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Author : David Wroblewski
Number of Pages : 576
Release Date : 2008-09-19
Publisher : Ecco
List Price : $25.95
Amazon Price : $13.93
Used Price : $12.00 |
Product Description Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose thoughtful companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally. But with the unexpected return of Claude, Edgar's paternal uncle, turmoil consumes the Sawtelles' once peaceful home. When Edgar's father dies suddenly, Claude insinuates himself into the life of the farm—and into Edgar's mother's affections. Grief-stricken and bewildered, Edgar tries to prove Claude played a role in his father's death, but his plan backfires—spectacularly. Forced to flee into the vast wilderness lying beyond the farm, Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three yearling dogs who follow him. But his need to face his father's murderer and his devotion to the Sawtelle dogs turn Edgar ever homeward. David Wroblewski is a master storyteller, and his breathtaking scenes—the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain—create a riveting family saga, a brilliant exploration of the limits of language, and a compulsively readable modern classic. Customer reviews Hamlet for Dogs?  by .. M. Hayden (BC,PA)
I really enjoyed reading this book UNTIL my husband, who also read it, pointed out to me all the similarites this book had to Hamlet. Even fact, a woman on our airplane, w/o prompting, offered up the same info. That said, I did enjoy the book. I love dogs. I just feel snookered.
Mixed Bag by .. Peter A. Lamal (Charlotte, NC United States)
This is an interesting and unusual story. Also, I am a native of the Wisconsin area in which the story unfolds and it is clear that Wroblewski is familiar with it. But although the story is interesting and suspenseful it is sometimes overwritten. And readers who are not interested in the breeding, raising, and training of dogs may well find those passages too frequent and too long.
Gripping and beautifully written, but strangely disappointed.... by .. smallface ()
Well, I couldn't put this down, but was constantly nagged by inconsistencies and logic problems that made the story improbable from the get go....I kept telling myself to 'lighten up, its a story,' but great novels don't do this to me.
First of all, I have over 20 years of medical experience and have never met or heard of a patient with a congenital speech impediment, like Edgar's without having some sort of hearing problem. Its as if Edgar had congenital, bilateral vocal chord paralysis. Throughout the book I kept reflecting on how odd this situation is....then I thought 'well, its interesting symbolically, so just quit questioning.' Still, it nagged at me throughout the book.
Unless Edgar's mother had been portrayed like stereotypical, 'white trash' I can't conceive how she could behave the way she did in this story. It was annoying and, again my radar went up every time I read about another one of her insane choices. I mean, seriously, what mother would just sit by and wait, after her son ran away? There was no exploration of her loss. What reasonable woman would run into the arms of her husband's brother who she knew had multitudes of psychological and ethical problems? There might be some argument, but another 200 pages would be needed.
Finally, many talk about the 'bringing to life' of the 'dogs.' I felt they were, not developed enough. They didn't seem to demonstrate any mourning or change in behavior after various losses. Anyone who has dogs, knows that they express remorse and saddness. Amondine's confusion over Edgar's disappearance was the only exploration of this 'life of dogs.' But, I felt that she was almost a ghost in this story...I craved that she have a bigger role and I wanted to know her better. Essy and Tinder had roles that started to approach reality, but again, for a dogs so connected to the main character, they seemed strangely distant. 'Forte,' the mystery dog, however, was pretty cool and perfect.
With all these criticisms, I know that no work of art is perfect and must commend the author in creating a gripping and quite exciting story. I couldn't put the book down, although I was often annoyed. It is beautifully written and the imagery incredible. It will be interesting to see how this novel weathers over time. I've never been so frustrated with 'reality inconstancies in a novel but acknowledge the presence of a great, well-told adventure. Maybe I'm just getting old, but 'Hamlet,' 'East of Eden' and 'The World According to Garp' didn't get me questioning so much, even though they were all 'far fetched' too...
Perhaps some ENT specialist or Neurologist could set me straight on Edgar's medical condition? I'm miffed and my literature search was nil.
Dissapointing by .. Everett Coleman (Lorton, VA)
I agree with many of the previous reviews. The book had the wrong ending. The story is very detailed, well-written in that you get a true picture of the characters, their personalities, lives and situations, very clearly. This detail causes you to get emotionally invested and then the last chapter is like a complete let down. Your panting, wondering what is going to happen next only to be let down. The book starts out slow, having you wonder the point of all of these details and then picks up to where you can't put it down and then drops you. It's worth reading if you have some time, but not worth 25.00 like I paid.
The Story of Edgar Sawtele: A Novel  by .. M. Bryson ()
This book was purchased as a gift. The person reading the book says that it is a very good story and is going to give it to me to read when she is done.
Related Search : sawtelle novel , oprah book , story edgar  |
Author : Malcolm Gladwell
Number of Pages : 320
Release Date : 2008-11-18
Publisher : Little, Brown and Company
List Price : $27.99
Amazon Price : $14.50
Used Price : $15.00 |
Product Description In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band. Brilliant and entertaining, OUTLIERS is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate. Customer reviews Gives You A Lot to Think ABout! by .. M. Hayden (BC,PA)
My hubby got this book for Christmas, and we both read it at the beach over the holidays. It was a quick read, but the facts and numbers and continual restating of what you had previously read did bog us down somewhat. If you like trivia or like knowing useless info about others, this is your type of book. Otherwise, the material is nothing to write home about (or Amazon?)
