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mikey69's rating:
Added Mar 17, 2024
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- Whether pursuing an annual vegetable garden, or making improvements to the existing landscape, when it comes to neighborhood bragging rights, the garden's the thang, bar none." http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
Covers selection, planting and care of true bulbs, tubers, corms, rhizomes and tuberous roots.
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Gardening for EveryoneGardening for Everyone, BookGrowing Vegetables, Herbs, and More at Home
by Watkins, JuliaBook - 2022Book, 2022
The Short Reign of Pippin IVThe Short Reign of Pippin IV, eBookA Fabrication
by Steinbeck, JohneBook - 2007eBook, 2007
mikey69's rating:
Added Sep 07, 2023
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In THE SHORT REIGN OF PIPPIN IV (Random House, $18.00), Steinbeck finishes the job the French Revolution began.
When France, now a republic, wakes up one day with a craving for the old monarchy, a search is begun to find a suitable ruler. The unlikeliest of candidates is chosen, and though he's reluctant to take the job, his wife, a social climber, pushes him into it. Wanting to do justice for the people of France, the new King determines to be the best King for France; a King for the people. Not exactly what the schemers and string-pullers in French politics had in mind, so his ouster is imminent and France looks to be headed for yet another revolution.In THE SHORT REIGN OF PIPPIN IV (Random House, $18.00), Steinbeck finishes the job the French Revolution began.
When France, now a republic, wakes up one day with a craving for the old monarchy, a search is begun to find a suitable ruler. The…
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- It has always seemed to me that the Kings of France, with singularly few gifts, have done very well for themselves." -Madame Heristal, THE SHORT REIGN OF PIPPIN IV, by John Steinbeck,
Summary:
Heads are sure to roll in this satire by John Steinbeck. For an author not known for satirizing, he's at the top of his game; a Tom Robbins for the fifties, poking fun at the grandiloquent French (establishment and otherwise), Brits, Americans, Russians and anybody else with the misfortune of landing in his sites. Awesome.Heads are sure to roll in this satire by John Steinbeck. For an author not known for satirizing, he's at the top of his game; a Tom Robbins for the fifties, poking fun at the grandiloquent French (establishment and otherwise), Brits, Americans,…
mikey69's rating:
Added Aug 01, 2023
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As with PLAYER PIANO and HOCUS POCUS, Vonnegut sets himself apart as a prophetic visionary of fiction with THE SIRENS OF TITAN. An amusing and poignant study of the human ego and the lengths we'll go to feed it.
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- An amusing and poignant study of the human ego and the lengths we'll go to feed it. http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
Little hope remains for humanity when extraterrestrials have to save us from ourselves.
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The SixtiesThe Sixties, BookThe Decade Remembered Now, by the People Who Lived It Then
Book - 1977Book, 1977
mikey69's rating:
Added Mar 30, 2023
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For many, the sixties was a decade best swept under the rug. For others, it remains a phenomenon worthy of recapturing. The former miss the point. Perhaps, so too do the latter. We've been there, done that. To look at the decade as only a period of revolt - the shattering of social norms - is to rob it of the positivity it brought to the table. It was a catalyst of not only drug experimentation (which, argumentatively, had its upside as well as down), but of changes to America's fundamental structure. It questioned what the nation stood for, and for whom its constitution served. The decade also blew up our thinking about art, fashion, tradition and music, while expanding the collective consciousness. Love it or hate it, none of us, a half-century later, would be standing where we are without the sixties.
Published in 1977 as a joint venture between Random House and Rolling Stone Press, THE SIXTIES: THE DECADE REMEMBERED NOW, BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IT THEN brings together a bevy of writers to reflect on the decade passed. When it was written, the sixties were still fresh in the minds of Americans. Events seemingly of great importance, had yet to be tested with time. The result is a hodge podge collection of essays; some standing up to the test of time, others feeling incredibly dated.
Designed by Robert Kingsbury and packed with photos, each chapter is dedicated to a single year, opening with a month-to-month calendar listing the events deemed - at the time - significant for that year. The first chapter covers 1960, a year of incredible optimism. San Francisco was experiencing a renaissance in free expression, from fashion to politics to music. JFK got elected to the White House, breaking the conservative grip of the last eight years on Washington, while bringing a sense of hopeful purpose to the national political scene.
