The Old Man And The Sea

Book Description

Published in 1952 and awarded the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA is one of Hemingway's most enduring works.

Completed after a 10-year literary drought, it was his last major work of fiction. Written in Hemingway's characteristically spare prose, it concerns on old Cuban fisherman named Santiago who finally catches a magnificent fish after weeks of not catching anything. After three days of playing the fish, he finally manages to reel it in and lash it to his boat, only to have sharks eat it as he returns to the habor. Santiago is spent but triumphant as the other fishermen marvel at the size of the skeleton.

Customer Reviews:

the nobel prize for fishing.......2003-12-22

A quick comment on the amazonian editorial review, above, which states that the old man is "triumphant as the other fishermen marvel at the size of the skeleton." Perhaps this reviewer read a different book ... there is absolutely no "triumph" or any other strain of hubris in the old man's character. Only a strong resolve and bucketloads of humility. The old man is not even around when the fishermen and tourists are "marvelling" - he's in his shack, in bed, recuperating. Maybe this reviewer never even read the book. Just up to the bit where it starts to get boring, after the old man actually hooks the fish, and then figured on a good Hollywood ending. Fair enough. Actually reading a book is a hindrance to writing a good review. Check out my only other amazonian review, on "Recollections of a Bleeding Heart" and see what I mean. Never even read it. Good review though, don't you think? Sure, no one has yet voted that they found my review useful. I would be very hurt if anyone did. Bleeding utilitarians. If you want to read something useful, read the instruction manual for your dvd player or something. Don't waste your valuable - sorry, useful - time reading reviews by mark coddington.
But I did actually read Hemingway's novella. Sort of felt obliged. You know, when books start to reproach you each time you glance at them? I've got a 614 page biography of Arthur Miller on the bookshelf in front of me, with Arthur's face on the spine looking at me through those crazy black minimalist glasses (they never really caught on, did they?) and he knows (he knows!) that I'm never going get around to reading Timebends in this lifetime. And he's mocking me!
So, this old guy hasn't caught a fish for yonks. Everyone thinks he's no good, except the boy. One day he goes out deep, hooks himself one big effoff fish. Too big to fit in the boat, he straps it alongside and by the time he brings it in, sharks have picked it clean.
I mean, there you have it. Its not about spoils going to the victor. Its not about overcoming great challenges against all odds, then rubbing your detractors' noses in it. Just because The Old Man and the Sea is written by an American, doesn't mean it's about winning.
The book's 127 pages long. After the old man hooks the fish, he takes 83 pages to bring the creature in. 83 pages! Of Hemingway's unrelenting and unembellished prose. Think of the most uncomfortable chair you've ever sat on. Now pick a number between one and ten. Imagine sitting on that chair for that many hours. It will start to give you some idea of what reading this book is like, particularly if you are an empathetic type like me. The cuts on the old man's hands from the line - ow! Now, multiply this number of hours by nine. If you get a two-digit number, add those numbers together, otherwise stick with what you got. Now subtract five. Just do it! (Oops, I think I've broken copyright laws. Ignore that last sentence). Next, count along that number of letters in the alphabet and think of a country starting with the letter you came to. Take the second letter of that country's name and think of the first animal that comes into your head. Got it? Now when you've finished reading this review, I'll tell you what animal that was. (And I'll bet you right now that you didn't think of a fish or an old man.) Okay, do we have a deal? But I digress. The idea of the animal kingdom provides one key to understanding this tale. Firstly, the old man constantly dreams of lions on the beach in Africa. Why? What do lions represent? I do not profess to be proficient in, or interested in, psychoanalytic approaches to literature. But the lions must represent something important to the old man, or why would Hemingway waste his valuable - sorry, useful - time by writing about it? Secondly, the old man (his name is Santiago, by the way, but is seldom referred to as anything other than "he" or "the old man", so I'll follow Ernest's lead) continually refers to the fish he has hooked as his "brother". During the old man's three day fishing marathon, he eats raw fish, as he has no other sustenance, which further emphasizes this "brotherhood". Hemingway is asking, where does man stand in relation to the animal? Then he goes a long way toward answering it: "I am only better than him though trickery and he meant me no harm." And: "But I was more intelligent than he was. Perhaps not, he thought. Perhaps I was only better armed."
The old man is alone, locked in a battle with both himself and the fish. Yet he identifies with the fish; he feels sorry for it: "I wish it were a dream and that I had never hooked him. I'm sorry about it, fish." The fish's name is Alberto, but is only ever referred to as "fish" by Hemingway. In a struggle to come to terms with his own life and imminent death, the old man talks aloud to himself, asking questions both simple and profound. Death is a central motif in The Old Man and theSea, but not one I'm much interested in.
Perhaps looking for motifs, and pondering their significance, is to read too much into a book. Maybe this one is just a story about a guy who catches a fish, a short parable about the food chain. Now there's an interesting question. Do Jehovah's Witnesses read all books in their literal sense, or only the Bible? Hmm. Furthermore, are there any good customer reviews of the Bible on Amazon? I'm off to have a look. Oh - before I go, I must keep my part of the deal. Was it an elephant?