A Novel Insight by .. Alvin J. Ziontz (Bellevue, Wa)
Gladwell provides a novel perspective on why some have made brilliant successes of their careers. Unfortunately, it is long on anecdote and short on analysis of the ecofactors that govern people's lives. There are no lessons for anyone who wishes to emulate Bill Gates. Its still a matter of talent, drive and opportunity.
How to "unravel the logic behind who succeeds and who doesn't" by .. Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas)
In reviews of Malcolm Gladwell's previous books, The Tipping Point and Blink, I express an opinion that Gladwell offers an insight that others have previously expressed and then requires 300+ pages to discuss it. His key points in both books could have been made in an article. Gladwell's "tipping point"(2002), for example, is essentially the same as Michael Kami's "trigger point" (1988) and Andrew Gove "inflection point" (1996). (Gladwell does acknowledge the importance of an article, "Broken Windows," co-authored by James Wilson and George Kelling for The Atlantic Monthly in 1982). When I began to read Outliers, therefore, I feared that Gladwell would once again offer a thoughtful but verbose examination of a by-now familiar insight: success requires more than extraordinary talent.
That said, Outliers is (in my opinion) his most significant and most valuable book thus far. As the Epilogue clearly indicates, this is also his most personal book. In it, Gladwell demonstrates superior storyteller skills as he discusses several quite different situations that demonstrate that "the values of the world we inhabit and the people we surround ourselves with have a profound effect on who we are...[Those who succeed] owe something to parentage and patronage. [They] may look like they did all by themselves. But in fact they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot...It's not enough to ask what successful people are like, in other words. It is only by asking where they are [begin italics] from [end italics] that we can unravel the logic behind who succeeds and who doesn't."
Gladwell provides many different versions of "the story of success" involving those who demonstrate what sociologists call "accumulative advantage." For example, in any youth sports competition (especially hockey) that groups players according to the calendar year of birth, those who are born in January, February, or March are more likely to be bigger, better coordinated, and more talented because of "the phenomenon of relative age." They will play more often, receive more individual attention, and be selected to play on better teams because they were born closest to the cut-off date. Their success follows a predictable course. "Outliers are those who have been given opportunities - and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them." Clearly, Gladwell agrees with Geoff Colvin that "talent is overrated." As does Colvin, he cites The 10,000-Hour Rule and suggests that "once a musician has enough ability to get into a top music school, the thing that distinguishes one performer from another is how hard he or she works. That's it. And what's more, the people at the top don't work just harder or even much harder than everyone else. They work much, [begin italics] much [end italics] harder."
John Maxwell makes the same point in Talent Is Never Enough. If it were, "then the most effective and influential people would always be the most talented ones but that is often not the case...Clearly talent isn't everything." That said, he hastens to add, talent is worthy of our admiration and must be perceived in the proper perspective. Maxwell's key point is that all of us have a choice, actually several choices, and can determine to what extent (if any) we take full advantage of the talents we have, such as they are. "If you do, you will add value to yourself, add value to others, and accomplish much more than you dreamed was possible." Gladwell agrees but would presumably stress, also, the importance of others (family members, teachers, coaches, clergy, patrons, and mentors) to being able to commit 10,000 hours, "the magic number of greatness," to (Colvin's term) "deliberate practice." The success of the various outliers whom Gladwell discusses is not exceptional or mysterious. "It is grounded in a web of advantages and inheritances, some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky - but all critical to making them who they are. The outlier, in the end, is not an outlier at all."
Outliers by .. Carlos R. Nagel (Tucson, AZ)
Once again, Malcolm Gladwell has provided an incisive inight into contemporary processes in our society.
Malcom's books are great!!! by .. Jose A. Massaroppe (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Malcolm Gladwell books are very well written by this young author. It is worthwhile to invest time and money to learn with his ideas!!!
Related Search : outliers story , success
Author : Natalie Ddmgm 1004353 Wood
Edition : DVD Video
Number of Pages : 152
Publisher : MGM/UA
List Price : $29.98
Used Price : $11.00 |
Customer reviews What mirror, where?  by .. jewessjen (Minneapolis, MN)
Sorry, didn't get it. Not my cup of tea. I think you have to be either a card carrying member AARP or you know, appreciate of the arts to enjoy this sing songy blah blah blah movie with no explosions or sex scenes. I'm neither.
greatest American musical by .. Jerilyn D. Lagus ()
What can I say? The movie is the best and this boxed set has a book with lyrics and pictures and inside information.Marvelous for us singers!
When you're a jet, you're a jet all the way, from your first cigarette to your last dying day... by .. anorthernsole (Detroit, Michigan)
West Side Story (Special Edition DVD Collector's Set)
This is the story of Tony Montana when he was a small time hoodlum running wild on the streets of NYC. Tony, after years of knife fighting and ballet dancing, decides to legitimize his illegitimate business by working at Doc's candy store which was really a facility used to launder money. Tony was trying to save some cash to make the big move down to Florida where he would later become the kingpin of the cocaine trade. Tony's mother insisted on a well cultured child therefore he was forced at a young age to perform with the New York City Boys and Girls Club Ballet Team. Basically, a group of future criminals, these fellas would dance the streets at night and swing at the fences during the day. It was a very bizarre scene but Leonard Bernstein really captured the historical accuracy of the gang. A group of Spanish ruffians led by Rufio, who later appeared in the movie "Hook," started a race war with "The Jets" (Tony's old click after serving time with the Bloods) and to further complicate the scene enters a barely legal Maria, the young street walking sister of Rufio. Tony paid for Maria's services at a fair price but because he wasn't included in the act, Rufio felt cheated. As we know from the film "Hook," Rufio was quite skilled with the sword and took out Tony's Capo Riff (played by Russ Tamblyn) in a knife fight which drew Tony back into the gang. In the end, Tony, a well known history buff, finally realizes that there is no money in fighting the Spanish since the destruction of the 1588 Armada therefore he pays a young pimp named Chino to help him fake his own death in order to escape to Florida where he took up the last name of Montana and became the top cocaine dealer in the world.
