Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Ellis has a complex, sophisticated and highly entertaining Wold Newton type take on comics literature. Using his own characters, of course, but this is just all around fabulous. The story takes a turn, as Snow gets more aggressive about taking the fight to The Four. They are starting to learn perhaps they should not have messed with him.
Superhero's that aren't here to just hit thing's.......2007-04-22
I love this comic, because you have great characters that Warren Ellis always writes. The characters also have powers, but these powers do not define the comic or the team. They aren't here to punch stuff, we'll not solely anyway. They are archeologists, seekers of the past and the truth. That is always their first goal, and if they get into a brawl along the way, so much the better. Highest possible recommendation on this one.
Things Start to Come Together.......2006-10-18
Numerous people have told me that Planetary is one of the best comic series of the new milennium, but after reading the first two volumes, I just couldn't see what people saw in the series. It wasn't bad by any means, it just wasn't amazing. However, after rigorous recommendation by some people that I trust very much when it comes to comics, I finally picked up the third volume, and I can finally say that I see why people praise this book so much.
In these 6 issues, we start to see how things are connected along with some of Elijah Snow's previous exploits, both before the formation of Planetary and as his time as the project advisor when Ambrose Chase was still on the team. Also, the team's plan to catch and stop The Four is put in motion in the 6th issue, and it is a very nice plan indeed.
To quote one of the people who kept pushing me to go on with this series, Planetary is very much a slow-burning story. Even though each issue is a stand-alone, everything is tied together; all of the main and peripheral characters are somehow connected to each other and to various places and events. Multiple reads are a must in order to get everything, but this is definitely a series that people should stick with, as it is very good, and seems to only get better.
To John Q.......2006-01-12
I don't usually write into these things but I had to quickly comment on the John Q. Public "vhspreowner" review. First of all I have a hard time understanding how he got that Ellis hates himself. Also I've read all the Planetarys so far and don't see huge problems with the dialog between men and women. Maybe in Transmetropolitan but that's a different story entirely. (I love that book too btw). Lastly being a writer and editor did anyone edit his review? Much in the way of spelling and grammar problems unless it's a hip new way of writing that I don't get. Not sure if this kind of thing gets posted but I'm doing it anywho. Gotta stick up for Ellis!
One of the few comics that gives you a sense of wonder........2005-10-11
This third collection of Planetary continues the story with the high quality writing and beautiful art of the other two volumes. Planetary is an elegant piece of work of high intelligence and literate appeal. Where else would you find a story that takes place in the castle of a mad scientist one moment, ancient China for a Crouching Tiger style interlude for another moment, and still remain its own thing? Planetary well worth getting into.
Book Description
My foot's in the stirrup,
My pony won't stand;
Goodbye, old partner,
I'm leaving Cheyenne.
-- Old cowboy song
Leaving Cheyenne, Larry McMurtry's second novel, traces the loves of three West Texas characters as they follow that sundown trail: Gideon Fry, the serious rancher; Johnny McCloud, the free-spirited cowhand; and Molly Taylor, the sensitive woman they both love and who bears them each a son. Tragic circumstances mark the trail but McMurtry's style never turns melodramatic or sentimental.
Customer Reviews:
Authentic writing.......2007-06-21
This is pre-Hollywood McMurtry and, I feel, his best. He can make you laugh and cry, but this novel does more. It helps me understand my grandmother & grandfather more (Crockett County, Texas ranchers) and is a wonderful glimpse at a life so different from current American pop culture.
I read Anna Karenina and was struck by how similar the issues discussed in the book were to contemporary issues half a world away. I read Leaving Cheyenne and am struck by how different my values and lifestlye are compared to just two generations ago in the same geography.
This book is such a pleasant and mature read. When you want to escape and admire something that is close to you but eerily alien, this book can put you there.
Very pleasing early McMurtry.......2007-03-25
Since I already have read just about every one of McMurtry's books I'm going back to the early books. This one is a fine composition based on three lives forever bound together by the warm and enigmatic female of the trio, Molly. McMurty, with his flair for the unusual, paints an original picture of an unlikely relationship that could only happen in real life. McMurtry treads where writers fear to go, always creating unique characters to unveil the complexities of the human condition. I couldn't help but fall in love with these three personalities. You have to read this book to believe it. McMurtry (along with Dos Passos) is in my opinion the greatest American writer. May he continue to bless us with his effortlessly flowing narratives. I'm about to read the final book of the Berrybender clan and I can't wait to get to it. The Berrybenders are not to be missed!
