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Sputnik Sweetheart finds Haruki Murakami in his minimalist mode. Shorter than the sweeping Wind-up Bird Chronicle, less playfully bizarre than A Wild Sheep Chase, the author's seventh novel distills his signature themes into a powerful story about the loneliness of the human condition. "There was nothing solid we could depend on," the reader is told. "We were nearly boundless zeros, just pitiful little beings swept from one kind of oblivion to another."
The narrator is a teacher whose only close friend is Sumire, an aspiring young novelist with chronic writer's block. Sumire is suddenly smitten with a sophisticated businesswoman and accompanies her love object to Europe where, on a tiny Greek island, she disappears "like smoke." The schoolteacher hastens to the island in search of his friend. And there he discovers two documents on her computer, one of which reveals a chilling secret about Sumire's lover.
Sputnik Sweetheart is a melancholy love story, and its deceptively simple prose is saturated with sadness. Characters struggle to connect with one another but never quite succeed. Like the satellite of the title they are essentially alone. And by toning down the pyrotechnics of his earlier work, Murakami has created a world that is simultaneously mundane and disturbing--where doppelgängers and vanishing cats produce a pervasive atmosphere of alienation, and identity itself seems like a terribly fragile thing. --Simon Leake
Book Description
Haruki Murakami, the internationally bestselling author of Norwegian Wood and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, plunges us into an urbane Japan of jazz bars, coffee shops, Jack Kerouac, and the Beatles to tell this story of a tangled triangle of uniquely unrequited loves.
A college student, identified only as “K,” falls in love with his classmate, Sumire. But devotion to an untidy writerly life precludes her from any personal commitments–until she meets Miu, an older and much more sophisticated businesswoman. When Sumire disappears from an island off the coast of Greece, “K” is solicited to join the search party and finds himself drawn back into her world and beset by ominous, haunting visions. A love story combined with a detective story,
Sputnik Sweetheart ultimately lingers in the mind as a profound meditation on human longing.
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Combining the early, straightforward seductions of Norwegian Wood and the complex mysteries of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, this new novel -- his seventh translated into English -- is Haruki Murakami at his most satisfying and representative best. The scenario is as simple as it is uncomfortable: A male college student falls, and for years remains, in love with a woman whose devotion to Kerouac and an untidy writerly life precludes any personal commitments -- until she meets a considerably older and far more sophisticated businesswoman. It is through this wormhole that she enters Murakami's surreal yet humane universe, to which she serves as guide both for us and the man (now a teacher) who loves her. In the course of her travels from parochial Japan through Europe and ultimately to an island off the coast of Greece, she disappears without trace, leaving only lineaments of her fate: computer accounts of bizarre events and of stories within stories. The teacher, now summoned to assist in the search, experiences his own ominous, haunting visions, which lead him nowhere but home to Japan -- where, under the expanse of deep space and the still-orbiting Sputnik, he finally achieves a true understanding of his beloved. A love story, a missing-person story, a detective story -- all enveloped in a philosophical mystery -- and, finally, a profound meditation on human longing.
Customer Reviews:
Tells about your story!!!.......2007-10-01
It's not easy to write a review about this book cause it's the story of humanity, it's about our loneliness in this world. Murakami does this storytelling as good as possible. The book wraps you from its first lines and continue like that. The tension along the reading process is fixed very well. In short close your ears to bad reviews and buy this book. You will not regret. By the way whereever you are I don't know but we all love you Sumire
Disappointing.......2007-09-01
I'm a huge fan of Murakami but this one was a disappointment. It contains lots of boring 'filler' where you sense he was padding out what should have been a short story into novel length. And the writing is painfully pedestrian. This could be the fault of the translator, but there's no excuse for overuse of the word 'incredible.' Even the writing of the main character, Sumire, who is supposedly a brilliant writer, is indistinguishable in style and tone from that of the narrator, who is Murakami's usual 'regular guy.' The 2001 copyright date is surprisingly recent. This work feels like juvenilia. I give it 2 stars instead of one because there are occasional flashes of the Murakami I love. But if you're new to this author, don't start with Sputnik Sweetheart.
good, but too long.......2007-07-20
This novel should have been a novella. The core of the novel is about 50 pages long, and really good, but it takes too long to get to it. There is a unique quality of strange ethereal mystery at the core. Fortunately, it's a quick read so you don't feel like it wasn't worth it. It ends like After Dark, leaving you hanging.
The best thing about this author is his tender understanding of people.