a masterpiece of music and dance! by .. peter andronas (canada)
Based on Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet and set in modern New York with rival gangs. This is a great musical! Bernstein's score is a masterpiece of vocal and instrumental arrangements! The sets are a masterpiece of colour and design! The dancing is glorious! The singing is passionate! And it has a raw yet romantic feel. The director has captured a unique and surreal world and has created what I consider the most extraordinary dramatic musical ever made!
wonderful by .. S. Shipp ()
this product is great! i had no problems at all, and it was shipped to me in a very timely manner.
Related Search : story , west side  |
Number of Pages : 384
Publisher : Mariner Books
List Price : $14.00
Amazon Price : $8.45
Used Price : $7.00 |
Product Description This brilliant collection, edited by the award-winning and perennially
provocative Salman Rushdie, boasts a “magnificent array” (Library
Journal) of voices both new and recognized.With Rushdie at the helm,
the 2008 edition “reflects the variety of substance and style and the consistent quality that readers have come to expect” (Publishers Weekly).
“We all live in and with and by stories, every day, whoever and wherever we are. The freedom to tell each other the stories of ourselves, to retell the stories of our culture and beliefs, is profoundly connected to the larger subject of freedom itself.”—Salman Rushdie, editor
The Best American Short Stories 2008 includes
KEVIN BROCKMEIER • ALLEGRA GOODMAN • A. M. HOMES • NICOLE KRAUSS • JONATHAN LETHEM • STEVEN MILLHAUSER • DANIYAL MUEENUDDIN • ALICE MUNRO • GEORGE SAUNDERS • TOBIAS WOLFF • and others Customer reviews Not so good by .. Fuzzy Lizard (Georgia, USA)
There were only 2 or 3 stories in this whole book that I felt were really well done and not boring. The A.M. Homes story was one of them.
Not a very good "best" collection.
And Miroslav Penkov is not even American by .. B. Wood (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Last night I read the first paragraph of every short story in THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2008 to determine if any first paragraph made me want to read the second paragraph. Only one did: "Buying Lenin" by Miroslav Penkov.
Mr. Penkov is from Bulgaria. I found the story exceptionally well written. It's a given that I'll be buying any publication that Mr. Penkov writes in the future. I am not a professional reviewer, but I know a great author when I read one. Entertaining as well was the biography in the back of the book on this new author.
Of course I'll probably read the others stories that were written by the likes of Jonathan Lethem and Alice Munro.
good variety of short stories by .. John E. Vidale (Seattle, WA USA)
Bought at the airport for a Denver-Seattle trip, I found these stories ranged from fair to excellent, with plenty of very good ones. These tend toward moderately serious, with definite purpose and action, and minimal preaching, and are 20-30 pages apiece.
What else should a short-story review report to avoid any more "not useful" feedback? I like short stories, and have not come across such a good collection in my lackadaisical eclectic sampling for quite a few years. Several, including the ones about the guy on the motorcycle, the swimming girls, and the puppy adoption, remain on my mind still.
The brief biographies and authors' comments about their stories was a welcome addendum.
Recommended by .. Bryan Byrd ()
I look forward to this series every year, so it was with high hopes that I opened up this year's editon and began to read. The format is the same as it has been for years, with Ms. Pitlor cherry picking stories and handing over a hundred or so vetted stories to the guest editor. I don't get too caught up in who the guest editor is in any given year - I think Ms. Pitlor does a good job in gathering a pool of quality stories, but this year I thought the overall effort was slightly below the average.
Four of the stories in the collection come from Harper's Magazine, and while I was glad to see the series move away from being so New Yorker oriented, I subscribe to Harper's, so those stories weren't new to me. To of them deserved rereading anyway - the masterful Alice Munro with "Child's Play", and Nicole Krauss, "From the Desk of Daniel Varsky."
Two of the three stories from the New Yorker were also quite well done - "Puppy", by George Saunders, and "Nawabdin Electrician" by Daniyal Mueenuddin. Others that I felt really rose above were "Buying Lenin" by Miroslav Penkov, "Man and Wife," by Katie Chase, and "Straightaway," by Mark Wisniewski.
Four of the stories in this collection would fall under what I would loosely consider 'Fabulist' stories, and those are not really my thing, although I still enjoyed "Man and Wife." Perhaps that is a trend, because I don't remember as much of that in years past.
One of the things I've always enjoyed about this series is that it collects stories I'm sure I'd never get to see otherwise, and that always makes it worth it to me. This year, I would just have to say that not all of it was as interesting to me as other years. I would still definetly recommend it to anyone who enjoys short stories.