One essay that's stood the test of time was penned by Benjamin C. Bradley, newspaperman and neighbor to the Kennedys from JFK's days as a senator in Washington. He reflects on Kennedy's assassination from a place of friendship - something more akin to a eulogy - only briefly mentioning the assassination in passing:
"I used to think it was strange that everybody remembers where he or she was when Kennedy was killed. Perhaps it tells us something about how we place and measure ourselves. I was browsing in a bookstore near the National Press Building during lunch hour. I heard whispering. Suddenly, the whispers grew louder, and I heard separate words: Kennedy. Shot. Assassination."
Another piece, still seemingly fresh after all these years, is by Allen Ginsberg. Titled COMING TO TERMS WITH THE HELL'S ANGELS, it's his account of discovering what does and doesn't work in the protest movement. There were at the time (and, no doubt still are) two schools of thought when it comes to demonstrating. There's "anger marching" (protest with no sense of humor), and there's "theatrical" (insert humor here). The latter generally incorporates some form or another of street theatre (think "Baby Trump"). Ginsberg's epiphany comes when he realizes national politics was theatre too; each party trying to out-dazzle the other in a race for ticket sales.
While not everyone got Ginsberg's memo on theatre, Jerry Rubin (co-founder/co-chairman of the anti-war Vietnam Day Committee) did. When he was subpoenaed by the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), he took the theatre to Washington, dressing for the big day as an American Revolutionary War soldier. That simple act of costuming propelled protest theatre into the national spotlight, and with it, a permanent place in the demonstration organizers toolbox. Today, there's hardly a protest that doesn't incorporate some aspect of theatre in its activities.
Sadly, the decade ends on a less positive note. 1969 includes the massacre at My Lai, the Manson murders, and an essay by Greil Marcus on Altamont, an event that left the future of rock music festivals in doubt.For many, the sixties was a decade best swept under the rug. For others, it remains a phenomenon worthy of recapturing. The former miss the point. Perhaps, so too do the latter. We've been there, done that. To look at the decade as only a period of…
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- I used to think it was strange that everybody remembers where he or she was when Kennedy was killed. Perhaps it tells us something about how we place and measure ourselves." -Benjamin C. Bradley, THE SIXTIES: THE DECADE REMEMBERED NOW, BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IT THEN, edited by Lynda Rosen Obst I used to think it was strange that everybody remembers where he or she was when Kennedy was killed. Perhaps it tells us something about how we place and measure ourselves." -Benjamin C. Bradley, THE SIXTIES: THE DECADE REMEMBERED NOW, BY THE PEOPLE…
Summary:
THE SIXTIES: THE DECADE REMEMBERED NOW, BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IT THEN (Random House), examines the decade that began with America and the USSR on the precipice of nuclear war; flower children and free lovers at odds with parents over Vietnam; and sunsetting with the massacre at My Lai, the Manson murders and rock festivities run amok (Altamont). Harnessing the talent of those who lived and witnessed it, THE SIXTIES is chock-full of essays and photographs that will either have you waxing sentimental, looking for a rug to sweep it all under again, or asking, "What the f*ck , Mom?" Edited by Lynda Rosen Obst.THE SIXTIES: THE DECADE REMEMBERED NOW, BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IT THEN (Random House), examines the decade that began with America and the USSR on the precipice of nuclear war; flower children and free lovers at odds with parents over Vietnam; and…
Rudolph the Red-nosed ReindeerRudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Book
by May, Robert L.Book - 2014Book, 2014
mikey69's rating:
Added Dec 20, 2022
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"Here I come to save the day," is the popular reprise of cartoon hero Mighty Mouse; it might as well be Rudolph's too. When it's too foggy to launch Santa's sleigh, Christmas is threatened to be canceled. Never fear, Rudolph is here, with his bright red glowing nose. No fool, Kris Kringle recognizes a headlamp when he sees it, enlists Rudolph for the flight team, and Christmas is saved. A holiday favorite going on 85 years."Here I come to save the day," is the popular reprise of cartoon hero Mighty Mouse; it might as well be Rudolph's too. When it's too foggy to launch Santa's sleigh, Christmas is threatened to be canceled. Never fear, Rudolph is here, with his bright…
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- Here I come to save the day." -Mighty Mouse
Summary:
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER may hold the record for number of adaptations. Every one you crack, it seems, is slightly different.
Rudolph the Red-nosed ReindeerRudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Book
by May, Robert L.Book - 2001Book, 2001
mikey69's rating:
Added Dec 02, 2022
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In this edition, Robert L. May's classic story comes to life through the illustrations of David Wenzel. It's the story that inspired the 1949 song by Johnny Marks.
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- May's classic story comes to life through the illustrations of David Wenzel. http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
Even reindeer need love.