Engaging.......2006-11-05
These characters were at least engaging enough for me to finish the book. The first McMurtry I'd read in many years was "Duane's Depressed" and I loved it. Totally engaging. So I tried this as a follow-up and it's not as good but worth a read.
Larry's Best?.......2006-09-27
Larry McMurtry may rank among the world's more inconsistent novelists. It's hard to imagine a book less interesting than "Texasville." "Lonesome Dove," while a fine epic read, will never be seriously confused with great literature. But "Leaving Cheyenne," modest and overlooked as it is, is an exceptionally deft and compelling story, containing, in Molly, one of the great female characters in 20th century American fiction.
Good Read.......2006-09-23
This isn't McMurtry's best novel, but if you like his old, pre-"Lonesome Dove" novels, I think you'll enjoy it. For that matter, if you've never read a McMurtry novel but enjoy sad, touching tales, this one is for you.
The novel follows the life of three characters--Gid, Johnny, and Molly. It starts in the twenties with the two boys, who are best friends, each trying to earn Molly's love. The novel end over 40 years later when all three are old and gray.
An interesting thing about the book is the way that McMurtry chose to tell the story. The first half, when the characters are young, is told by Gid. The last half of the book is divided into two parts. The first part is told from Molly's point of view, and the characters are in their forties. The last part is told by Johnny when the characters are in their sixities. It's a different way to approach a story and it works well. In each of the books three parts, something significant happens in the lives of the characters that alters their relationship with one another.
McMurtry's story-telling technique isn't as strong as in some of his other novels. There are portions that are a little slow and drawn out, and there are times that the characters aren't defined well enough. But, overall, it's a good read. It's still a very emotional tale and anyone would be moved by the story, which takes a good look at the mistakes we make in our youth and how nobody gets a second chance to make things right.
Book Description
In one West Philadelphia neighborhood, families come together in celebration of unity and togetherness. Their block parties provide a union that serves as a backdrop for discovering the truth about themselves and the people they think they know.
Best friends Neet and Shay have depended on each other for most of their lives. However, their friendship will be tested when Neet becomes pregnant by one of the corner boys and Shay arranges an abortion that goes terribly wrong.
To Shay's horror, Neet is left unable to bear children and embraces her mother's esoteric yet sometimes impractical religious beliefs as punishment for her sins.
Meanwhile, Shay is left to struggle with her own growing maturity, the grief of losing a cherished friendship, and the disintegration of her parents' marriage. The two girls eventually choose their own separate paths.
Leaving Cecil Street invokes those things that are most important -- family, friendship, and love.
Customer Reviews:
Good Entertainment.......2007-01-06
I have read most of Diane McKinney-Whetstone's books, and this one like the others did not let me down. It is a well crafted, organized story of a very personal nature. It reminds me how nieghborhoods used to be, both black and white. Nieghbors would share and assist raising each other's children, drink each other's food, and get into one another's business without major repercussions. This is the village that raised many of us in the older portion of the modern generation, before we were raised by the video game and television set. The characters are human, sturdy and accessable. I've seen these people, I know these people, I like these people. This is a very well written and enjoyable book. And i would encourage you to read it if you have a chance.
A literary pleasure........2006-12-02
As with all of McKinney-Whetstone's novels, you are moved by her literary prose to destinations, times, eras, and so many fine places of the heart.
Wanted to Stay on Cecil Street.......2005-10-01
The novel LEAVING CECIL STREET by Diane McKinney-Whetsone is set in Philadelphia in 1969 on a beautiful African-American neighborhood street. It was a joy meeting Joe, Louise, Shay, Alberta, Shawn, Neet, Deucie, and Brownie in the novel. Cecil Street and its inhabitants reminded me of the cohesiveness of the African American neighborhood in the past. This is when African American continued to try to keep their streets as nice and neighborly as possible. The story centers on family, betrayal, secrets, love, survival, and dysfunctional families. It included vivid imagery and was full of nostalgia.