Good Read, Not as Amazing as Previous Years by .. Cool Cat (Northern California)
I love this series, have been reading it for years. Definitely more stylistically trendy stories chosen for 2008, many by popular young writers.
Related Search : short stories , 2008 , best american  |
Author : Jennifer Skiff
Edition : 1
Number of Pages : 288
Release Date : 2008-11-11
Publisher : Harmony
List Price : $21.95
Amazon Price : $13.97
Used Price : $14.88 |
Product Description “The idea first came to me when a minister asked if I had any ‘God Stories.’ I asked her what she meant, and she explained that a God Story was a miracle-like experience that proves God exists. . . . I did have stories. I hadn’t dared to tell many people about them, but I definitely had had what I believed to be encounters with the Divine. I wondered if many other people had stories too. What happened next surprised me most. I realized that a Divine intelligence that many people call God is connecting with millions of people every day. These are their stories.” —from the Introduction In God Stories, Jennifer Skiff shares the extraordinary experiences of people who have felt the power of God’s presence in their lives and been forever changed. A doctor opens the chest of a dying heart patient to discover her heart is healed; Marines watch as a fellow soldier in Iraq is hit by a powerful explosion only to discover, when the dust settles, that he is still standing and has no injuries; a struggling couple receive an answer to a prayer and are prevented from making a mistake that could cost them their children; a young woman loses her boyfriend on 9/11 and receives a message that brings her peace. Reassuring, hopeful, and unforgettable, these amazing confirmations of divine intervention will lift your spirit and leave you wondering—and even remembering—when your life was touched by a miracle. Customer reviews Supernatural Pot Pourri by .. J. Gilmore (Indianapolis)
I love reading stories about the many different ways God clearly touches us mortals. His grace and mercy amazes me. He will often answer prayers before they are prayed as evidenced in this book. My only caution for those considering buying this is the author's definition of 'God' and 'Divine'. By her inclusion of some of these stories, she seems to equate those two words with anything supernatural. If that is also your definition, then you should enjoy this collection. If you only wish to read stories of the Holy One, you will find some here, but I found some to be questionable. Read with discernment.
RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "IT TAKES COURAGE TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD THAT YOU WERE TOUCHED BY G-D!" by .. Rick Goldstein (Danville, Ca, USA)
The basic concept of this book is similar in many ways to TIM RUSSERT'S "WISDOM OF OUR FATHERS" in that the author doesn't really do much writing... they just gather and present personal stories from everyday people like you and me. Russert's book involved people writing to him about wonderful descriptions of our beloved Dad's. (Father) This book involves "TESTIMONIES" of people who have been touched by G-d (Also a "Father") in many different ways... and are "brave" enough to share their "blessed" experience... with a world that is naturally made up of "believers" and "doubters".
The courageous souls that were "blessed" here on earth and/or on the way to heaven... and back... are made up of teachers... engineers... court reporters... computer technicians... waitresses... radio broadcasters... clerks... medical technicians... mailmen... TV producers... Ministers... Mom's... salesmen... lawyers... et al... like I said... everyday people... just like you and me.
Some have died and come back to life... some have been warned by a heavenly voice that saved their lives... others have been given a mysterious... but all-loving-of-grace... last goodbye by their loved ones... after their soul had left their earthly body... on the way to heaven. Amazingly... some of these declarations are made by people who said they never believed in G-d... others who were religious... and others who occupied the great in between. That's why this book is so "gently-powerful"... if you're a non-believer... the testimonies are spread over too large a demographic... and cover too many unique situations... to the point that even a non-believer who prides themselves... on it not being logically possible... has to at some point say... all these people... in all these different walks of life... can't be crazy!
I almost died during brain tumor surgery on February 13, 2003... and I faced death in one other situation... and I am an honorably discharged Viet Nam era veteran... and yet... other than gingerly sharing my blessed experience with two or three very special people... I have never had the courage to share my exact "BLESSED" experiences with the world... like these brave and blessed people have in this book. And I applaud them. I know the way most people at large react to such "testimony". A number of years ago a famous athlete known for his strong religious and spiritual beliefs said: "WHEN YOU TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU TALK TO G-D... THEY SAY YOU'RE A RIGHTEOUS MAN... WHEN YOU SAY G-D TALKS TO YOU... THEY SAY YOU'RE CRAZY!"
STORIES THAT MOVE YOU by .. David Hollar (Maryland, USA)
"God's Stories" is an inspiring and uplifting book for our troubled times. It will help us see that there is more to life than our daily grind.
Kremnitzer compells us to belive in a God that supports and protects us. He did so when I received my 1991 heart transplant. "Mr. NewHeart," available in paperback and Kindle, documents my amazing God Story.
Mr. NewHeart - Heart Attack to Transplant and Beyond
typical stories by .. Susan Smith (New Port Richey, Fl.)
I am not sure why most people gave this five stars. I was looking forward to the book, thinking it might be different than the typical "I was in trouble, and God saved me" , based on the reviews it was given. I have experienced extreme trauma, and grief in my life, and have my own God stories, but they are more believable and in depth than most of these stories. There were a few that got away from the typical, such as the mother who prayed for the right words to help her children with the destruction of their house in a fire, and a small pile of rubble revealed a fire frayed picture that said "count your blessings". But that did not seem to be the majority. I even paid full price at a book store for it because I did not want to wait the shipping time. Next time I will buy Amazon ( as I almost always do), and be patient.