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Book
by May, Robert L.Book - 1994Book, 1994
mikey69's rating:
Added Dec 01, 2022
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The term "classic" is overused these days. But some things cannot be described any other way, whether they be a song, film, or book.
For many of my generation, Gene Autry's crooning over a little reindeer is the earliest song in our memory. Released in 1949, it clinched Rudolph's status as a holiday icon. The story (in case you've been in a coma) is about Rudolph, a reindeer living at the North Pole with an odd physical anomaly: his nose glows. One Christmas Eve, Santa can't get his sleigh off the ground due to fog. Rudolph's talent for lighting the way is discovered, and what's once considered a blemish becomes a cause for celebration. The story, now approaching 85 years old, has become synonymous with the holidays, and the song a Christmas tradition. If that isn't the definition of a holiday classic, I don't know what is.The term "classic" is overused these days. But some things cannot be described any other way, whether they be a song, film, or book.
For many of my generation, Gene Autry's crooning over a little reindeer is the earliest song in our memory.…
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Quotations
- [D]o you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?" -Johnny Marks, songwriter, RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
Summary:
Rudolph turns a weakness into a strength in this classic holiday story.
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TexasvilleTexasville, eBookA Novel
by McMurtry, LarryeBook - 2010eBook, 2010
All copies in use
Holds: 1 on 1 copy
Holds: 1 on 1 copy
mikey69's rating:
Added Nov 30, 2022
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During his life, Larry McMurtry was loved for his depictions of the American west. In 1966, with the writing of THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (Dell, .75), he was set on a path of destiny to become an icon of the American novelist. In 1987, the sequel to PICTURE SHOW was published: TEXASVILLE (Simon & Schuster, $19.99). The sequel drops us in on Thalia, Texas. Far from the backwater of PICTURE SHOW, Thalia has blossomed into a community kissed with the blush of new wealth. Thalia's also been cursed with the oil glut of the 1980s. With everybody in town losing money faster than you can swat a fly, a sort of mayhem ensues; a mental anxiety that deals with the prospect of bankruptcy by saying "f*ck it" and behaving exactly opposite of what one would think facing those circumstances. And it's all set against the county's centennial, a celebration that none of the opposing factions of Thalia can agree on. Sound like a party? It is, and one that will stick with you for years to come.During his life, Larry McMurtry was loved for his depictions of the American west. In 1966, with the writing of THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (Dell, .75), he was set on a path of destiny to become an icon of the American novelist. In 1987, the sequel to…
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- Several lapses had occurred in the City Council meetings that Sonny presided over once a month. Three or four times he had made a motion and then lost the train completely, sitting with a pleasant look on his face long after the motion had been voted on." -Larry McMurtry, TEXASVILLESeveral lapses had occurred in the City Council meetings that Sonny presided over once a month. Three or four times he had made a motion and then lost the train completely, sitting with a pleasant look on his face long after the motion had been…
Summary:
All the familiar characters of THE LAST PICTURE SHOW are back. (The ones still above ground, anyway.) Perhaps the most interesting - in PICTURE SHOW as well - are Sonny Crawford and Ruth Popper (the coach's wife). They've gotten on with their lives, but when Sonny is plagued with memory issues, there's a sense of compassion shown him by Ruth that suggests maybe she's been living with a void all these years. Chock-full of great characters.All the familiar characters of THE LAST PICTURE SHOW are back. (The ones still above ground, anyway.) Perhaps the most interesting - in PICTURE SHOW as well - are Sonny Crawford and Ruth Popper (the coach's wife). They've gotten on with their lives,…
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mikey69's rating:
Added Nov 29, 2022
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When Alice goes down a rabbit hole, a strange new world full of absurdities is open to her. It's almost like this new world is mocking elements of her old world. Weird.
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- [W]hat would be the use of a procession,' thought she, 'if people had all to lie down on their faces, so that they couldn't see it?'" -Alice, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, by Lewis Carroll
Summary:
Watch your step.
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Dorothy and the Wizard in OzDorothy and the Wizard in Oz, Book
by Baum, L. FrankBook - 1990Book, 1990
mikey69's rating:
Added Nov 28, 2022
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In 1985, Colin Thubron visited China. He found a nation of peasants with a struggling economy; a land peppered with village backwaters; a people barely able to feed themselves. And overseeing it all, the iron-fisted rule of the Communist party. BEHIND THE WALL: A JOURNEY THROUGH CHINA (Random House, $12.19) is his account of that trip; China before her extreme makeover.In 1985, Colin Thubron visited China. He found a nation of peasants with a struggling economy; a land peppered with village backwaters; a people barely able to feed themselves. And overseeing it all, the iron-fisted rule of the Communist party.…
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- China before her extreme makeover. http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
Behind the Great Wall and what Colin Thubron found there.
