitely bookmark, and keep coming back. Thanks for all of your hard work!
  • vallain Mar 18, 2012 @ 8:55 am | delete
    Many thanks for the free Kindle sources in your Other Great Book Resources. I'm getting a great stock of free titles on my Kindle. Won't run out of reading for a year, I imagine.
  • Evelyn_Saenz Mar 18, 2012 @ 8:30 am | delete
    I love reading all over the house. We have books in the kitchen, bathroom and parlor here at my house but books in the dungeon tend to mold and mildew. We might even have a few books in the attic for the bats in the belfry. Great lens! I love your writing style. :)
  • Winter52 Feb 19, 2012 @ 11:42 am | delete
    As soon as you mentioned a haunted house, I was hooked ;)
  • Li-Li-ThePinkBookworm Jan 29, 2012 @ 3:35 pm | delete
    Fantastic lens idea. I never would have thought that you could make a lens so interactive and fun. Keep up the amazing work!

    Li Li
  • Bookworm25 Jan 24, 2012 @ 6:19 pm | delete
    Love this page! Will be back often, anything to do with books is a winner for me :)
  • flinnie Jan 15, 2012 @ 11:22 am | delete
    Great lens .I love this book club.I will be back again.
  • StrongMay Jan 11, 2012 @ 1:42 am | delete
    Loved this lense!!!!!
  • StrongMay Jan 11, 2012 @ 1:42 am | delete
    Let me see... you'd find me reading up your mystery loft, then I'd search for Adventure Ally and Animal Corner, oh, and three visits a day to the kitchen, and maybe I'd visit Scrooge to see if he can find me some really funny reading. Then, once I finish everything but the kitchen, I'd go be facinated by the planetarium. I'd check out the recomendation board and 'new' often, recommend a 'book of the hour', and get the whole castle done within a year....
  • JziE Jan 8, 2012 @ 9:44 pm | delete
    love this lens. quite creative
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My Lenses

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Reading List 2012

The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Valet of Darkshire Manor
Void Moon - Quest - Dourado
A Night in the Snow - Asylum
The Killing of Traiman Brown
Taking are of Old Burt
High Road to Tibet - Alcatraz
Uncle Flynn - The Devil\s Club
The Prisoner in the 3rd Cell
Three Thousands Miles with a Dogsled

by

Zut_Moon

I came to Squidoo in November, 2008. I started with jokes, funny stories and quizzes. Since then I have also gone on to helping others with psychology... more »

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