God Stories by .. Amy Chattin (Boise, ID USA)
I enjoyed this book very much. It was an easy read, and well worth the time.
Related Search : god stories , inspiring encounters , with divine  |
Number of Pages : 352
Publisher : W.W. Norton & Co.
List Price : $27.95
Amazon Price : $14.74
Used Price : $17.92 |
Product Description A masterful account of today's money culture, showing how the underpricing of risk leads to catastrophe. When it comes to markets, the first deadly sin is greed. Michael Lewis is our jungle guide through five of the most violent and costly upheavals in recent financial history: the crash of '87, the Russian default (and the subsequent collapse of Long-Term Capital Management), the Asian currency crisis of 1999, the Internet bubble, and the current sub-prime mortgage disaster. With his trademark humor and brilliant anecdotes, Lewis paints the mood and market factors leading up to each event, weaves contemporary accounts to show what people thought was happening at the time, and then, with the luxury of hindsight, analyzes what actually happened and what we should have learned from experience. As he proved in Liar's Poker, The New New Thing, and Moneyball, Lewis is without peer in his understanding of market forces and human foibles. He is also, arguably, the funniest serious writer in America. Customer reviews great info but hard to follow by .. Chris Van Norman (OV sacramento)
its a collection of articles written going back 20 years. there very informative, but some are very complicated and since most articles are by different authors and on similar subjects you end up reading the same information a few times.
Extremely misleading by .. R. Ray ()
As noted by others, this book is merely edited by Michael Lewis. It is a collection of articles by others. Clearly the author means to take advantage of his name recognition and trade on the economic uncertainty present today with the use of the title PANIC. Don't bother to read this.
dense read but worth it by .. Steven P. Heizman (USA)
this book will take you awhile to get thru as its dense reading with alot of detail. i have an advanced engineering degree, work in finance and this book still provided me insight into some basic math i was lacking and more importantly some of the big-picture details behind how we got here.
it was an enjoyable book i found satisfying but remember i have a capacity for detail to things many would find boring and dry.
Amounts to a marginal blog post  by .. Neel Kashkari (Chicago, IL)
That'll teach me to pull the trigger before reading the reviews. I expected a Michael Lewis book and ended up with an interesting but extremely disjointed collection of articles that I could have found in 10 minutes on Google.
They rushed this thing out to capitalize on the ongoing crisis. It reminds me of the paperbacks that are cranked out in 2 weeks to take advantage of a sensational news story...only this one has 0 original content.
Unless you're an economist. by .. Average Reader (Texas)
Tedious and boring. Thought this might be helpful in understanding what is happening today. Maybe for academics.
Related Search : insanity , modern financial , panic story  |
Author : Robert Mckee
Edition : 1
Number of Pages : 480
Release Date : 1997-11-25
Publisher : HarperEntertainment
List Price : $35.00
Amazon Price : $19.50
Used Price : $19.30 |
Product Description Robert McKee's screenwriting workshops have earned him an international reputation for inspiring novices, refining works in progress and putting major screenwriting careers back on track. Quincy Jones, Diane Keaton, Gloria Steinem, Julia Roberts, John Cleese and David Bowie are just a few of his celebrity alumni.Writers, producers, development executives and agents all flock to his lecture series, praising it as a mesmerizing and intense learning experience. In Story, McKee expands on the concepts he teaches in his $450 seminars (considered a must by industry insiders), providing readers with the most comprehensive, integrated explanation of the craft of writing for the screen. No one better understands how all the elements of a screenplay fit together, and no one is better qualified to explain the "magic" of story construction and the relationship between structure and character than Robert McKee. Customer reviews Great book by .. John W. Dickason ()
I've been to his seminar and this book covers everything he talks about at the seminar in good detail. The seminar is still well worth it as it drives everything home with real world examples.
I think it is great by .. mmx (Portland, OR, USA)
Can't compare it to other books as I have not read many. I liked 'Save The Cat! a lot - but that is more of an outline to work from. This is the underlying theory.
Should be helpful to writers in any genre.
story by .. Ana Oliveira (portugal)
very good book with very interesting tips even for writers. i learned a lot. thnak you.
Essential reading for any writer by .. A. Thomas (India)
I've read a lot of fiction help books, but most of them are geared at the mechanics and tricks of fiction. None of them, in my opinion, philosophically tackles the concept of story telling and how stories work. Instead, they give tips and techniques like "put in rising conflict" or "make your characters likeable"
In STORY, Rob McKee tells us, from a conceptual, historical & technical view, what story is, how it works and how to make it work. He writes with authority and depth. It is clear that the man has put a tremendous amount of thought into the subject and that he genuinely cares about good story telling.
I have gained a lot of insight from this book. Almost every paragraph has something to take away from it. I'd definitely recommend this book, to both prose and screen writers.
Invaluable Resource by .. Justin Staley (Milwaukee, WI United States)
This is the only book on screenwriting I have read thus far, and, frankly, it would take a lot for me to read another. I have gained invaluable understanding of the screenwriting process with this book. I reference it continuously and am not disappointed. I find McKee's advice to be straight forward, easy to understand, and adapt.
