Author Archives: admin

358I: Memories Passed on to Next Generation Through Experimental Drugs

Leave a reply

There’s a book I read years ago and I can only remember the plot but not the title. It took place during World War II. In the novel, doctors were testing experimental drugs on concentration camp prisoners. After the war some of the prisoners married and had children and the side effects of the drugs were passed along to the next generation. The side effects were that they had memories of everything that their parents had experienced during the war as if they were actually there.

358H: Cold War spy thriller set in Africa

1 Reply

As a child (sometimes in the 80’s or early 90’s) I read a book about a brilliant and charismatic Cold War era African leader who uses military cunning to successfully invade two of his neighboring countries (I believe Togo and Benin) .

The plot revolves around the leader setting the two countries against one another by having a mercenary frame one country for planting a bomb in the other. The leader than promises each country his support in a future war, but ends up invading and taking over both countries.

The book features an American or British white citizen visiting the country, befriending the African leader and falling in love with with a black tall singer. He joins the final battle in the book.

I also recall a minor scene where a pedophile communist spy was able to discover the plot by getting a government official drank, but he is killed prior to being able to share the info.

Another character is a British white secretary which works for the African leader and becomes his mistress.

I did extensive online research but could not find the book.

358G: Children’s Book with Elevator

1 Reply

I have been searching google all day with no luck even finding the right title to this book.
I would imagine it was published sometime between 1990 and 1998. I am almost 34 (born in 1987) and loved this book as a child.
This book was shaped like a sky scraper – not a usual rectangle! It was a hardcover and all the pages were also board book material. I don’t recall any words or an actual story — just illustrations.
A track ran through the center of the book with a small plastic square that was an elevator you could move up and down the length of the book. The illustrations inside were the many floors of the building carved up into various different shops and businesses. For hours I would pretend to ride the elevator around running errands in the book.
It’s driving me nuts knowing this book existed (my brother remembers it too) but not being able to find anything even remotely like it after hours of searching online. I now have a daughter who I know would enjoy it just as much if I could find a copy. Although honestly just knowing the title and being able to see pictures of it would suffice!

358E: All About the World War

1 Reply

I recall there was a book I read when I believe I was about 8 or 9 years old which I really enjoyed but forgot the name. It was about a World War (can’t remember if it was the first or second) and it was made in a way (cover, text) which was mainly for children/young adults but was also suitable for adults. I remember the cover of the book looking somewhat childish – a yellow cover or something?
Also, the author’s name was mentioned right before the book title which was something like, ‘All about the War’. So for example, if the author’s name was John Smith, it would be, ‘John Smith’s All About The War’ book, if that makes sense. I also believe the author was British/English.
There is also one page which I very clearly remember. There was an image of a man and a woman wearing military dress and the text next to it was written by the author and said, ‘this was my mother and father during the war (again, unsure which one the book was about) who served in the RAF.

358D: Comforting Son After Accident (Self Help Book)

1 Reply

Looking for the name of a self help book. The book begins with the author storytelling how his son had some sort of accident and how he comforted him and connected with his son by basically communicating something like “I know it hurts” not by “denying the pain” and also by keeping the kid’s mind busy and helping him focus on the present.

358B: Boy Loses the Smallest Nesting Doll

2 Replies

Looking for a children’s book about a boy who snuck and took a nesting doll. While he was sitting on the curb he dropped the smallest nesting doll in the storm drain. I believe he took the doll in a lunchbox? Maybe tried to go to show and tell? He had to tell his mom he lost the doll. My mom read it to me in the 80’s when I was little.

358A: Object Found in Attic Makes Inanimate Objects Come to Life

2 Replies

I hope you can help me figure this out. I don’t remember much except it involved several siblings who find an object in the attic of their relative (aunt, grandparent, unsure) that brings inanimate objects to life – one was a lion skin rug, I think. The object might have been an orb but honestly I could be confusing it with Eilonwy’s ball from The Black Cauldron.
I do remember one of the characters talking about being able to make a wish on a piebald horse if you didn’t remember that you could make a wish. Does this ring any bells? I hope you can help.