The author's novel writing skills are extraordinary. She really knows how to provide vivid setting descriptions that made you think that you are right there where everything is happening. She gives you a feel for the problems that the characters have contented with in the past and current. Her character descriptions make them seem like someone you have known; they jump right off the page. Even though there were scenes were my teeth cringed (eating cat food, mouth surgery) I couldn't stop reading. This story bought back memories of my childhood neighborhood. Where everyone knew everyone's business however, the neighbors were always there to lend a hand whenever needed
One problem I had with the story was that many of the subplots developed by the author were not brought to a conclusion, which left me with many unanswered questions. In addition, through there some very dicey scenes in the book, as soon as the excitement happened, the book ended. .
Overall, I rated the book a five based on its easy read, vivid descriptions, interesting characters and wonderful story line. What happens on Cecil Street could happen in any neighborhood. If you like a good story, read this book.
Loved It!!!.......2005-09-28
I am also a big fan of Diane McKinney Whetstone, and while I'm not sure why it took me so long to buy and read this book, I am really glad that I finally did. Once again the author has given us characters who we can't help but love - even the ones that we probably aren't supposed to! I enjoyed this book immensely and can't wait for the next one!
Superb & Compelling Black Family Story.......2005-09-19
Diane Mckinney W hetstone is one of my favorite authors. I bellieve I've now read all her novels and can truly say each is absolutely
astounding and satisfying. Not only is she a good storyteller but her style is literary. I have always been drawn to stories set in big racially-mixed cities since I grew up in Chicago. I'm never disappointed with this author. I can't wait until I have a new novel to read. She's realistic and compassionate. I learn much about surviving from her novels.
Product Description
It is 1856 in the small Louisiana town of Lecompte. The political unrest before the Civil War causes one family to consider moving West. Lucas Mailly, a timber mill proprietor, is one of them. He decides he must sell the family timber mill before it is too late and move West with his four granddaughters. Elizabeth Bromont, the eldest of the granddaughters, doesn't want to disappoint her grandfather. Liz is faces with a tough decision that she knows will affect her and those closest. Before they can reach Texas, she must gather all of her courage in order to keep the group together. Liz, along with her sister, Megan, and two cousins, venture toward the Trinity River. These women must learn to do without any male strength and influence as they tackle the adventures and trials of the wagon trail. Jodi Barrows pieces her love of quilting and the American West into this novel like a fine patchwork quilt. Each character has a quilt stitched into the story uniquely for them. Jodi has drawn from her own family's history to create a story founded in many truths. You will fall in love with the women of Riverton. To learn more about the collection of fabric, quilt patterns and stories...visit our website LeavingRiverton.com or JodiBarrows.com
Customer Reviews:
As a retired teacher..........2007-01-06
As a retired teacher, this poorly written book was hard to finish. It is filled with spelling and grammatical errors! The errors are so glaring that it detracts from the story line. It appears to have not been edited at all.
Book Description
In her rich and nuanced debut novel, Haven Kimmel brings to life two irresistible people at odds with their small-town lives and with each other.
Langston Braverman does not come home to Haddington, Indiana, because she is searching for a simpler life. Having just walked out of her Ph.D. oral exams and abandoned the remains of a disastrous affair, she has retreated to her parents’ attic to nurse a bruised heart and maybe even write a great American novel. It does not escape her attention that the town is abuzz with the death of her childhood friend, Alice, but not even this morsel of intrigue can rouse Langston from her self-imposed existential dilemma.
A few houses down Plum Street, Amos Townsend is obsessed with Alice's murder and his inability to stop it from happening. A preacher struggling with his role as a spiritual leader after suffering a profound crisis of faith, he finds comfort in helping Alice's two small girls, who have renamed themselves Immaculata and Epiphany. When the children claim to speak to the Virgin Mary in the backyard tree, Amos and Langston become adversaries in their attempts to protect the girls, failing to recognize that they are on the same side.
Told with remarkable wit and sweeping empathy, The Solace of Leaving Early is the story of finding our better selves through accepting the shortcomings of others. With gentle humor, beautiful prose, and a warm empathy for the buried wounds of the human heart, Haven Kimmel has created an unforgettable and wise debut.
Download Description
Langston Braverman does not come home to Haddington, Indiana, because she is searching for a simpler life. Having just walked out of her Ph.D. oral exams and abandoned the remains of a disastrous affair, she has retreated to her parents' attic to nurse a bruised heart and maybe even write a great American novel. It does not escape her attention that the town is abuzz with the death of her childhood friend, Alice, but not even this morsel of intrigue can rouse Langston from her self-imposed existential dilemma.