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The Best Christmas Pageant EverThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Book
by Robinson, BarbaraBook - 1988Book, 1988
mikey69's rating:
Added Nov 26, 2022
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While THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER has an upbeat message, read it for the rollicking plot.
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- Similar to John Irving's pageant in A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY (Ballantine Books, $6.99), in which anything that can go wrong does, Robinson's pageant holds that same possibility for disaster . . . http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
Christmas: For many it means crowded box stores. For others, shopping for the best deals online. For still others, it can be defined in one word: family. No matter which group one belongs to, the holidays - no matter how rewarding - is often a hectic race to that big day, December 25th. Now, more than ever, it's important to self-care, whether that means finding a creative outlet, curling up with a book, or sharing a holiday classic with others.
First published in 1972, Barbara Robinson's THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (HarperCollins, $6.99) has become a holiday favorite. Written for readers with somewhere between beginning and intermediate skills, it's a story that's gained a young and old readership alike. The simple story is told through the eyes of a child about a common tradition played out in churches around the world: the annual Christmas pageant.
When the Herdman children (think of the worst family in your neighborhood - unsupervised, rowdy, irreverent and full of mischief) are allowed to participate in the annual Christmas pageant against everyone's better judgement, they result in bullying their way into the meatiest roles, and the production is prematurely written off as a failure.
Similar to John Irving's pageant in A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY (Ballantine Books, $6.99), in which anything that can go wrong does, Robinson's pageant holds that same possibility for disaster, but disaster never pans out. Instead, the Herdmans do everything right - although different than in past pageants - and the attendees gain a new appreciation for those they otherwise think lesser of than themselves. A spirited story, PAGEANT emphasizes the message of Christmas by embracing our differences.Christmas: For many it means crowded box stores. For others, shopping for the best deals online. For still others, it can be defined in one word: family. No matter which group one belongs to, the holidays - no matter how rewarding - is often a…
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我喜欢你我喜欢你, BookWo xi huan niWo xi huan ni
by Stoddard, SandolBook - 2012 | ChineseBook, 2012. Language: Chinese
mikey69's rating:
Added Nov 25, 2022
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Every once in a while a book comes along that defies description. I LIKE YOU (Houghton Mifflin Co.) is one such book. It's illustrations are whimsical, depicting friends of all sorts. We're not sure why it works, but as a celebration of friendship it stands out from the pack. In this volume, the text is provided in both Chinese and English, making this a multi-cultural book on what friends are all about.Every once in a while a book comes along that defies description. I LIKE YOU (Houghton Mifflin Co.) is one such book. It's illustrations are whimsical, depicting friends of all sorts. We're not sure why it works, but as a celebration of friendship…
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- [A]s a celebration of friendship [I LIKE YOU] stands out from the pack. http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
Like somebody? Let them know.
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mikey69's rating:
Added Nov 23, 2022
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The Silk Road is no stranger to Colin Thubron. In 1991/92 he traveled a portion of its northern route, and found the people and landscapes fascinating, which he gives an accounting of in THE LOST HEART OF ASIA. A modern-day Marco Polo, Thubron goes where no other westerners dare: into the thick of forgotten landscapes and cultures that have lost all hint of relevancy to those not immersed in them.
Thubron's gift of storytelling is matched only by his gift of gab. His travel books are not guides; rather each is a biographical snapshot of his travels. Through the people he meets along the way, he forms his story, allowing their conversations to recount his adventure. The result is a rare glimpse into attitudes and opinions we might never encounter in our western lives. Though we have but only one world, there are so many worlds to it which otherwise remain out of sight if not for writers like Thubron and their penchant for wandering.The Silk Road is no stranger to Colin Thubron. In 1991/92 he traveled a portion of its northern route, and found the people and landscapes fascinating, which he gives an accounting of in THE LOST HEART OF ASIA. A modern-day Marco Polo, Thubron goes…
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- Thubron goes where no other westerners dare: into the thick of forgotten landscapes and cultures that have lost all hint of relevancy to those not immersed in them. http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
Thubron offers a front-row seat to a historic event we'll likely never see again: the collapse of empire (the Soviet Union) from the perspective of its former members, left scrambling for direction in self-rule.