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The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson
Jewel's Reading Excellence Review: Helps children understand nature's life cycle
A Message of Hope for Children Who Are Grieving
Beautiful and excellent for all who grieve

The Dragonfly Door
John Adams
Manufacturer: Feather Rock Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1934066117

Product Description

Parents will help children identify the beauty and hope in all cycles of life as they follow two insect friends, Lea and Nym, and the struggles one of them endures when her friend disappears. This is a tender story about loss and change, written to help parents express their views about life and death. The book may serve many purposes, such as comforting a grieving child who has lost someone close or providing facts about dragonflies to inquisitive minds. Lea's transformation into a dragonfly may even be used as a metaphor for life-after-death. The Dragonfly Door is beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson. The book is cherished by parents, grandparents and teachers. It was recently brought to life as a mini-play in Alabama to help children cope with the loss of their classmates. The following is an excerpt from the book: While Nym slept, she heard Lea's voice saying, "Follow me, Nym. I'm going to show you where I am." "Will I see you again?" Nym asked. "Only when it's time for you to die too," Lea replied. "You won't see me in the marsh ever again. But let me show you what I will look like the next time you see me. Here, close your eyes." Nym closed her eyes. "Now look at me," Lea said. Nym opened her eyes and saw ...

Customer Reviews:

The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson.......2007-09-07

The debut children's picturebook of author John Adams, The Dragonfly Door dares to confront serious topics - of loss, death, grieving, and transition. Nym and Lea are two close insect friends, but one day after Nym yells at Lea, Lea disappears. Nym searches everywhere for her missing friend, and can't find her. At last Nym falls asleep, grief-stricken, and finally hears Lea's voice one more time. "'I died and went to this special place,' Lea said, her voice full of love. 'But I didn't want you to leave,' Nym pleaded. 'I'm sorry I yelled.' 'I know you're sorry,' Lea assured her. 'I left because my water nymph body died while I was picking flowers in the reeds, not because you yelled.'" The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson illustrate this highly recommended picturebook for sharing the bittersweet realities of life with young people.

Jewel's Reading Excellence Review: Helps children understand nature's life cycle.......2007-05-10

John Adams brilliantly invites the reader into the world of Nymphs and Dragonflies to explore the changes that take place when Nym's friend goes to a special place.

When I had lost a family member I had read a wonderful story called, "The Water Bug Story." John Adams adds a fresh approach to this story by focusing on friendship loss and giving a voice to his characters. With the help of Gibson's eye-catching nature illustrations, "The Dragon Fly Door" answers general questions surrounding loss, such as feelings about loss, what happens to the nymph's body when he dies, and how a nymph is transformed into a dragonfly.

Adams creatively normalizes typical friendship rivalry and takes the reader on a nature journey to discover that one chooses to resolve conflict, loss, and changes in different ways. Adams concludes the book with uncomplicated educational facts for the inquisitive science mind.

This is a great educational tool for parents, grandparents or professionals to use to help explain the uncontrollable life cycle changes and loss.

Reviewed by Jewel Sample, MS
Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses(2006), also translated: Besos y Abrazos Al Aire(2006, Spanish edition) and Flying Hugs and Kisses Activity Book(2007)

A Message of Hope for Children Who Are Grieving.......2007-02-26

As President of a nonprofit organization that reaches out to those who are grieving, I was very pleased to read a book such as The Dragonfly Door. This book provides a much needed way to offer children (and adults) a message of hope following the death of a loved one.

Children can relate to the playful nature of Nym and Lea who are the two young nymph friends, the sorrow of Nym when Lea dies, and the comforting feeling when when Nym realizes that he will one day see Lea again as a dragonfly, when he too has made his transformation into a dragonfly.