Related Search : structure style , story substance , principles screenwriting  |
Author : Maureen Mccormick
Number of Pages : 288
Release Date : 2008-10-14
Publisher : William Morrow
List Price : $25.95
Amazon Price : $12.50
Used Price : $8.45 |
Product Description Marcia! Marcia! Marcia! Marcia Brady, eldest daughter on television's The Brady Bunch, had it all—style, looks, boys, brains, and talent. No wonder her younger sister Jan was jealous! For countless adolescents across America who came of age in the early 1970s, Marcia was the ideal American teenager. Girls wanted to be her. Boys wanted to date her. But what viewers didn't know about the always-sunny, perfect Marcia was that offscreen, her real-life counterpart, Maureen McCormick, the young actress who portrayed her, was living a very different—and not-so-wonderful—life. Now, for the very first time, Maureen tells the shocking and inspirational true story of the beloved teen generations have invited into their living rooms—and the woman she became. In Here's the Story, Maureen takes us behind the scenes of America's favorite television family, the Bradys. With poignancy and candor, she reveals the lifelong friendships, the hurtful jealousies, the offscreen romance, the loving support her television family provided during a life-or-death moment, and the inconsolable loss of a man who had been a second father. But The Brady Bunch was only the beginning. Haunted by the perfection of her television alter ego, Maureen landed on the dark side, caught up in a fast-paced, drug-fueled, star-studded Hollywood existence that ultimately led to the biggest battle of her life. Moving from drug dens on Wonderland Avenue to wild parties at the Playboy mansion and exotic escapades on the beaches of Hawaii, this candid, hard-hitting memoir exposes a side of a beloved pop-culture icon the paparazzi missed. Yet it is also a story of remarkable success. After kicking her drug habit, Maureen battled depression, reconnected with her mother, whom she nursed through the end of her life, and then found herself in a pitched battle for her family in which she ultimately triumphed. There is no question: Maureen McCormick is a survivor. After fifty years, she has finally learned what it means to love the person you are, insight that has brought her peace in a happy marriage and as a mother. Here's the Story is the empowering, engaging, shocking, and emotional tale of Maureen McCormick's courageous struggle over adversity and her lifelong battle to come to terms with the idea of perfection—and herself. Customer reviews And that's the way she became part of the Brady Bunch... by .. Ramsis Lion (Long Island, NY USA)
An interesting read that any fan of the Brady Bunch should most certainly check out. I got this book because I too, like so many others became a fan of this show due to all the repeats shown on cable networks throughout the years as well as local syndication. I don't know what it is about this silly show from the 70's but the characters and even the actors portraying them have always been of interest to me.
So of course when I found out that our very own Maureen "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" McCormick was going to do an autobiography and give the scoop on what went on behind the scenes and in her life I had to check it out.
For the most part it was a fun read. Surprisingly, its not just a book about what happened on the set of the Brady Bunch or the usual stories we all know to death by now of how much Robert Reed hated to be on the show and how he was in the closet the whole time, (but there is a lot of that too truth be told) its more of a story of , well a story of Maureen the person. Not just her portraying Marcia, but how she is and always has been a real person behind the character.
Its very revealing. You almost feel like Maureen is letting out everything she has been holding in for some 50 years, freely and openly. Just putting it out there in chronological order of her life. And some of it is interesting actually but a lot of it is typical of a lot of child star actors who are big on the show they were on but never quite make it out of the shadow of said show.
She battles drugs, relationship problems, family problems, trying to build a career in Marcia's shadow and her trying to find herself again after all seems lost. Its interesting to learn about the actress who played one of the most well known TV teenage girls of all time. And see that yes, she is very human and not at all what we would expect Marcia if she were real to be like.
The real drawbacks with this book are that:
Firstly its way too short. 50 years of your life is a long time, especially when you are on a hit show and all that followed after. The book is only 274 pages and is a quick read. I really was hoping for more as there is so much to know and find out about that you know could have been in there.
Secondly not enough on her Brady Bunch experiences are mentioned. I really did enjoy learning of her life and her trials and tribulations and even some of the more shocking aspects of things going on in her family, but at the same time she is known as being Marcia on the Brady Bunch. What was her favorite episode? What did she think of every co actor she worked with? What did she think of the Brady Bunch Movie? What about the actress who played her in the Brady's? She skips over her experience on Brady Brides due to personal problems she was having. But honestly I would have loved to hear what it was like being in her state while doing the episodes of Brady Brides. The focus just became more of her co Star trying to save her which is nice and all but not what I personally was interested in as much. She could have even talked of what her relationship with Eve Plumb and the other actors on the spin off show were like. Again we are reading the book to find out more of her Brady Bunch connections and it just seemed quickly skimmed over. Even the Brady Christmas gets just a quick mention before its back to more about unrelated situations. This book could have been double the size easily if she just devoted more to her experience with the show as well as what we have now. It would have been a really great read then.
Lastly the complaint I have is that Maureen cries, a lot. And I feel her pain but its something you should be ready for if reading this book. A lot of emotional stress and some may feel for her or others may not. But I became not too surprised after awhile when every chapter had a crying moment that she had suddenly.
The book is still very good. I can't say its better than other Brady related books, as they told the fun things I wanted to know about. Learning about the actor is good, but lets face it, you wouldn't have a book at all if it weren't for the show you are trying to escape from. Lets hear more about the stuff going on the TV set and fights and fun moments and more about spin off series you did. It is a very fine little book but you almost wish she spent just another few months getting more details into it and devoting more to the behind the scenes aspects.