A few houses down Plum Street, Amos Townsend is obsessed with Alice's murder and his inability to stop it from happening. A preacher struggling with his role as a spiritual leader after suffering a profound crisis of faith, he finds comfort in helping Alice's two small girls, who have renamed themselves Immaculata and Epiphany. When the children claim to speak to the Virgin Mary in the backyard tree, Amos and Langston become adversaries in their attempts to protect the girls, failing to recognize that they are on the same side.
Told with remarkable wit and sweeping empathy, The Solace of Leaving Early is the story of finding our better selves through accepting the shortcomings of others. With gentle humor, beautiful prose, and a warm empathy for the buried wounds of the human heart, Haven Kimmel has created an unforgettable and wise debut.
Customer Reviews:
Better Than Zippy.......2007-08-11
Having previously trashed "A Girl Named Zippy," I had very low expectations for "The Solace of Leaving Early." Zippy made Kimmel famous, got her a spot on The Today Show, but Solace is much superior.
Amos Townsend is a thoughtful preacher suffering a crisis of fault in a small Indiana town. One of his parishioners has been murdered, leaving two daughters orphaned and witness to her death. Langston Braverman, a washed up PhD candidate caught in a haze of existential contemplation, has returned to childhood bedroom to hide from the world. Langston's wise and affecting Mother, AnnaLee, knows just the medicine the egocentric Langston needs. The orphan girls need guidance and AnnaLee won't rest until Langston starts thinking of someone other than herself. There's a quirky grandma, a pillar of strength father, and a town of oddballs so real I can attest to their existence (I'm from close to the same place as Kimmel). The story progresses as we find out, along with Langston, what happened to the girl's mother and the fate of the two orphans.
Kimmel certainly has a kind pen. There were so many passages of simple beauty in this little gem; I've a page full of quotes. One thing Kimmel does especially well is limiting words while keeping the most thoughtful of meaning. However, her characterization is a bit uneven. I hated Langston for the first half of the book and wanted to throw fire on Amos to get him excited. They were developing into nice little souls. And then she dropped the ball. The last third is too contrived, with a neat little bow and all. The plot is assisted by a `who-done-it.' There are just enough hints and secrets to keep us guessing as to the circumstances of the murder.
One imperfection in the novel is one of the things I found most interesting. Kimmel uses lofty philosophers and authors like adjectives. All the name-dropping can be distracting. Some might have difficulty believing that Indiana farmers sit around reading Kierkegaard and John Donne; but I know that not everyone in a small town is a peabrain. And her analogous use of lofty ideals does a good job juxtaposing the simplistic nature of small town life.
My favorite thing about the novel was Kimmel's faithful rendering of small town folks. They live their lives without question, in application and not theory. Langston's life has been one of theory, her Mother's one of application.
This novel is worth a look for anyone interested in the nuances of small town life or the human implications of our choices, consequences and flawed perceptions.
Lifetime TV Movie In Print.......2007-05-01
I picked up this book on the recommendation of a friend that described it as "reading like a poem."
While the language and flow of the book were easy to follow and smooth, the plot was extremely weak.
The whole thing reads like a Lifetime Movie and has all the hallmarks of such a movie:
Troubled girl leaves school
Small-town murder/suicide leaves orphaned children
Lonely pastor
Lonely pastor spars with troubled girl over care of orphaned children
Lonely pastor and troubled girl are left as guardians of orphaned children, fall in love, get married, raise orphaned children.
Sadly it has turned me off of Kimmel. I won't be reading anything else by her.
The Solace of Leaving Early.......2007-03-14
This novel was one of the best I've ever read. Having Haven come into one of my classes was amazing. She is very funny and talented. I would recommend this book to anyone, and if you get a chance to hear Haven speak, do it.
Go back to the drawing board, Ms. Kimmel!.......2007-01-22
This book is in such stark contrast to Haven Kimmel's delightful novel "A Girl Named Zippy" that I am finding it a chore to get through it. I am still not through it, but I think that I may have to say enough is enough and move on to a more rewarding piece of literature. I loved "A Girl Named Zippy" - the simplicity, the elegance of the sparseness of her words, Ms. Kimmel's humorous recollections of her childhood and life in a small town. This novel also takes place in a small town, but it's as if Ms. Kimmel is saying "I'm grown up now, so my first novel will be in a grown-up style" with lots of references to philosophers, religion, heavy literature, etc. Please Ms. Kimmel, go back to your roots and draw from what works for you - understatement.