Our nonprofit organization recommends this book so highly that we have decided to make it available for purchase at all of our events.
-Valerie Marquardt

Beautiful and excellent for all who grieve.......2007-02-18

I received this wonderfully beautiful book on the 8th anniversary of my son's graduation to Heaven ... that evening, I was able to read it with his daughter, who is now 9... I believe she gained another understanding of her Very Own Daddy in a beautiful place that we have not seen just yet ... and though she already knew he is waiting for her, this was another good reminder of that ... I was unaware of the dragonfly's life cycle and was so blessed to see how it seemingly parallels this life and the next. Thank you, John, for a wonderful way to help us all in our continuing journey with grief and the Hope we can have.

Adam and His Kin: The Lost History of Their Lives and Times

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Adam & His Kin: The Lost History of Their Lives and Times
History Comes to Life!
Important Book
An Entertaining Read..
Beautiful, Well-written, Excellent book

Adam and His Kin: The Lost History of Their Lives and Times
Ruth Beechick
Manufacturer: Arrow Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0940319071
Release Date: 1990-07-02

Product Description

A rare blending of the Bible account with information from sciences, archeology, ancient traditions and other sources. Reads as easily as a story, yet teaches actual history. Narrates from creation to Abram, encompassing the whole period usually called "prehistoric". Charts, maps and illustrations help to give a clear picture of times and places. Gives insights into the world before the great flood and into the rebuilding of civilization afterward. Shows the sources of all pagan beliefs. Used as supplementary reading with the course above on Genesis. For the whole family.

Customer Reviews:

Adam & His Kin: The Lost History of Their Lives and Times.......2006-11-16

Purchased book for my son for homeschool. He likes the book because he loves the class and the teacher at his coop.

History Comes to Life!.......2005-08-28

The Bible is the deepest, most intelligent, and powerful writing ever penned. Because it is such a profound book, parts of it may at times seem confusing. Many times I struggled through the pages of the Old Testament trying to comprehend the history. Sometimes I would give up, becoming weary of the long string of names or descriptions of who begat whom.

Why did God's Word have to be so difficult for me? I so wanted to be able to read the Bible and be as interested in its history as I was in the Tudor Era. Of course, I never dreamed that there was a book out there just for me.

When my Mom presented me with Adam and His Kin by Dr. Ruth Beechick I immediately devoured it. The story, the history, the Bible! Mrs. Beechick retells the story of Genesis like no other author has. I found myself intrigued and delighted as I read about Eve's heartbreaking struggle in the Garden of Eden, the tragic murder of Abel, the fascinating story of Noah, and even the tower of Babel.

It was like reliving history beside these amazing figures and the spectacular events which surrounded them. I could actually feel Eve's longing for the forbidden, I mourned for Noah as he was made fun of and taunted while he built the most amazing boat in the world, the boat that God instructed him to build.
In Adam and His Kin history comes to life and you experience what life was like thousands of years ago. In my opinion, this book is a masterpiece and I can give it nothing but the highest praise.

J.M. Age 14

Important Book.......2005-03-11

This important book gives children a Biblically accurate overview of the book of Genesis, told in a narrative style. Read this book to your children before you begin your study of ancient history.

An Entertaining Read.........2004-11-06

The book reads like a narrative, starting with Adam and Eve in the Garden, ending with Abram leaving Ur. It was a refreshing way to read the unfolding of Adam, Eve, Abel, Cain, along with Noah and his son's lives. The author spices things up by inserting what she believes these people felt and thought.

" You won't die, " the serpent said. "God knows that when you eat the fruit your eyes will be opened and you will be as gods, knowing good and evil." The woman contemplated the tree. Its fruit looked pleasant and good to eat. Would it really mak her wise like God, knowing good and evil? She stepped in for a closer look. Then she picked a fruit. Turning it around in her hand, it seemed a small matter if she should taste it. Just one little bite. And so she did. At that moment, the spirit within her died. Its radiance faded, and she stood beside the tree feeling helpless and naked. The serpent quickly disappeared. He was not going to hlep her. "That deciever!" she exlaimed. She did know evil. That much of the serpent's words came true. And how terrible it was! Evil was inside her. Coul she throw asay the fruit? Could she cough up the bite and spit it out? Could she undo her act in any way? No, it was done. She couldn't restore her innocence. Adam must eat the fruit too. He must not leave her alone in this condition. Frightened and distraught, she ran to Adam, the remains fo the fruit still in her hand. Seein her pitiful state, Adam needed no explanation. Her confused words, her crying, her begging tore at his heart.

Though not EXACTLY what may have happened, it's not impossible something to this magnitude did occur. With Cain and Abel, Ruth Beechick writes:

As he shouted at his brother, a terrible idea came into his mind. "Come into my filed," he said. "Let us talk in privacy out there." In the field they continued talking until Cain suddenly rose up with one of his garden tools and killed his brother Abel. Cain had seen the death of animals, but this was the first death of a human. It was shocking even for hard-hearted Cain to see the dead body of his brother lying there...fastforwarding to after God cursed Cain, Ruth writes:

Cain said, "That punishment is more than i can bear." His voice sounded sorry now but it was sorrow not about his deed, only about his punishment.