So, so bad.......2007-07-13
Ignore the alluring cover; this book is like reading paint dry. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Profoundly Lonely.......2007-04-27
"Sputnik Sweetheart" is a novel that enters the lives of a teacher, a girl called Sumire and a woman called Miu. The teacher loves Sumire as a woman, Sumire loves Miu and Miu is just Miu. The incomplete love triangle forms the main relational backdrop to the story.
The novel delves into the longings, loneliness and loves of the characters, each one longing for something and not always achieving it. In Murakmi's usual surreal way, he brings the teacher, (who happens to be the narrator of the story), through the barriers to an end that is quite fitting.
I rather enjoyed this book for its relative ease of comprehending what Murakami was getting at. Other books I found perplexing and they left me with a feeling that I had missed a central piece of the story. "Sputnik Sweetheart" is one I would suggest to new readers of Murakami, I think. It was a good book to illustrate how Murakami should be approached at a basic level. I found this aspect of it helpful to understand some of his other works.
There is some cross referencing to other Murakami works, such as a reference to the short story "Man-Eating Cats", which appears in Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. There are other references that appear in "Sputnik Sweetheart" as well.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and one that left me feeling rather satisfied. It was not perplexing to the degree of Murakami's other works, though in some ways, it was less profound, as well. At the end of the day, it was a good way to kill a few hours with a very good book.
Book Description
"Sweethearts" is the true story of one of Hollywood's greatest cover-ups: the love affair between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Known as 'America's Singing Sweethearts' of the 1930s and 40s, they made eight box office hits together for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and became the most popular singing team in movie history. Rumor had it that they hated each other off-screen but the truth was that they were secretly engaged in the summer of 1935 while filming their famous "Mountie" movie, "Rose Marie." Interference by studio boss Louis B. Mayer triggered a series of tragic events that caused them to self-destruct their film careers, health and ultimately their lives. Read about MacDonald's four pregnancies by Eddy, her relationship with studio boss Louis B. Mayer, her marriage to bisexual Gene Raymond (who flaunted affairs with Buddy Rogers, Robert Stack, Cesar Romero, Rock Hudson and Jan Clayton). On the rebound, Eddy wed a mentally unstable woman who blackmailed him into marriage, threatened to disfigure MacDonald, and vowed to go to the press with the scandal if Eddy tried to divorce her. Eddy turned to young women when he and MacDonald were at odds, and several of them have gone on record in this book for the first time. Despite all the high drama, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy had a fierce, spiritual bond and loved each other to the end. The author was a close friend of MacDonald's older sister plus had access to a wealth of unpublished letters, eyewitness accounts, diary entries, love letters and the unfinished memoirs of both Jeanette MacDonald and Isabel Eddy, Nelson's mother. Rich also interviewed over 200 co-stars, co-workers, family and friends. Included among her more famous sources were MGM stars Rise Stevens and Miliza Korjus, opera stars Rose Bampton, Helen Jepson and Theodor Uppman, MGM co-workers William Tuttle and Fred Phillips, and U.S. Senate Chaplain Richard Halverson who, in his youth, was MacDonald's butler/chauffeur and had occasion to observe her interaction both with Nelson Eddy and Gene Raymond. This is a completely rewritten and updated version of the 1994 edition, including an additional chapter, new information in every chapter, more photos and over 50 pages of source notes.
"Sweethearts" was a selection of the Entertainment Book Club and the #1 Best Seller on Booksurge.com for 4 weeks in March 2002.
Reviews:
"Offers considerable proof they may have been secret lovers for years." Robert Osborne
"Sweethearts" is one of the finest books about Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Hollywood during the Golden Era. It is a bittersweet love story of a famous couple whose musical duets on the silver screen thrilled a generation of moviegoers. They were a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With the knowledge, thanks to Miss Rich, that the actors were in love off the screen, gives their films a heartbeat. Included are love letters, notes from diaries, and observations of those who kept their secret. You will enjoy every word of "Sweethearts" and you will find a new meaning when viewing their musicals. Then you'll read it a second time." -Jane Ellen Wayne, Author,
The Golden Guys of MGM
"The star-crossed love affair of the century....The account is anything but sugar-coated. Ms. Rich's book certainly contains much to raise the eyebrows. She names names and pulls no punches. Still, this is not a sensational expose; one comes away feeling sorry for the protagonists, and wishing that their story could have had a happier resolution....Scrupulously documented...give[s] credibility to an amazing story." Rob Ray, "Past Times"
"Rich affords a long, exciting, revealing look at two of the most important screen personalities of the 1930s. Vital reading to anyone interested in film history, Hollywood, or popular culture." Mike Tribby, "Booklist"
"A surprisingly interesting look at two people so wrapped up in make-believe that they began taking it seriously." Harry Bowman, "Dallas Morning News"
"A bonanza for MacDonald/Eddy fans." "Kirkus Reviews"
"This book rings true. Fans will love it." John Smothers,
Library Journal
Customer Reviews:
a brilliant read.......2007-01-11
this book was bought as a gift for my mum and next to her videos of this couple is her all time favourite book.she was amazed at how much in love they were and the history of their lives.now my sister and myself can't wait to read it,so all in all i think it was one of my better buys thanks to the author who seems to have gone into great detail.