Not Zippy, but wonderful too.......2006-06-26
I am struggling to find words to describe this book...I loved it. Langston Braverman, an ultra intelligent and academic young woman who walks out when in the final stages of her Phd. Returns home to live with her parents. Returns home to her small, Indiana hometown. Against her will, her life becomes entangled with two children, who have witnessed a murder, and the tortured church pastor. I don't want to give it away.
Langston is extremely bright and different. I did not understand most of her thoughts (the same could be said for the pastor, Amos), but I was not put off by this. They are two people who understand the esoteric writings of people who are way out of my league, but I accepted this and it did not take away from the story. I loved the way she spoke to people, so raw and honest--some would say bizarre.
A story about grief and love. The epilogue caused me to tear up. I was so moved by the outcome of this novel. I wish I could describe it better. I wish I could write like Haven Kimmel.
Book Description
Is it possible for a mother to love her child too much? This is the question that haunts Kathryne Smallwood the night before her son, Early, faces sentencing for killing another teenager.
Kathryne has devoted her life to her only child. She has made herself present in his every activity, every decision, every move, in hopes of protecting him. But it may just be this powerful force that sends her son spiraling in the opposite direction.
Critically acclaimed author Judy Goldman tells a riveting, deeply moving story of a well-to-do southern family whose smooth, easy lives are suddenly disrupted irreversibly. As Kathryne Smallwood waits for morning and her son's fate, she searches her memory for details of his life and her own to discover where she went wrong, how she could have stopped the unspeakable act her eighteen-year-old son has committed. All she ever wanted was to keep him safe and happy. Isn't that what every mother wants? Kathryne realizes, too late, that the hardest part of parenting might be knowing when to hold back. Now she must come to terms with Early's leaving and what to do when her one reason for living is gone.
Goldman presents a wise, sharp-eyed invitation to explore the nature of family and, in particular, the nature of marriage and parenting -- how we think we're doing the right thing when what we're really doing is following our own hungers.
Customer Reviews:
How much should mothers protect their children?.......2006-01-21
In the opening lines of EARLY LEAVING, the reader learns that the title character, Earl "Early" Smallwood, has been arrested for murder only hours after delivering the commencement address at his private high school. In her shock and dismay, Early's mother, Kathryne, begins deconstructing Early's life in an attempt to figure out where she went wrong, how she may have caused her son to go astray.
With that promising premise, author Goldman delves into the history of the Smallwood family, exploring not just Early's childhood but glimpses into Kathryne's as well. Goldman also devotes time to the relationship between Kathryne and her husband, Peter, highlighting their different attitudes towards raising their son. Unfortunately, although I found the story to be engaging, Kathryne's behavior as a parent did not ring true for me. Like any parent, she is quite protective of her son, but her denial about Early's behavior seemed unrealistically extreme (eg, what mother would find drugs in her son's possession and never mention it, either to her son OR her husband?).
I have to admit, I am not a parent myself, so this novel might resonate more with someone who has children of their own. However, I suspect that even most parents would not be able to sympathize with some aspects of Kathryne's behavior, which would serve to decrease the impact of Early's eventual plight. Ultimately, I found this book to be well-written and intriguing, yet not overly enjoyable.
VERY FLAT.......2005-11-23
Don't waste your time... I was so disappointed with this book. The first chapter and the last 4 chapters are the only worth wild ones! The middle of the book is so dull and flat.
If you want a fabulous read, in my opinion, read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. This is a beautiful book well worth your time. You will not be disappointed- I promise!!!
What keeps you up at night?.......2005-02-11
I am a new, first-time mom and I am so glad I carved out the time to read Early Leaving. This wonderful yet chilling book should be required reading for all parents. Once I got into it (on page one), I couldn't put it down.
Judy Goldman, in her graceful, poetic style, has created a world I feel I could easily stray into while raising my child(ren). This world features a mother who loves her son so much she does everything she can to keep every aspect of his life happy and trouble-free. We are trained to do this with our infants; how do we learn to put on the brakes once our children are older? With that question in mind I feel it would have been predictable for Goldman to write about an overindulgent, overprotective mother who singlehandedly dooms her child to a lifetime on the psychologist's couch. Instead, she shows us how complicated, entwining and unpredictable families and child-rearing can be. Kathryne's relationship with her husband Peter; Peter's relationship with their child Early; Early's relationship with his best friend Chip. Each of these bonds (and more) exert influence in the formation of a person. None is the sole cause of who a person becomes, and yet none is innocent.