Ruth also gives some nice information about our biblical characters. She notes tht Seth meant "appointed one." Later on she explains that Nimrod means "let us rebel.", which further illustrated Cush's revolt against God, describing Nimrod's purpose. The characters and where they migrate to, the names, etc are accurate. One has to keep in mind while reading that it's Ruth's interpretation on how the individuals feel or what they thought. It was a very quick read.

Beautiful, Well-written, Excellent book.......2004-07-03

WOW! There were a lot of ideas in this book that I already had, and a few that were new to me, but the way that Ms. Beechick weaved together the Biblical account with history and made it easily readable was just amazing. I've read many books on this time period. Most of them are very scholarly, which definitely has it's place, but this was a quick, light, fun read, that was still jam-packed with lots of info. She also includes a great bibliography, so I can't wait to start researching more.

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Nouwen At His Personal Best
Polite Dissent
Book was Great
Typical Nouwen Fare
A precious book that changes one's perspective

Adam: God's Beloved
Henri J. M. Nouwen
Manufacturer: Orbis Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1570751331

Amazon.com

Henri Nouwen completed Adam: God's Beloved just weeks before his death in 1996. It is a personal memoir about his friendship with Adam, a severely handicapped man he knew at the L'Arche Daybreak Community in Canada. Although Adam could not speak and was wracked with violent seizures, Nouwen called Adam "my friend, my teacher, and my guide," and credited Adam with renewing his faith in a particularly dark period of life. Thanks to Adam, Nouwen came to understand the central questions of Christian theology in a way that transcended all statements of belief, and instead found joy in the mere gift of human existence. --Michael Joseph Gross

Customer Reviews:

Nouwen At His Personal Best.......2006-10-28

ADAM: GOD'S BELOVED may not be Henri Nouwen as a writer at his best, but in many ways it is Henri Nouwen as a priest and a person at his best. I know that this sounds like a contradiction, but a reading of the introduction of the book by Sue Mosteller explains some of the difficulties of this book. First, it was a bit of a rush job and the version we have today may not have been the final version had Nouwen not died prior to its publication. Even his last editor Robert Ellsberg in an article called "Editing Henri" (part of a collection of articles in a book titled REMEMBERING HENRI, a volume celebrating the life and work of Henri Nouwen) wasn't sure what Nouwen wanted to accomplish in this book until he read the final version and thought about what it said about Henri Nouwen as a person. Ellsberg's approach may be the best way to approach ADAM.

ADAM tells the story of Adam Arnett, a severely disabled young man Nouwen met while living at Daybreak, a L'Arche community comprised of people of differing abilities, founded by Jean Vanier. In sum, Nouwen cares for Adam's personal needs and believes he comes face to face with the suffering Christ and sees through Adam that every life is important and has a purpose. This is basically a summary of the book and there are many writers, most notably Vanier himself, who speak eloquently about the role of the disabled in society and how the disabled reflect the life of Christ. Like many readers, as some other Amazon reviews will attest, I expected more, or at least I expected more as I read the book. I admired Nouwen for venturing into a place where too many look away, but I hoped for more profound insights from this person who shared so much with so many. I do not believe there is another spiritual writer who has shed light on so many topics, who can be deep and profound yet also simple.

After reading the book, I thought about what I read, which would makes Henri Nouwen happy since he always wanted people to stop and reflect, then I realized what may make this book so important in understanding Henri Nouwen. Nouwen spent his life feeding others spiritually, finding all sorts of ways people could find God and meaning in life. When he arrived at Daybreak, he was both physically and emotionally exhausted, knowing that so many expected so much from him. Adam, whose well being depended on the care of so many, needed Nouwen too, but in a different way than those who wanted to hear him speak or read his next book. As Nouwen served Adam's needs he felt something he hadn't felt before, namely unconditional love and experienced the presence of Christ. Nouwen finally experienced what he provided for so many in his care for Adam. He needed to share this story. No doubt it would have been different if he had lived longer, or another volume with deeper insights would have been published at a later date, but for readers who loved Nouwen's writing and believe we know the man through his works, realizing he was able to experience what he so freely shared with others makes this work indispensable in understanding Nouwen and left me with a good feeling knowing he experienced the riches he so generously shared with others.