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mikey69's rating:
Added Nov 22, 2022
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Shortly after World War II, England was swept by a literary movement that meant to turn polite society on its head. Though similar to what was going on in America with the Beat Generation, England's movement lacked the devil-may-care balls out irreverence of the Yanks'. Decidedly British in style and appeal, it could be regarded as a timid rendition of the movement being propelled on the other side of the pond by Kerouac et al; Beat Generation lite, if you will. Dubbed "The Angry Young Men," the British movement was born of novels with a common theme: young men with rebellious natures.
A first of its kind, LUCKY JIM takes place at a provincial college outside London. The story's protagonist, Jim Dixon, is a junior faculty member looking to advance his career while putting in as little effort as possible. In modern terms, he is a slacker. His personal life is complicated - complications of his own making - by a love triangle. The girl he wants has a fella, and the girl who wants him, and whom he has a misguided sense of loyalty towards, is a cold fish. His professional life mirrors his personal triangulation, ever playing the necessary politics to appease his superiors, all the while taking them for fools. It's a glimpse inside the machinations of secondary British education - a good ol' boys club - that puts protocol and conformity ahead of all else. It's a world we sense early in the novel Dixon is ill-equipped for.
Amis' writing lacks the elegance associated with British writers of a generation prior. He is concise, though, writing with a style that's to the point and often comical. As the novel proceeds, Dixon's rebelliousness becomes increasingly daring to the point it can no longer be ignored by the stiff upper lips who surround him. The more daring he becomes, the more laughable the stereotype of the proper British gentleman (of which there is no shortage) becomes, until he learns first-hand how insubordination is dealt with by polite society.
In the end, LUCKY JIM is a story about pushing boundaries, and the consequences of pushing them too hard. In the vein of the Beat Generation, there are no regrets on the part of Amis' protagonist, no apologies or sentimental reflection. Just that what's done is done, life goes on, and a sense that even as unlikable a character as Dixon is - or perhaps precisely because of it - he'll escape, angry, but unscathed.Shortly after World War II, England was swept by a literary movement that meant to turn polite society on its head. Though similar to what was going on in America with the Beat Generation, England's movement lacked the devil-may-care balls out…
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- Amis' writing lacks the elegance associated with British writers of a generation prior. He is concise, though, writing with a style that's to the point and often comical. http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
Higher education is both a bastion of comfort for the initiated, and a source of mystery for those left outside looking in. Similarly contradictory is its claim of welcoming open minds, while demanding total conformity, as revealed in Kingsley Amis' LUCKY JIM (Random House, $11.95).Higher education is both a bastion of comfort for the initiated, and a source of mystery for those left outside looking in. Similarly contradictory is its claim of welcoming open minds, while demanding total conformity, as revealed in Kingsley…
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mikey69's rating:
Added Nov 21, 2022
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Colin Thubron is a revered travel writer on both sides of the Atlantic. An army brat, his father's military career brought him to North America at the age of eight. He was bitten with the travel bug. In 1965 his career began as a travel writer when he went to live with a family in Damascus. Fortunately for us, he's never looked back. MIRROR TO DAMASCUS (Random House, $16.95) is his account of life with that family. It brims with the smells and flavors of Syria, as only Thubron can tell it.Colin Thubron is a revered travel writer on both sides of the Atlantic. An army brat, his father's military career brought him to North America at the age of eight. He was bitten with the travel bug. In 1965 his career began as a travel writer when…
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- In 1965 [Thubron's] career began as a travel writer when he went to live with a family in Damascus. Fortunately for us, he's never looked back. http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
Thubron's first - but not his last (or best) - travel book.
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mikey69's rating:
Added Nov 19, 2022
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state ['stat] noun 1: mode or condition of being; 2: condition of mind; 3: social position, esp high rank; 4: a body of people occupying a definite territory and politically organized under one government, also the government of such a body of people; 5: one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government; verb: to express in words.
Larry Watson was the recipient of The Milkweed National Fiction Prize and The Mountains and Plains Bookseller Association Regional Book Award for MONTANA 1948 (Simon & Schuster, $12.95). It's also earned him comparisons to Harper Lee. The novel recounts a series of horrendous crimes againsts Native American girls that ultimately result in murder. It's a dark tale played out against the backdrop of Bentrock, an idyllic small town in the northeast corner of Montana. The narration is presented through the memory of David Hayden - the son of the sheriff - a boy of only twelve when the crimes of this story come to light. The perpetrator, his uncle.
Watson has a knack for writing engaging characters. Each, whether minor or pivotal, are developed with laser precision. David's father is a sheriff who doesn't carry a gun, because in Mercer County (of which Bentrock is the county seat) crime plays second chair to Montana's harsh environment:
"The ability to drive the county's rural roads, often drifted over in the winter or washed out in the summer, was a much more necessary skill than being good with your fists or a gun."