The Sweethearts of the 20th Century.......2006-07-01
This book is so well documented with names, dates, and places. It is hard not to believe after seeing the MacDonald/Eddy movies over and over again. Since I have been a Mac/Eddy fan for a very long time, this book satisfied my own perception of these two wonderful people and their relationship. The book is a remarkable memorial to them.
A Great Book.......2006-03-16
I enjoyed reading this book very much...and it rings true with documentation to prove it. It was enjoyable to read..as I have been a fan of Jeanette and Nelson for years and own 7 of their movies.
Exhaustive Research Portrays an On and Off Screen Romance.......2005-11-03
Sweethearts will appeal most to those who are already devoted fans of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. The book will also prove to be fascinating reading for those who like to read about doomed romances. I also hope that some young people will read this book and learn important lessons about life and love.
The strength of this book is in Ms. Rich's exhaustive research into the written and oral sources concerning Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy to display their covert relationship. Ms. Rich interviewed more than 200 people who were close to the stars and read many hither-to-unpublished sources to fill in the blanks.
With evidence coming from so many sources, this book is clearly based on fire as well as smoke . . . as opposed to the usual expose by a tabloid newspaper or a dirt-digging author. Ms. Rich also takes a fan's view and does a fine job of describing the artistic parts of the two stars' lives.
Here are the basic facts of the romance as described in the book. Nelson Eddy was blessed with a wonderful voice and good looks while held back by an immature personality. Jeanette MacDonald was an established movie star when she first saw Eddy and was powerfully attracted. Although their initial movie work was fraught with tension, they did finally fall for one another in real life. But the studio didn't want that because it might harm the box office appeal of their successful pictures. Eddy demanded that MacDonald give up her career to be a wife and mother. MacDonald didn't want to because her career was the center of her life. So they didn't marry. On the rebound, MacDonald married a man who reminded her of Eddy . . . but who turned out to be bisexual (with a stronger preference for men). Shocked by finding that out, the marriage didn't really take. Eddy, in his turn, managed to be blackmailed into marrying a woman he didn't like. Escaping these poor marriage choices, MacDonald and Eddy slipped in and out of intimacy for many years . . . including several pregnancies. Eddy and MacDonald weren't willing to go through divorces at the same time . . . although they continually talked about it. So they mostly spent stolen moments together when they were supposed to be doing something else. Their ups and downs were also influenced by Eddy's inclination to be attracted to more than one woman.
Ms. Rich does a fine job of providing biographies of both stars, a history of their film work as well as her love story of their romance. It's a fine, balanced work that I highly recommend to those who find these subjects appealing. You will be especially delighted to read extensive writings by the people involved.
Having said so many nice things about the book, you may be wondering about the four-star rating.
I decided to grade the book down for three reasons . . . none of which may bother you. If these reasons don't bother you, I suggest you think of this as a five-star book . . . as many people do and will.
First, the book contains more detail than I really wanted to know. I would have liked the book better if it was about 30% shorter.
Second, the reproduction quality of the photographs is usually poor. Although I enjoyed seeing the photographs, I found them disappointing in most cases because of the printing quality.
Third, the book needed more editing. This is an updated edition, but it contains a lot of typos that any word processing program would have caught. In addition, many of the extensive quotes should have been shortened down to their nub . . . for greater impact.
I have not read any other books about these two stars so I cannot compare the work to what else is available. But due to the extensive research and unique access to many of the witnesses, I find it hard to imagine that a more authentic book exists on this subject.
When you read this book, I also suggest that you arrange to view some of the films that are described in the book. Consider Naughty Marietta and Sweethearts as your choices.
May you and your sweetheart live more happily ever after than Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy did!