Polite Dissent.......2004-10-05

I'm the father of an eight-year old boy with Down Syndrome. I cherish and value the disabled. I wanted to love this book, which tells the story of the author's relationship with a severely disabled man. But, really, honestly, it isn't that good. It was unfinished at Nouwen's death and retains a half-baked, rushed quality. There is remarkably little description of Adam's everyday life: indeed, for every sentence about Adam, there must be three or four about Nouwen's interior life. At times, Nouwen sentimentalizes and "theologizes" the severely disabled, which is another way of obscuring their humanity. Nouwen meant well, the publishers meant well -- but "Adam" just ain't that great.

Book was Great.......2004-05-04

This book was recommended by a neighborhood childhood friend who I greatly respect, and I ended up greatly respecting this book.
It's a deeply moving account of what it is like to live day by day with a severely disabled man named Adam. In Adam, the priest, Henri Nouwen, finds a spiritual treasure, a new way of looking at the world, that transcends his immersion in religion so far in his life. As the father of an autistic child, I was brought to quiet tears many times. He saw Adam as a great teacher, as I also see my son Stephen, who has severe autism.
His book will no doubt get you to to look at life from a completely different and fresh viewpoint. Thank you to Ann my
wonderful Catholic friend for having this book touch my life. :)

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy" and radio broadcaster

Typical Nouwen Fare.......2002-08-23

This is a good story. Maybe if I hadn't read so many of Henri's other books, where he recounts some of the same experiences as in this book, I would have been more moved. It was helpful and touching to read about this relationship Henri had which had such a profound influence on him, and in which his theology culminated. He had been realizing for several years that we are all called the Beloved independent of what we do, have, or how we look--but this was most pronounced for him through his relationship with Adam.

So it is worthwhile getting a fuller picture of how Adam taught Henri so many important things about God and himself, but if you have already read many of Nouwen's books (written after he went to L'Arche), much will be repetitive. But evenso, the story and concrete examples of Henri living out his theology are really beautiful. And as someone who works closely with and sees God in people with developmental disabilities, it is wonderful for me to see how Henri saw God in Adam. One of the other reviewers accuses Henri of romanticizing relationships with people with disabilities, but I do not find this to be the case. It was clear that Henri was writing a book about how he encountered Jesus in Adam, and of course focused on incidents that would show that. I did not find the book lacking just because it mainly talked about the peaceful and beautiful moments, because the purpose of the book is to show us how God is in every person, and in a special way in people with disabilities; and it comes across loud and clear. I recommend this short book, though it is definitely not my favorite by Nouwen; it could easily be read in one afternoon.

A precious book that changes one's perspective.......2001-08-21

Adam, God's Beloved, by Henri J. M. Nouwen, is an excellent book for a family caring for a special needs person, for the friends of special needs people, and for anyone wanting to understand the special world of those that are "different" from them. We are parents of a very dear special needs boy, and this book offered me a much more positive outlook toward my son than this world tends to offer. I was blessed and touched by Henri Nouwen's identification of Adam with Jesus. This book is realistic and inspiring at the same time--par excellente!

Eve & Adam: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Readings on Genesis and Gender

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Valuable, but Skewed
Essential reference book for anything about Eve!

Eve & Adam: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Readings on Genesis and Gender

Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0253212715

Customer Reviews:

Valuable, but Skewed.......2005-11-25

I'm not going to say it's a bad book. There are very few books that draw together so many fine and seminal pieces of literature and play them against one another so well. It's a fine book.

There are, however, features of the book which are just maddening. Did ancient religious scholars stop to question the historicity of Genesis 1-3? No, out of enlightened self-interest (and a strong wish to avoid being executed as an apostate) they did not. As the modern inheritors of that legacy, we are not quite so bound up in the literal. I think the editors, all very capible, might have included more material from the mythological, metaphysical, and allegorical readings of creation and fall.

It is an exceptional book as it is--but it could be a real masterwork if some slightly more heretical material were included.

Essential reference book for anything about Eve!.......1999-11-03

Magnificant book! The authors have done a tremendous job collecting together a broad but representative array of readings about Eve from three religious traditions. Anyone doing research on the Adam and Eve story, or anyone wanting the background to the naming and valuation of women which has developed from the Adam and Eve story must get this book! Helpful summaries move the reader through the plethora of material, noting important changes and developments in thinking through the centuries. A great text for women's studies, feminist theologies and literary studies.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (Classic Books) (Classic Books)

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Lovely book
not the right book
Great fun and great illustrations!
Much better version of an already good book!
laughing out loud

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (Classic Books) (Classic Books)

Manufacturer: Child's Play International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0859537277

Book Description

The well-known children's song is illustrated using a die-cutting technique that stays with one picture but reveals each new animal 'swallowed' as we come to it in the verses of the song.