While Montana is a crime novel, at its heart are the people affected by it. In Hayden Senior (David's grandfather) we're delivered a character straight out of the Old West. A successful rancher, his home is larger than life, something comparable to the Ponderosa of BONANZA fame. He's a throwback to the days of land barons; a time when legal issues were adjudicated by a man's status. Real estate is power, and the Hayden's own a lot of it. His wife, a salt-of-the-earth - although not beneath cultural appreciation - type, would be just as believable as a nineteenth century pioneer trekking across the plains by covered wagon as she is a twentieth century Montanan. The Haydens are a proud, successful and privileged lot. There are no bounds they wouldn't go to protect that.
As Frank Hayden's crimes come to light, David becomes a fly on the wall, eavesdropping on adult conversations for clues of what his uncle's been accused of. Inevitably, a chasm develops, and the family is split on how to proceed. Grandma and Grandpa see Frank's indiscretions as unimportant, boys-being-boys common hi-jinx. That his crimes are at least in part racially motivated is of no concern to them. Why would they make an issue of race when their own attitudes toward the region's indigenous population are no better? David's father, without the support of his parents, presses for accountability, regardless of his own prejudice. Not that he dislikes Indians; he just believes them to be "ignorant, lazy, superstitious, and irresponsible." Prejudice.
In MONTANA, Watson's created a world at odds. The region in which Mercer County is located looks nothing like the rest of the state. The prosaic town of Bentrock, "a world meant for storekeepers, teachers, ministers, for the rule-makers, the order-givers, the law-enforcers;" a town where nothing out of the ordinary occurs, stands at odds with Uncle Frank's crimes, and the family at odds with one another.
Ultimately, the chasm becomes too wide to bear. But it's not Franks crimes that tear the Haydens apart. It's the silence around his crimes that divide them; the lies they're forced to abet by self-muting, that eventually make life in Bentrock untenable.state ['stat] noun 1: mode or condition of being; 2: condition of mind; 3: social position, esp high rank; 4: a body of people occupying a definite territory and politically organized under one government, also the government of such a body of…
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Quotations
- The Haydens are a proud, successful and privileged lot. There are no bounds they wouldn't go to protect that. http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
The subject matter of MONTANA, and its narration, begs comparison to Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (HarperCollins, $16.99). Like MOCKINGBIRD, it exposes unsavory racial attitudes lying just beneath the surface of otherwise upstanding members of society. Also, like Lee's masterpiece, it relies on the narration of a child - or more precisely a child's memories - to expose these attitudes. While reminiscent of MOCKINGBIRD, Watson's writing is more akin to that of Lee's childhood friend, Truman Capote. In both style and tempo, I'm reminded of his short story collection, A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, ONE CHRISTMAS, & THE THANKSGIVING VISITOR (Random House, $13.95). One more comparison: Also like MOCKINGBIRD, MONTANA 1948 has a long shelf-life ahead of it.The subject matter of MONTANA, and its narration, begs comparison to Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (HarperCollins, $16.99). Like MOCKINGBIRD, it exposes unsavory racial attitudes lying just beneath the surface of otherwise upstanding members of…
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A Christmas MemoryA Christmas Memory, BookOne Christmas ;& The Thanksgiving Visitor
by Capote, TrumanBook - 1996Book, 1996
mikey69's rating:
Added Nov 18, 2022
Comment:
The ultimate nature writer, John Muir does not disappoint in his classic THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA. His keen observations on forests and their surrounding environments have done more for the environmental preservation of California's Sierra Nevada range than any other single writer. That he writes with such insightful and poetic prose is just icing on the cake.The ultimate nature writer, John Muir does not disappoint in his classic THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA. His keen observations on forests and their surrounding environments have done more for the environmental preservation of California's Sierra Nevada…
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- Nature was holding high festival, and every fiber of the most rigid giants thrilled with glad excitement . . ." -John Muir, THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA
Summary:
John Muir shares the mountains he so loved to climb and observe in THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA (Fulcrum Publishing, $27.95).