Judy Goldman is a wise guide helping us navigate the complex emotional story Kathryne narrates. Rather than settle for easy answers, Goldman poses thoughtful questions to the end. This is why I believe all parents should read this book (and why I have already recommended it to all the young parents I know). We are given the opportunity to study another family's life under a microscope, thus providing us with a mirror or a foil for our own decisions.
A book for current or future parents.......2005-01-12
Ask any parent to list their greatest fears for their children, and seeing a child carted off to jail for murder is probably not one of them. That is for good reason -- while most of us realize that there may be aspects of how we parent that may be flawed, overall we are optimistic about how our children will turn out. And we are honestly surprised if and when things go wrong. This novel does a wonderful job of taking that scenario -- a son on a bright, upward path who stumbles into tragedy -- and explores what brought him to that point. Goldman sorts through Early's upbringing and family ties, and holds up various bits and pieces for our collective review -- some we can discard, some we are not sure about, and others may reverberate powerfully. But it is no easy task to simply assign blame or grant forgiveness. This book shies away from easy lessons. We are instead encouraged to look beyond the parent-child relationship and pay closer attention to the parent-parent-child one. It should be on all of our reading lists.
This is a page-turner!.......2004-12-25
This is one of the best books I've read all year. On page one, the reader finds out that a young man from a privileged family has been convicted of murder. It is almost impossible to stop reading from that point on. This is not a murder mystery though; it's a perceptive, moving narrative about parenting and marriage. There are incredible insights on every page; you'll want to put stars in the margins next to all the beautiful descriptive details. Although Early Leaving might be thought of as a woman's book, I would recommend it to anyone interested in stories about family -- how entangled and complex those relationships can be.
Book Description
It's summer in Atlanta and black children are disappearing. By the time the heinous killing spree is over, 29 will be dead. This haunting menace provides the backdrop to the exquisitely evocative stories of three children fighting the everyday battles of adolescence: Tasha, who is coping with her parents' separation and the sweet pain of a first crush on a tender boy; Rodney, who struggles to make friends and wants only to please his abusive father; and Octavia, who faces down the popular crowd at school and must straddle the line between protected and protective daughter. Ultimately, these individual stories reveal the loss of innocence that accompanies the passage from childhood to adulthood.
Customer Reviews:
A Beautiful, Character-Driven Novel.......2007-02-20
I grew especially attached to the character Octavia while reading this lovely book, even before the final section, which focuses on her particular childhood trials and reveals the reason for the title. For me, Leaving Atalant was one of those reads that built up steam and interest, and edged its way into my heart until I was fully invested in what would happen to these kids. I was very sorry to reach the last page, but fortunately I can move on to The Untelling next. :-)
Intriguing.......2007-01-20
I knew when I ordered this from my book rental club that the story revolved around the Atlanta Child Murders. Having been a preteen when all that was going on, I was hesitant to revisit the subject.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. The story was nothing what I thought. Rather than focusing on the horrors of the Child Murders, Ms. Jones brings out some necessary social issues that need to be addressed in today's society--all of these from the perspective of children.
If you are parent, get this book. I am not a parent, but should I become a parent one day, I will know to take heed and treat my child as the gift that he/she will be.
Also, hats off to Griot Audio for a stellar performance on the audio CD.
Interesting and Pleasant.......2006-07-01
Nice book, can be boring at times. May be more enjoyable as a movie.
Way Before My Time [5 stars].......2006-06-09
I usually don't read books that much, but I had to read "Leaving Atlanta" for an assignment for school. It's a real nice book, written by Tayari Jones, who I had the pleasure of meeting last year when she came to my college. The story is set on the west side of Atlanta, Georgia in the year 1979 and is split into 3 parts, first being told in third person, the main character being Tasha. Then in second person, being Rodney. And last, being told in first person with the main character being Octavia. My favorite is when it is told through Octavia, because it goes into more detail on how one of the characters felt in the story. The entire book revolves around the "Atlanta Child Murders" that occured between 1979 and 1982, a huge contrevesy that is questioned even to this day about it's suspect. The book isn't that long, it took me about 4 days to read it, and its one of those book you don't want to put down, because as a reader, you are anxious to see what is going to happen next. This is one of those books that is going to make you think you were there, when all of this was going on.