Customer Reviews:

Lovely book.......2007-08-15

Met with all our expectations. Enjoyed by adults and children! Was quickly shown off to classmates at pre-school.

not the right book.......2007-07-28

The book I was sent was not illustrated by Sims Taback and was really not cool at all. It looked very old-fashioned and it has a hole in the lady's belly on ever page so you can see all the things inside. It's not horrible but the Sims Taback version has more visual appeal.

Great fun and great illustrations!.......2007-07-11

My daughter loves the song so I had to get the book. She is 4 and it is one of her favorites. The illustrations are fun and detailed and she enjoys having me read all the "commentary". I suspect she will love this one for a while.

Much better version of an already good book!.......2007-03-09

I am a preschool teacher and have 19 three year olds. They absolutely loved this book. When I finished it for the first time all I heard was "again, I want to do it again!" We also had raisins for snack and pretended that they were flies, I never had so many children eating raisins! I did have 1 or 2 children a little startled by it, by the "perhaps she will die" part. But after I explained that it was a book, and that she did not actually die, they sung it twice as loud the next time.

laughing out loud.......2007-01-13

This was a book I gave my granddaughter for her 4th birthday. It's one of her favorites. She laughs all the way through: "silly old lady."

The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the Old Trail Days

Average customer rating:

Too Familiar
Stampedes, Dance Hall Girls, Shootouts... It's All Here - a review of "The Log of a Cowboy"
An awesome book!
The log of a Cowboy
Written by a cowboy who was there.

The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the Old Trail Days
Andy Adams
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618083480

Book Description

A classic fictional chronicle of life on the open trail, THE LOG OF A COWBOY has long been considered the best and most reliable account of real cowboy life ever written. In the years following the Civil War, sixteen-year-old Andy Adams left his home in the San Antonio Valley and took to the range. Here he charts his first journey as a bona fide cowboy, from south Texas to Montana along the western trail. Guided by his plainspoken, sure-saddled voice and the living, breathing feel of firsthand experience on every page, we relive dusty cattle drives, perilous river crossings, honor-based gunfights, and narrow escapes from buffalo stampedes, not to mention tall tales passed around the campfire and such unforgettable characters as Bull Durham and Bill Blades. THE LOG OF A COWBOY, newly introduced by Thomas McGuane, offers a true depiction of a cowboy's life and work as well as a classic adventure story of the great American frontier.

Customer Reviews:

Too Familiar.......2007-09-23

I have completely lost track of the number of editions and printings I have seen of this book, over the years, and a quick search with Google will produce a number of different free e-texts available on-line. However, almost every edition known to me is missing an introduction; there is therefore (1) no information about the author, and (2) no information as to whether what we have is a novel written in documentary style, or an actual nonfiction account of a typical trail drive in the early 1880s.

Well, folks, it's a novel, as the largely symbolic names for the characters might indicate: Priest, Flood, Officer, Strayhorn, Forrest, Blades, Wheat, Straw, etc., etc. I finally got around to reading it, and enjoyed it. Nothing spectacular or overdrawn--- it would not be surprising to discover that every incident is based on something that directly happened to the author or one of his cowboy sidekicks during his trail-herding days. All the classic situations are here, including visits to Dodge City and Oglalla, fiendishly difficult river crossings, stampedes, rustlers, con-men and segundos, chuck wagons and remudas, saloon gunfights and card-sharping. The number of 20th Century western authors who turned to this 1903 novel to obtain some authentic details to insert into their own trail-drive sequences is probably also close to uncountable.

Stampedes, Dance Hall Girls, Shootouts... It's All Here - a review of "The Log of a Cowboy".......2007-07-10

"The Log of a Cowboy" was published in 1903 and tells the story of a five month long trail drive that took the circle-dot long horns from just a little south of Brownsville up into the Indian territory of the Blackfoot Agency - a 'pasear' of nearly 3000 miles.

When I came to this book, I didn't exactly know what to expect. The only other western I had read since childhood was "The Virginian", a book that seemed very fictional (although I enjoyed it greatly). "Log of a Cowboy" is entirely different. It reads more like an autobiography -- which some historians have suggested it is. Certainly there is an authentic feel to the book that is unmistakable. Rather than being over the top, the stampedes and gun battles are underplayed, although they certainly maintain their own levels of excitement.