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Nature WritingsNature Writings, BookThe Story of My Boyhood and Youth, My First Summer in the Sierra, the Mountains of California, Stickeen, Selected Essays
by Muir, JohnBook - 1997Book, 1997
Nature WritingsNature Writings, BookThe Story of My Boyhood and Youth, My First Summer in the Sierra, the Mountains of California, Stickeen, Selected Essays
by Muir, JohnBook - 1997Book, 1997
mikey69's rating:
Added Sep 06, 2022
Comment:
This is by far the most comprehensive collection of Muir's essays on nature I've encountered. His writing is enthusiastic, compelling, and ultimately addictive. Whether America's granddaddy of environmental writing is taking the reader along for a ride in the swaying top of a 150-foot spruce during a windstorm, or listening to the solitude of the High Sierra while pondering its elemental properties, he is consistently captivating with his descriptions and evident love of the natural world. Inspiring.This is by far the most comprehensive collection of Muir's essays on nature I've encountered. His writing is enthusiastic, compelling, and ultimately addictive. Whether America's granddaddy of environmental writing is taking the reader along for a…
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- The setting sun filled them with amber light, and seemed to say, while they listened, 'My peace I give unto you.'" -John Muir, THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA
Summary:
John Muir at his most inspiring. Run to your local library for this one.
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Nine Nasty W*rdsNine Nasty W*rds, BookEnglish in the Gutter : Then, Now, and Forever
by McWhorter, John H.Book - 2021Book, 2021
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Added Sep 04, 2022
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With NINE NASTY WORDS, McWhorter tracks the origins of some choice words from English. His process is intriguing, if not exact. The biggest obstacle in tracking a word's origin is lack of record. Old English has only about 25,000 words on record (recorded in their day), yet it can be assumed that many more than that were being spoken. The challenge of a good etymologist is to figure out what's missing from the record by examining words from other languages of the same time period (which English lends itself to rather handily, given how much it borrows from others). The result is a book that explains, reveals, and dispels common myths about the most colorful words of the English tongue.With NINE NASTY WORDS, McWhorter tracks the origins of some choice words from English. His process is intriguing, if not exact. The biggest obstacle in tracking a word's origin is lack of record. Old English has only about 25,000 words on record…
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- Almost as if the word was laying low due to its infamy, c*unt has one of the murkiest etymologies of all the words in this book." -John H. McWhorter, NINE NASTY WORDS, ENGLISH IN THE GUTTER: THEN, NOW, AND FOREVER
Summary:
John H. McWhorter's follow-up to his seminal tome on English, OUR MAGINIFICENT BASTARD TONGUE (Random House, $17.00).
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Nine Nasty W*rdsNine Nasty W*rds, BookEnglish in the Gutter : Then, Now, and Forever
by McWhorter, John H.Book - 2021Book, 2021
mikey69's rating:
Added Sep 03, 2022
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In NINE NASTY WORDS, ENGLISH IN THE GUTTER: THEN, NOW, AND FOREVER, John McWhorter maps the evolution of our favorite words. The result is a book filled with entertaining anecdotes, historical relevancy and contemporary hipness rare for a book on etymology.In NINE NASTY WORDS, ENGLISH IN THE GUTTER: THEN, NOW, AND FOREVER, John McWhorter maps the evolution of our favorite words. The result is a book filled with entertaining anecdotes, historical relevancy and contemporary hipness rare for a book on…
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Quotations
- Only once f*ck crossed that cognitive boundary a few centuries later did it become a word so dirty that generations of lexicographers pretended that it didn't exist." -John McWhorter, NINE NASTY WORDS, ENGLISH IN THE GUTTER: THEN, NOW, AND FOREVER
Summary:
John McWhorter may be the funniest writer of non-fiction there is today.
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Our Magnificent Bastard TongueOur Magnificent Bastard Tongue, BookThe Untold History of English
by McWhorter, John H.Book - 2008Book, 2008
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Added Aug 29, 2022
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Book II of the Epic Cycle.
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- As a father fondles the son whom he dearly loves, when he returns from a far country after ten long years, his only son well-beloved for whose sake he has suffered much, so the faithful swineherd threw his arms around the noble boy, and kissed him all over as one come back from the dead . . . " -Homer, ODYSSEY: THE STORY OF ODYSSEUS As a father fondles the son whom he dearly loves, when he returns from a far country after ten long years, his only son well-beloved for whose sake he has suffered much, so the faithful swineherd threw his arms around the noble boy, and kissed him…
Summary:
Hailed as the first work written for entertainment, THE ODYSSEY is also regarded as a record of ancient Greek myth. Along with its companion, THE ILIAD (Random House, $16.00), it completes the Epic Cycle. Within its pages are gods and goddesses, monsters and shapeshifters, pirates, treasure hunters and scoundrels.Hailed as the first work written for entertainment, THE ODYSSEY is also regarded as a record of ancient Greek myth. Along with its companion, THE ILIAD (Random House, $16.00), it completes the Epic Cycle. Within its pages are gods and goddesses,…
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Clash of the TitansClash of the Titans, DVD
DVD - 2010DVD, 2010
The OdysseyThe Odyssey, Downloadable Audiobook
by HomerDownloadable Audiobook - 1990Downloadable Audiobook, 1990
mikey69's rating:
Added Aug 28, 2022
Comment:
Hailed as the first work written for entertainment, THE ODYSSEY is also regarded as a record of ancient Greek myth. Along with its companion, THE ILIAD (Random House, $16.00), it completes the Epic Cycle. Within its pages are gods and goddesses, monsters and shapeshifters, pirates, treasure hunters and scoundrels.Hailed as the first work written for entertainment, THE ODYSSEY is also regarded as a record of ancient Greek myth. Along with its companion, THE ILIAD (Random House, $16.00), it completes the Epic Cycle. Within its pages are gods and goddesses,…
Quotations
- When [Athena] thought Odysseus had slept long enough by his wife's side, she released golden Dawn from Oceanos to bring light to mortal men." -Homer, THE ODYSSEY
Summary:
Book II of the Epic Cycle.
