I approached this book with enthusiasm, only to fall at the first chapter. Uninspired writing and clumsy dialogue lead to a very unsatisfying read. In truth, I had to put the book down on several occasions, however I did persevere to the end. Unfortunately this book gave me the Warm Salad Blues.
Only one star for effort.

Gloria Lynne was astoundingly forthcoming about her trials, personal and professional, which I appreciated. Too often memoirs are vague and less than honest. In I Wish You Love, Miss Lynne gives readers an honest accounting of the record business and the difficulties she faced in the industry. And among all of the hard subjects she tackled, this book is full of humorous anecdotes that add to its appeal. I highly recommend it. It was a truly enjoyable and insightful read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was just great. I'm telling everybody I know. If you're a Gloria Lynne fan, a jazz fan, a music lover or just a lover of good books--this one's for you. Pick it up!

I did my book review on The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks. This story was very interesting and exciting. The characters in this book are Omi a ten year old boy, who is turning 11 very soon. Patrick Omi's friend is a kind person who likes to get into things and try things that are very dangerous. Patrick wants to take the Indian that is turned to reality by putting himself in a cupboard then turning the key to school with his other cowboy friend. The last main character in this book is the Indian named ,Little Bear. He is a frisky little fellow and wants his way all the time. He shows this by wanting food that a Indian used to have back in the historical days, a real fire and a loghouse that he can fit in. The genre of this book is fiction because this could never happen in real life to a real person. This book takes place in the present . It was located in Omi's house in the summertime. The book starts on Omi's tenth birthday when he gets a cupboard from his sister Gillion. Then Omi brings the cupboard to his room with a key that fits the keyhole. He puts the key in the cupboard and when he opens it out comes a real living Indian from the ancient times. After he knows the power of the cupboard, he brings other figures alive like a cowboy. Omi and his friend Patrick, who finds out later about the cupboard, and go on adventures with the toys. For instance, when they go to their school and bring the figures with them. Towards the end of the book, Omi and the Indian say goodbye to each other, and they become blood brothers. Overall I give this book four stars because of the detail given to the main character Omi and the Indian. I suggest you read this book!

Mrs. Bedwell read this book out loud to my third grade class, and years later as I finish up grad school it still holds a special place in my heart.
The adventure begins when Omri discovers that a magical cupboard given to him on his birthday brings to life plastic toys. When he animates Little Bear, a plastic indian that lived about the time of the French Indian War, Omri's perspective on life changes.
What's special about this book is the how resectfully and seriously it takes the it's young characters and their conflicts. Omri and his friend Patrick discover that Little Bear is no toy, he is a real human being with actual life experiences. He has killed people, eats and sleeps, and remembers his own life and culture. As the two boys deal with the reality of keeping a real person concealed from others, they realize that they can't trifle with others' lives. It is this realization, and Omri's ultimate decision regarding Little Bear that make this a lovely coming of age story. Omri and Patrick learn to repect others and their beliefs.
Although Little Bear, the Native American toy brought to life is called an Indian, this book, I feel, is not chracterized by racism or stereotypes. Little Bear is not a western move redman, he's a real human being with a real human personality, and portrayed respectfully and realistically (as much as he can be, considering the plot).
This book is a definite must read for any kid, or kid at heart, who wonders what would happen if toys came to life.
"The Indian in the Cupboard" is one of four books, thought this one is the best. The final book, in which readers learn what makes the cuboard magical in the first place, detracts from the magic amd mystery of the first three books.

This book was amazing! I find many books that I liked but this one's in the top ten. Lynne Reid Banks must have a lot of imagination if she is able to create a full and exciting book with a boy and an action figure.
I remember that when I was growing up I always wanted to have my toys come alive. This story is terriffic and now that I have the sequel I can't wait to read it. I also plan on reading the other books. I got the list of this series and listed it below.

The Indian in the Cupboard

The Return of the Indian (the one I'm reading)

The Secret of the Indian

The Mystery of the Cupboard

The Key to the Indian.

I plan on reading all these books in order and enjoying them from cover to cover.

Following a police raid by the Vice Squad during her Christmas party in 1978, Cynthia Payne (Madam Cyn) was convicted of "running a disorderly house," and exercising control over prostitutes for gain. After serving 6 months, she was released. She served additional prison time after she was charged and convicted again in 1980. She was already quite a bit of a celebrity in England by then, and a book called "An English Madam" by Paul Bailey detailed Cynthia's brothel keeping career. It was ostensibly to celebrate the creation of the film "Personal Services"--based on Bailey's book--that Cynthia threw her infamous raided party in May 1986.

Cynthia claimed she was retired from the "biz" when in May 1986, the party at her home in London was raided. The case of Regina vs Payne was brought to trial, and during a short period in 1987, England was titillated by the salacious details of Cynthia's parties. "Sexplicitly Yours: The Trial of Cynthia Payne" is a detailed record of the court proceedings.

It seems that Cynthia's attitude towards parties--was--as everything else in her life--a little ununsual, for Cynthia hosted sex parties. Men, Cynthia knew from her past, were invited to parties at her home, and there they were entertained by stripteases (amongst other things) and introduced to various swingers and young working ladies. The prosecution's entire case rested on the issue of whether or not Cynthia controlled prostitutes and if she profited from these parties. (Was there or was there not an entrance fee? Did she receive a percentage of any money her female guests earned?)

The police conducted an undercover operation beginning in 1985--when PC (Police Constable) Stewart made contact with Cynthia. He was invited to attend her parties, and he subsequently attended a total of three. The last party he attended was the party raided in 1986. The prosecution's police witnesses detail the partygoers' various states of undress at the moment of the raid, the numerous compromising positions of guests, and the long queues of attendees waiting to utilize the bedroom facilities.

The defence, on the other hand, claimed that the only naughty partygoers were indeed the undercover policemen, and the court (and the reader) is regaled with stories of transvestite policemen, groping, and the naughtiness concerning the "French maid." The defence maintained that if Cynthia's home was subject to raid, then partygoers all over the country could be subject to the same treatment.

The trial is detailed in almost comical fashion by Gloria Walker and Lynn Daly--female reporters who found that covering the scandalous trial was "great fun." They took notes as each of the prostitutes testified, and recorded not only the testimony, but also Cynthia's charming responses (including her Luncheon Voucher Programme), and the public's reaction as they heard the testimony. Witnesses included an 85-year-old party goer, a PC from the Obscene Publications Branch, a retired police superintendent (a great fan of Cynthia's ), and former Monty Python member, Terry Jones. The book also includes some photographs of Cynthia and copies of cartoons which appeared in British newspapers during the trial. My only criticism of the book is that the reader needs to know a little bit about Cynthia's background in order to get the most from the book. I can also highly recommend the films "Personal Services" and "Wish You Were Here." "Personal Services" details Cynthia's adult life and her bordello which catered to the kinky rich. "Wish You Were Here" is an excellent film based on Cynthia's teenage years--displacedhuman.