My own response to the book: I found it hard to put it down. The story was full of adventure and cow and cowboy trivia and it was just plain fun. I ended my read with a great deal more respect for the cowboy and his craft. Who knew that cattle liked to bed down on higher terrain?!?

Five Stars. Despite being fiction, "Log of a Cowboy" remains a wonderful historical resource. Persons interested in the Old West should find it a satisfying read, although they should not expect a overly polished presentation. And for those who are considering this book for younger readers it should be noted that there are some very non-PC(politically correct) speech and actions. This book was, afterall, written over one hundred years ago.

~reviewed by Pam T.~

An awesome book! .......2007-04-18

My only comment is the author glossed over some of the hardships. There is a section of the drive where they have to round up the cattle after a stampede and go some time without sleep or food. He mentions this but doesn't dwell on it. I'm guessing this fits with cowboys not complaining in the face of hardship. Cowboy Up! Read this book!

The log of a Cowboy .......2007-01-11

Very well done. The naritive is "Old Elnglish style" and was somewhat hard to get used to reading. After a while I realised that the cross section of people on cattle drives added to the stories.

Written by a cowboy who was there........2006-08-14

Andy Adams is one of the rare authentic 1800's trail riding cowboys who had the ability and desire to put his experiences in writing for us to read in future generations. He obviously realized that he had lived through a time period that would capture peoples imaginations for years to come, but that would soon disappear forever. What sets him apart from the others is his beautiful writing style, and flair for the dramatic. This story of a three thousand mile cattle drive from Texas to Montana is written in first person, and sounds for all the world like an autobiographical story. It is only the occasional reference to his main character, Tom Quirk, that reminds you that he is not describing actual events in a long cattle drive. But the details he includes, his knowledge of horses and longhorns, the stories told around the campfires, and his understanding of the sometimes bullish behavior of his cowboy companions, including their rigid adherence to the Cowboy code of the west, lets you know that he did experience this world in first person. He had ridden those trails for many years, and had seen the unfenced expanses of the American west in those glorious times. This is a book that deserves inclusion in any serious collection of Western history books.

Average customer rating:

A masterful story!
An Awesome Story- My New Favorite Book
Great Read - American Heritage at its Best
A surprisingly good read...
Arty's Song

My Old True Love
Sheila Kay Adams
Manufacturer: Algonquin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1565124073

Book Description

Sheila Kay Adams brings us a novel inspired by the ballads of the English, Scottish, and Irish. These long, sad stories of heartbreak and betrayal, violence and love, have been sung for generations by the descendents of those who settled the Appalachian mountains in the 1700s. As they raised their children, they taught them first to sing, for the songs told the children everything they needed to know about life.

So it was with the Stanton family living in Marshall, North Carolina, during the 1800s. Even Larkin Stanton, just a baby when his parents die and he's taken in by his cousin Arty, starts humming before he starts talking. As he grows up, he hungrily learns every song he can, and goes head-to-head with his cousin Hackley for the best voice, and, of course, the best attentions of the women. It's not long before the two boys find themselves pursuing the affections of the same lovely girl, Mary, who eventually chooses Hackley for her husband.

But, just as in the most tragic ballads, there is no stowing away of emotions. And when Hackley leaves his wife under his cousin's care in the midst of the Civil War, Larkin finds himself drawn back to the woman who's held his heart for years. What he does about that love defies all his learning of family and loyalty and reminds us that those mournful ballads didn't just come from the imagination, but from the imperfections of the heart.

Customer Reviews:

A masterful story!.......2007-09-27

This is a book I could not put down, and it haunts me still, months after reading. The characters are so real! This is southern fiction at its best.

An Awesome Story- My New Favorite Book.......2007-01-02

Not since Lee Smith's Fair and Tender Ladies, has there been a book as touching as this one. Other reviews have said what the story is about, so I won't repeat all that, but will say this is a fantastic book.
From the first page, I was hooked. It was the first page-turner I've read in quite awhile. I couldn't put it down. Every page was exciting to read, without a lot of fillers and descriptive junk. I love it. Love it. Love it.

Great Read - American Heritage at its Best.......2006-12-30

I loved this book. My people are from Tennessee and it brought to mind my grandmother and her siblings used to sit and tell for hours. Lordy, I plumb enjoyed this book.

A surprisingly good read..........2006-03-03

My Old True Love was chosen by my book group. The blurb on it left me unsure of investing my time in it, but oh my, I'm glad I did. Sheila Kay Adams is a master at characterization. Her protagonists were solid, real folks indicative of the time, Civil War, and place - the mountains of North Carolina. The conflicts of war, unrequited love, and betrayal are no different today than a hundred and fifty years ago. These families are imperfect, but that's part of what makes the reader care about and relate to them. Folk music lyrics are interspersed within the story, and become caught up in the tale itself. By the way, a CD is available if you want to actually listen to the music, some performed by Adams herself.
I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. I needed a little more time to ease out of the story, but that is a small comcomplaint and shouldn't hold anyone back from devouring this small gem.