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mikey69's rating:
Added Aug 26, 2022
mikey69's rating:
Added Aug 26, 2022
Comment:
The second poem of the Epic Cycle, THE ODYSSEY (Random House, .50) recounts Odysseus' journey home from the Trojan War. Along the way he encounters more than his fair share of ne'er-do-wells, from pirates to monsters, to gods and thieves, all whom impede his safe return to Ithaca.
Through the ages, THE ODYSSEY has been re-translated to reflect the times it's read in. This version presents Odysseus as a modern action figure, complete with preternatural instinct and strength.The second poem of the Epic Cycle, THE ODYSSEY (Random House, .50) recounts Odysseus' journey home from the Trojan War. Along the way he encounters more than his fair share of ne'er-do-wells, from pirates to monsters, to gods and thieves, all whom…
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Quotations
- [T]here never was mortal man more unlucky than the man whom they call my father . . ." -Telemachos, son of Odysseus, THE ODYSSEY, by Homer
Summary:
Having been left for dead in the chaos of a hasty withdrawal, Odysseus, a larger-than-life Greek naval commander, is held captive by a daughter of Poseidon who appreciates him for his looks. After ten years in captivity, Athena, daughter of Zeus, is granted permission to aid Odysseus in his escape, an escape that seems doomed from the outset. Though he be but mortal, his determination is god-like, a trait even Poseidon takes notice of.Having been left for dead in the chaos of a hasty withdrawal, Odysseus, a larger-than-life Greek naval commander, is held captive by a daughter of Poseidon who appreciates him for his looks. After ten years in captivity, Athena, daughter of Zeus, is…
Similar Titles (1)
Our Magnificent Bastard TongueOur Magnificent Bastard Tongue, BookThe Untold History of English
by McWhorter, John H.Book - 2008Book, 2008
mikey69's rating:
Added Aug 24, 2022
Comment:
An etymologist by trade, McWhorter looks at the long game when it comes to language. With BASTARD TONGUE, he reaches back into the annals of language, beyond Old English, tracing its origins to the golden plains of modern-day Ukraine. What he reveals is a language that has borrowed so heavily from others, it barely rates as its own tongue. The melting pot of languages, English continues to evolve, borrowing words and dropping others in an ever-changing landscape of our own device.An etymologist by trade, McWhorter looks at the long game when it comes to language. With BASTARD TONGUE, he reaches back into the annals of language, beyond Old English, tracing its origins to the golden plains of modern-day Ukraine. What he…
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- McWhorter looks at the long game when it comes to language. http://www.penhead.org/
Summary:
OUR MAGNIFICENT BASTARD TONGUE: THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF ENGLISH (Random House, $17.00) is John McWhorter's precursor to his seminal book (NINE NASTY WORDS, ENGLISH IN THE GUTTER: THEN, NOW, AND FOREVER, Random House, $24.00) on dirty words. In BASTARD TONGUE the author deconstructs the English language in search of its origin, and what he unveils is a language befitting of the book's title.OUR MAGNIFICENT BASTARD TONGUE: THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF ENGLISH (Random House, $17.00) is John McWhorter's precursor to his seminal book (NINE NASTY WORDS, ENGLISH IN THE GUTTER: THEN, NOW, AND FOREVER, Random House, $24.00) on dirty words. In BASTARD…
Similar Titles (1)
Nine Nasty W*rdsNine Nasty W*rds, BookEnglish in the Gutter : Then, Now, and Forever
by McWhorter, John H.Book - 2021Book, 2021
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