Finding religion, love and getting rid of a drug habit are nice reads and honestly not too shocking given that a lot of actors go through the same situations but if you are going to do a book like this make sure a lot more of it is devoted to the show experiences itself as I really felt it lacked in that department.
Its a good start and I'm sure it was really a weight off of Mrs. McCormick's shoulders to tell all, but a lot of fans of the show who were looking for more may be a little bit disappointed.
. . . . It's an Era's Story by .. Golddie (Southern California)
As many have mentioned, "Here's the Story" is a very enjoyable book--I read it in a day. The book is intriguing, honest, and it carries the reader through that "growing up" world of the 1960s and 70s. Even though Maureen was a celebrity and the story reflects that overwhelming apsect of her life and the shadow it palls, it also reflects the era's highs of freedom/self-exploration and the lows of drug experimentation/abuse. Many of our generational travelers journeyed down these roads, and Maureen shows that she is one of the surviviors.
"Here's the Story" is the kind of book you won't want to put down. McCormick is honest and frank, and as others have mentioned, she tells of her childhood but doesn't linger there. She moves us through the ups and downs in her life, with the larger focus in her "after-Brady" years. It is the nature of autobiography to reflect one person's realm of experience, and so the book focuses more in certain places than the reader may wish it to and not enough in others. But it offers a lot more, too. It also takes the reader into places one does not expect to travel, such as the mother-daughter dynamic and in even a larger sense, the family dynamics after a death in the family upends a precarious balance (that was probably always there) and the abuse that families may occasion there (I feel for the author in her travails with her father/brother problem).
I applaud McCormick's candor and know one thing for certain: she is certainly one smart lady. "Here's the Story" is well-written and a pleasure to read.
If you're a fan, you'll love it by .. Carrie LaGree (Albany, NY)
I love The Brady Bunch. I grew up rushing home to catch the reruns on TBS every afternoon. I own the shag carpet covered box set of all dvds. Naturally, I was excited to read Maureen McCormick's memoir.
McCormick is not a great writer, but she does write candidly and honestly. Because I found the subject matter interesting, I was able to overlook her often awkward prose. The Brady Bunch was only the focus of part of the book, as I'm sure it was only the focus of part of her life, even though she remains Marcia Brady to most Americans. I most enjoyed her tales of Hollywood life and working with other famous people I had no idea she had interaction with. I adore learning about the interconnectedness of people, and this book provided many gems.
If you're a fan of The Brady Bunch or Hollywood memoirs, it's worth a read. Otherwise, it's not sensational enough or well-written enough to bother.
The Liberation of Marcia Brady by .. Brian Rodahaver (Stevensville, Maryland United States)
Maureen's autobiography may not appeal to a "Brady Bunch" purist, like its pre-publishing hype (and title) might have suggested. Mo lightly touches on everything Brady related. Barry Williams' 'Growing Up Brady' (with its extremely television pop culture friendly cover design) effectively centered on 'The Brady Bunch' while incorporating personal ancedotes like reporting to the set with a marijuana buzz. However, if someone wants a classic Hollywood "BWP" (I use that acronym in the strictest hip-hop lingo with no disrespect to Mo.) story, then this is it. ENJOY! I realize there's a HUGE audience and readership for that! In hindsight, she should have spent a long weekend with Ann B. Davis around 1981. Regardless of all of her past problems, I still love Mo, probably "more today, than yesterday", as Elvis sang in one of his final concerts in 1977. And that is "much more than a hunch!"
Brian Rodahaver
Stevensville, MD
Family and Prodigy Curse by .. Marc L. Ward (Wichita, Kansas USA)
The child star curse that effected Maureen has affected several other actors/actresses. She just happened to pen the book and tell the story. I actually enjoyed this book as it was a quick read, took me one whole day to devour. The book allowed us, the reader, to experience the life of Marcia Brady/Maureen McCormick. Through the reading you feel her pain that she went through for much of her life, but through God, friends and her loving husband she has prevailed. Thank you Maureen for allowing us to get to know you!
Related Search : s story , true voice , surviving marcia  |
Author : Rick Beyer
Number of Pages : 224
Release Date : 2003-03-18
Publisher : Collins
List Price : $18.95
Amazon Price : $8.99
Used Price : $10.57 |
Product Description History isn't always made by great armies colliding or by great civilizations rising or falling. Sometimes it's made when a chauffeur takes a wrong turn, a scientist forgets to clean up his lab, or a drunken soldier gets a bit rowdy. That's the kind of history you'll find in The Greatest Stories Never Told. This is history candy -- the good stuff. Here are 100 tales to astonish, bewilder, and stupefy: more than two thousand years of history filled with courage, cowardice, hope, triumph, sex, intrigue, folly, humor, and ambition. It's a historical delight and a visual feast with hundreds of photographs, drawings, and maps that bring each story to life. A new discovery waits on every page: stories that changed the course of history and stories that affected what you had for breakfast this morning. Consider: - The Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock because they ran out of beer
- Some Roman officials were so corrupt that they actually stole time itself
- Three cigars changed the course of the Civil War
- The Scottish kilt was invented by an Englishman
Based on the popular Timelab 2000® history minutes hosted by Sam Waterston on The History Channel®, this collection of fascinating historical tidbits will have you shaking your head in wonder and disbelief. But they're all true. And you'll soon find yourself telling them to your friends. Customer reviews Excellent Gift for Father and Husband! by .. Leslie B. Magee (Watson, LA USA)
I gave this book as a gift to both my father and husband and they raved about how great it was!
