Improving After The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess

I've just recently finished The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess. It was a very helpful read, and I can consistently beat family members and novice friends OTB. I would like to continue to improve, and I plan to join a club next year at school. Over the summer, I'd like to continue my study and OTB games with more capable friends, as well as online games here. I researched a bit on Google, and I came up with the following:

1. Play lots of chess
2. Everyone's Second Chess Book
3. Winning Chess Tactics
4. Logical Chess Move By Move
5. Pandolfini's Endgame Course
6. The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings

So now, I have a couple of questions:

1. Just starting out, is this a good base to become ready for club play?
2. Should I pick one opening for each color and stick with it, or just apply general principles?
3. How long should I spend on each book?

I haven't read books a lot, but:

3. As long as you understand the ideas represented. If it starts to take a lot of time and you still can't see any progress, the book probably is too hard to understand with your current tools. Remember to go back to basics from time to time, especially endgame theories can be quickly forgotten.

Those books you listed sound like they would be optimal for your level, stay away from titles like: "Mastering <insert opening> like <insert one of greatest masters here>"

My answers :

1. Sure, this is good enough ; I think you can even leave books #5 and #6 aside at the moment

2. Both are okay: do what you're most comfortable with. Trying many different openings is a good idea as a new player : you'll learn plenty of things. You can decide and stick to a couple of openings after, say, your first year in club

3. Till you don't enjoy it any more

Not in the least. All I meant by that question was if I can get by with principles alone before I study openings more in-depth or if I should commit to two openings to use generally, adapting slightly as necessary.

Another question: in the beginning stages, is playing correspondence chess fine for just learning the ropes until I get to be a bit better and can play at a club level, or should I try joining a club early? If not, when should I be considering joining a club?

Join a club immediately. IMO, nothing will improve your game faster.

Anyone have an opinion on The Amateurs Mind by Silman.  I just started reading it...

I don't know exactly what The Complete Idiots Guide to Chess exactly covers, but I would imagine that we are in a similar position. I read Predator at the Chessboard (a tactics book). Last fall I joined the local chess club. It really helps to have a group of people that enjoy chess to talk and play with. It will also help you to gage your skill. Players will help you identify your weaknesses and help you improve. Now I am reading Logical Chess Move by Move and Silman's Complete Endgame course. Both of these books are suitable for my ability. I would assume Pandolfini's book is similar to Silman's.

2) I know some of the Ruy Lopez and Giucco Piano. As long as you understand opening principles, you will not need any specific lines to get you into the middlegame. I would not worry about this until you have improved other parts of your game. When you read Logical Chess, Chernev does an excellent job of explaining which opening moves are good and which are bad and why.

3) I would read your tactics book entirely. Then I would read Logical Chess entirely. When you find yourself making less mistakes, and games reach the endgame without a major advantage for one side, then Endgame Theory will apply.