Recommended for anybody who wants to get to know something about the Atlanta Child Murders, and anyone who wants to enjoy a good book.
WOW, I THOUGHT I WAS THERE..........2006-01-03
I TRULY DID. AT THE TIME OF THESE EVENTS I WAS A BABY/TODDLER SO THIS GAVE ME VERY GREAT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A CHILD IN ATLANTA DURING THOSE TIMES. THIS BOOK LEFT ME TO ASK "WILL THERE BE CONTINUATION OF THIS TO FIND HOW THIS IMPACTED SOME OF THE CHARACTER'S LIVES IN THE FUTURE". IT WAS SO REAL I REALLY WANTED TO KNOW. KUDOS ON A JOB WELL DONE!!!
Average customer rating:
- Lonesome Dove
- Outstanding, exciting & entertaining account of early Texas
- Loved reading three of McMurtry's novels at one whack-
- THREE WINNERS
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Larry McMurtry: Three Complete Novels (Lonesome Dove, Leaving Cheyenne, The Last Picture Show)
Larry Mcmurtry
Manufacturer: Random House Value Publishing
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ASIN: 051710069X
Release Date: 1994-06-21 |
Customer Reviews:
Lonesome Dove.......2002-12-04
Lonesome Dove is one of the best books I have ever read. It has drama, action, love and everything that makes a good book good. The story begins with the author describing the characters and the story, and you really can connect with the characters. The main character is Gus McCrae, an ex Texas Ranger who is very lazy, and loves to drink. Despite this, he is an excellent ranger and his name is known all throughout America. The other main character is Call. He is a hard working, stubborn man who doesn't like ot talk alot. The story goes on from there. I recomend this book for advanced readers, who want a spellbinding story.
Outstanding, exciting & entertaining account of early Texas.......1998-07-15
I have read "Dead Man's Walk", "Comanche Moon","Lonesome Dove" and am now starting "Streets of Larado". My only disappointment is that the books don't contain a map depicting the locations of the major events. I wish the author could post one, so I can track the events and better relate to the actual locations. I loved the books- I grew up in West Texas and can identify with much of the landscape descriptions.
Loved reading three of McMurtry's novels at one whack-.......1998-01-31
Larry McMurtry has an easy-going, though smart, style, that I identify with deeply. He doesn't try to pummel you with big words and confusing sentences. He writes like it feels.
THREE WINNERS.......1997-02-25
THE LAST PICTURE SHOW was set in a town about a hundred miles from where I live. Like all Texas towns, after the Korean War, television killed the down town area along with the picture shows. Larry was able to capture the smell of hot pop corn and hot bodies pressed against one another. Back before that war, young men had little more on their minds than how they could earn enough money after football pratice so they could take the beauty queen out - and sometimes, the football coach's wife. When the retard was killed by a fast truck, an era ended. If you are in Archer City, visit Larry's rare book store. You can pick up bargains for $5 to $1,000
Book Description
In the tradition of Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima or Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony, poet Frank X. Gaspar has crafted a beautifully written coming-of-age-in-ethnic-America novel set in the Portuguese community of Provincetown, Massachusetts. For narrator Josie Carvalho, a single summer brings great loss and abrupt change, but also a new understanding of his place in the world.
In the insular Portuguese fishing community of the Cape, Josie's life has been shaped by the annual influx of summer tourists (who are largely oblivious of the locals), and his great aunt Theophila's fervent if idiosyncratic Catholicism (she has visions and keeps a private shrine to the saints). The community is also sharply divided between the Picos like himself (whose ancestors hailed from the Azores) and the Lisbons (whose forebears came directly from the old country). The counterweight to these forces has been the boy's relationship with his grandfather John Joseph, a drunk, clam-poaching old man who is nevertheless a sly and tricksterish master storyteller.
Josie's shaky religious faith receives a jolt when he prays that his unwed mother might find a husband, and a stranger named Carmine arrives from New Bedford and begins to call on her. His mother's relationship with the Lisbon Carmine soon disrupts the family's equilibrium and throws their lives into conflict. Josie finds himself divided in his loyalties and upset over what he fears is his responsibility for the trouble.
His grandfather comes to his aid with a healing narrative, a magical act of storytelling that lifts him out of the present and into a heroic past. Over a series of nights, John Joseph, Scheherazade-like, spins the colorful and adventurous story of their ancestor, Francisco Carvalho, a Portuguese explorer who just may have beaten Columbus to the New World. With the guidance of his grandfather's obscure but inspired stories, Josie begins to find new ways of understanding his relationship to his family and to the world.