Fun stuff! by .. Cari Cowling (Bakersfield, CA)
A great little book to have around for a quick few minutes of reading. The stories are presented in a short form that provide just enough reading to fill a boring few minutes.
Yummy! by .. S. Boul (Jamestown, NC United States)
I devoured this book in one sitting! What fun to learn obscure facts! If you enjoy learning the quirky side of history, you'll love all of these books.
Good account of small historical facts by .. Gavin (Utah)
For what it is, this was a very informative book of little bits of historical facts. I was hoping for a little more in depth look at some of the things contained, but overall, I thought it was very well done. I did notice some small errors within the book, but nothing that takes away from the book as a whole. I did enjoy the book, and think it could be a great book even for younger readers, or parents and children together.
Interesting little book by .. Nancy E. Hicks (MA)
I enjoyed this little book, it has interesting little pieces of history not well known. I didn't sit down and read the whole thing I read one story a day until I'd read the whole thing. The book is in sequence by years and it goes back to the beginning of some of the things we take for granted today I liked learning those little details about the people who were important in those days. I just wish there were more stories I looked forward to reading a little piece of interesting history everyday.
Related Search : from history , never told , 100 tales  |
Author : Jon Scieszka
Number of Pages : 32
Publisher : Puffin
List Price : $7.99
Amazon Price : $3.40
Used Price : $2.86 |
Product Description is presented from the humorous perspective of a beleaguered wolf, whose innocent requests to borrow cups of sugar are rendered cataclysmic by a snoutful of unfortunate sneezes. Reprint. NYT. AB. NYT. Customer reviews Loved reading this as a kid by .. M. Jenkins (Florida)
I read this book aloud at my kindergarten graduation (we did a play with the 3 little wolves and this story worked together) and after watching the video of that recently it reminded me of how much I loved this story and I think because of stories like this and the 3 little wolves story I learned to think outside the box and love things that aren't the norm. I encourage any parent to read this book to their children as it is a great story that was really funny and definitely made me think of things differently than everyone else sees them.
A new spin on an old story by .. Carolann G. Duguay (Somerset, MA)
This book is the classic story of the "three little pigs" from the wolf's perspective. It is a bit funny, sometimes very funny, but more important, it shows children, that even if you think you KNOW what happened, there is always two sides to every story. It is an entertaining way to teach children not to engage or believe gossip, but to seek out the truth. Additionally, it shows how both sides involved in a conflict, can view the exact same situation in two totally different ways. This is an enagaging and enjoyable story, and fun for all ages!
A great read aloud book! by .. Marysia (NY)
When I read this book, I loved it. When I read it to Kindergarden-First grade children they loved it as well. One could do many activites and have many discussions about this book. Highly recommend, not only for teachers.
HIlarious by .. Emily J. Taylor (Utah)
Well, if this isn't now just a modern kid classic? And frankly, I can't resist it either. I'm sorry, but I find this ridiculously funny with it's subtle reworking of key story phrases, the tabloid-style pictures, and the quirky, personable writing.
A Fresh and Funny Perspective by .. S. Schell (Mason, OH United States)
"Everybody knows the story of the Three Little Pigs. Or at least they think they do. But I'll let you in on a little secret. Nobody knows the real story, because nobody has ever heard my side of the story."
This is what Alexander T. Wolf (but you can call him "Al") tells to pseudo-biographer Jon Scieszka at the start of this tale of the "real story" behind what happened between Al and that irksome triad of swine, the Three Little Pigs. Al claims that how it all got started was with "a sneeze and a cup of sugar" and things just got blown (literally) out of proportion from there.
You see, one day Al had a nasty cold that had him sneezing himself into oblivion. He was also baking a cake for his dear old granny for her birthday, ran out of sugar, so decided to go to his neighbors for help (what, there's not a corner store in Al's neck of the woods?). Those neighbors happen to be pigs and poor craftsmen at that - Al manages to knock down two of the pigs' houses (one of straw, one of sticks) with those gigantic sneezes of his. He then eats the deceased so they "don't spoil" and then moves on to the last house (made of brick) to plead for that cup of sugar he so desperately needs. The pig in the brick house denies him passage AND sugar, inciting Al's anger with a nasty little comment about his grandmother. This has Al seething and when the authorities roll up, he is sneezing uncontrollably and with great force whilst trying to break down the door. The media frenzy this creates gives Al the "Big Bad" moniker he has had to this day, a misnomer this entire story has sought to discredit.
But how are you gonna trust a wolf behind bars?
Scieszka's amusing take on the hapless villain of this oldest-of-old fairytales is just as amusing for the adult as it is for the young reader. Lane Smith's illustrations are spectacular, designing Al as the everyman (or should I say "everywolf") with a demure sweatervest, bowtie and studious-looking spectacles. What little we see of the pigs (other than their shiny rear ends paired with fork and knife) isn't nice - they are literally painted as antagonists, for we aren't meant to sympathize with them in this story.
Bottom line: This is a great children's book to own (I read it myself when I was a child and loved it), especially if you and/or your child are familiar with the original story. It will provide a fresh and funny perspective time and time again.
Related Search : pigs , three little , true story |
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