Arty's Song.......2005-11-13

Arty grew up fast as she cared for her cousin Larkin Stanton after his mother died during birth. Even when Arty married at fourteen, Larkin moved with her. As her own babies were born, Arty raised Larkin as her own. He decided to move in with their Granny to get away from Arty's growing amount of children. But still Arty loved Larkin as her own.

Arty, Larkin, and another cousin Hackley grew up to the ballads of their people. Singings and frolics were well attended. People found any excuse to get the fiddle playing. Hackley became an accomplished player and Larkin, a powerful singer. As Larkin's voice changed, he struggled with the singing but after a few months, he fell into his new voice.

As Larkin and Hackley grew up, they both fell in love with the same woman, a beautiful girl named Mary. Hackley, who had his choice, wanted her most because she never fell for his advances. Hackley eventually married her but his playing ways never changed. Larkin was always there when Mary could not find Hackley but he never wanted to bring hurt to the woman he loved.

As the Civil War began, the life of their small community changed. Arty's husband and Hackley left for war. Since Larkin was too young, he stayed and helped Arty and Mary. His feelings never changed. Eventually Larkin went off to war and the woman were alone with all of their young ones. The war hardened both women and the end of the war brought many changes.

My Old True Love is a sad tale of a small community. Readers will be drawn to Arty and her breeding ways. They will feel for young Larkin as he watches Mary choose his cousin to marry. The war brings many changes and Adams tells the stories of this small community so well. Written as a poor American, readers will be brought into the tale. The songs are incorporated into both the lives of the community and the novel.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed the Sea (Classic Books With Holes)

Average customer rating:

Excellent

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed the Sea (Classic Books With Holes)

Manufacturer: Child's Play International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1846430356

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-09-15

This book was an exciting extention of the old lady who swallowed a fly with a twist to it.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm (Classic Books)

Average customer rating:

Ee I Ee I Oh
Guns, whiskey and barnyard animals are a questionable mix
A great way to teach animals, sounds, and love of reading
What fun
What a great book!

Old MacDonald Had a Farm (Classic Books)

Manufacturer: Child's Play International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0859536629

Product Description

Old MacDonald Had A Farm: Classic Book Series ( )

Customer Reviews:

Ee I Ee I Oh.......2007-04-11

This is a fantastic book that reveals a new animal on each page. Fun to read/sing with your child. Book features 6 farm animals, with some more animals/farm sounds listed on the back page if you wish to extend the song/story.

Be warned, there are some small images of Farmer MacDonald shooting a rifle and an image of him tipping out the last drops of what appears to be a whisky bottle (Though I do believe that most young children will not recognise the bottle for what it is).

A fun book none the less

Guns, whiskey and barnyard animals are a questionable mix.......2005-04-08

I'm really torn on this book. The animals and the format are wonderful. The illustrations are cute. I was surprised when I got four pages into it, and Old Macdonald had a shotgun. Then by the end of the book, he was squeezing the last drop out of his whiskey bottle. I would love to see the publisher update the book and replace these drawings. I'm all for free speech and letting kids read the classics in school and not banning books. I'm just not ready to explain guns and alcoholism to my toddler. I don't know whether to take the book away from her or let her read it and hope she never asks.

A great way to teach animals, sounds, and love of reading.......2004-08-12

We like this book because each page reveals a new animal that was hiding on Old MacDonald's farm. Each page also reveals the noise that animal makes right along with the famous kids' song. The cutouts, hidden animals, escalating noise on the farm, and the farmer's increasing discomfort make for a fun read. At the very end, a whole new slew of animals and noises are presented, just in case you still have breath in you to keep on singing.
The illustrations are fantastic. They are fun, colorful, and present animals behaving in pretty funny ways.
This is a repeat read, as so many kids' books are.

What fun.......2003-06-05

My daughter has learned several animal sounds thanks to this book. She loves the bright pictures and the song. We read this one often.

What a great book!.......2000-07-19

This is a terriffic book for use in the music classroom, and at home. As a book that can be either sung or read: it is versatile. It's large size and colorful illustrations draw kids attention. I have personally found it to be very effective with my kindergarten through third grade students. I highly reccommend it to anyone looking for a good book for younger kids that can be sung or read!

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