Customer Reviews:
An AMERICAN story.......2000-02-16
"Leaving Pico" is more than just the coming of age story of a young, second generation Portuguese immigrant boy. It is a desperately needed fresh look at the story of America. No judgement call here. Just the real inside stuff that can't be found on a map. The heart of this country and what makes her swagger. Displaced characters, fully realized in the author's capable hands, trying to catch a toe hold on some reason to raise their heads up when they are well beyond down. And surviving, growing more confident with each generation, learning the new tricks for adaptation. Yes folks, the AMERICAN novel IS alive and lives without shame in this amazing first novel by this poetic American voice. Buy it, read it, and put your name on it before you lend it out!
Leaving Pico.......2000-01-17
This book is a beauty -- the mix of realistic background and almost surreal imagination is both energetic and emotionally satisfying. The portrait of the Portuguese community in Provincetown during the 50's rings true -- resounds in fact for anyone who loves the place -- while the boy's need for connection and release find their match in the wild, loving, untameable mind of the grandfather. I love this book.
"Leaving Pico" . . . Left me upset........1999-12-18
"LEAVING PICO . . . LEFT ME UPSET . . ." It was not because of the title, which, in my opinion, has nothing to do with leaving Pico, nor the suggestion of someone who read the book and told me that "A dysfunctional family" would have been more appropriate. What left me upset in "Leaving Pico" was the misspelling of 99% (of what I read ) of the words in Portuguese. Portuguese, such a beautiful, romantic language is definitely butchered, dwarfed and murdered by Frank X Gaspar in this novel. I am not even talking about the accents that some of the Portuguese words required and were omitted. I am sincerely glad that neither aunt Teophila nor Sheika Nunes had a cágado for a pet . . . I confess that the English in this book, to the best of my knowledge, is impeccable. But in my opinion, Frank Gaspar an Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at Long Beach City College made a very big, inexcusable and unforgivable mistake not to have researched the correct way of spelling the Portuguese words inserted in his novel. Even if he were making use of artistic or poetic license, or writing the words as he may have heard them, he should either at the beginning or the end of the book have mentioned such and given the right morphology therein so that if any English speaking person for any reason whatsoever had to refer to such passages, he or she would at least spell the words properly. I only hope that if the novel is translated into Portuguese, or if it is reprinted that all those words would be corrected.
Jose M. Raposo
SUPERB story by a Provincetown Native.......1999-11-06
The story of Josie's coming of age in Provincetown in the late 40's, is bound to become a classic. This is a book that is hard to put down. Although the grandfather's story of the ancestor gets a little long in detail; what really interested me was the telling of the everyday life of the Picos living in the Provincetown community.
As a visitor & part-time resident of Provincetown for the past 23 years, it was a pleasure to finally read a book about the true natives of Provincetown. Thank you, Frank Gaspar and we hope there is more to come.
'Leaving Pico' is a wonderful coming-of-age story........1999-11-02
Frank Gaspar's 'Leaving Pico' is a wonderful, truly ethnic coming-of-age story. The novel renders the rich culture of the Portugese fishing community of Provincetown, Cape Cod, after World War II, a culture both Catholic and deeply superstitious, and split by the antagonisms between "Lisbons" and "Picos" (people, like the protagonist and his extended family, from the Azores). Josie Carvalho learns a great deal from the men who sit in his yard drinking Ballentine's ale and spinning stories, and especially from his grandfather, who weaves a fascinating tale of their ancient ancestor who, John Joseph believes, discovered America--and Provincetown--before Columbus. His tale mixes myth, legend, and history in a wonderful way and Josie, and the reader, are entranced. But as in any coming-of-age novel, the protagonist also learns about the place of death as well. By the end of the novel, Josie has taken on the role of both his "ancestor" (or at least a member of his fated crew) and his grandfather telling his adventurous tale. The novel may remind readers of Rudolfo Anaya's 'Bless Me, Ultima,' particularly in the Catholic/folk culture split, but it may be even closer to John Steinbeck, both to the 'paisanos' who people Tortilla Flat and to the young Jody Tiflin in 'The Red Pony,' who learns so much about life from his grandfather and other adults. 'Leaving Pico' is a rich and touching story.
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