Amazing Love Story!.......2005-06-30
The love affair between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy was one of Hollywood's best kept secrets but now everyone can learn the truth. For some reason many people refuse to believe that Nelson and Jeanette had a real life love affair. I have been a devoted Nelson and Jeanette for many years, I have read all the books, and I do believe they were in love. I'm sure there are some things in this book that aren't accurate but most of the information comes from Jeanette's sister who had no reason to lie. This book provides so many details about their relationship that it would be almost impossible to make it all up. If the stories in this book weren't true then why didn't Jeanette's widow, Gene Raymond, sue the author for slander? I am so glad Sharon Rich decided to write this book. She gets criticized a lot but if you read this book you will see she is just a fan who wants to share their story with the world.
Average customer rating:
- Breathtaking!
- Josh Elliot is a real sweethart.
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Sweetheart
Manufacturer: Bruno Gmunder Verlag Gmbh
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Binding: Hardcover
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Lukas in Love (Diary) (Photography)
ASIN: 3861878771 |
Book Description
Bel Ami's sweetheart meets with his young friends!
This sweetheart is Josh Elliot. The Bel Ami star is featured in pairs with his friends and wonderful solo portraits. The dreamy sensuality and natural charisma of Josh and his friends give the photos a special allure. Bel Ami's playful guys are more erotic and emotional than ever - in enchanting shots they show their breathtaking bodies as if they'd never done anything else but this. Tender photos full of longing and remembrances of first encounters and experiences in a paradisiacal ambience.
Customer Reviews:
Breathtaking!.......2007-03-20
I don't usually care for this type of book, full of the same beautiful young Caucasian men as one sees in Freshmen magazine. It gets so that I start to feel as if seeing one is seeing them all. However, I make an exception here. The colors are vibrant; the tenderness palpable; and, yes, one can almost feel that touching sensual and erotic intimacy. If only these exquisite photos were only the norm, what a beautiful world it would be!
Josh Elliot is a real sweethart........2006-12-02
Josh is the protagonist in this wonderfully sensual color photography book. Very engaging romps between him and his friends. This young man is pure heaven.
Average customer rating:
- Not the best, but not much out there
- Not the Definitive Guide We were Promised
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Sweetheart Jewelry and Collectibles (Schiffer Book for Collectors With Value Guide)
Nicholas D. Snider
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Antique Sweetheart Jewelry (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
ASIN: 0887408346 |
Book Description
Military sweetheart jewelry was important on the home front during the World Wars I and II as mementos of the service men who were abroad. With their emblems of American and foreign military branches and rank, and patriotic devices clearly displayed, these lockets, bracelets, wings of love, In-service pins, "Remember Pearl Harbor" items. Victory pins, cards, pillows, banners, necklaces, and compacts became keepsakes representing loved ones and a display of patriotism. This book is published just in time to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Allied invasion and end of World War II, one of the world's most patriotic eras. Nearly 200 beautiful color photographs of over 1,000 pieces with explanatory text and a price guide bring these items to life. The variety that was made astounding. These keepsakes are collected today to protect small pieces of history.
Customer Reviews:
Not the best, but not much out there.......2004-02-15
I am a WWII British sweetheart collector. This book is known as "The Black Book". He also wrote another, which I reccomend, called "Antique Sweetheart Jewelry" (the red book). Both are good additions to any sweetheart collectors library. Now to the book. It has great photos. They are probably the books most valuable asset. You will be able to find things more by the photos than the descriptions or the sections. The problems with this book are numerous. At least one color plate is mirrored. Several pins were photographed upside down. The prices are not even close to accurate. If they were I would be a millionare. (but this is a commomn problemn with any antique price guide book, if you want to find out the current price of things, go to eBay or a militaria fair) He also has many, many pins in the wrong category. British war relief are misidentified and put in with international sweethearts. Some WWI are in mixed in with WWII. The book, while an excellent tool, is far from perfect and should not be taken as the difinitive voice in sweetheart collecting. I would love to see Mr. Snider do another book and focus *only* on sweetheart jewelry. Leave out the ephemera, compacts, hankies and all the other bits and bobs he tries to jam in this book. This is a complicated type of jewelry to collect. Anyone with the brains and money enough to put a new book on the market, that is accurate will have the collectors standing in line for it. If you are considering it, buy it. You will benefit from the good parts of it and just take the rest with a grain of salt.
Not the Definitive Guide We were Promised.......2001-04-02
Nick Snider's book has been credited with bringing hundreds of new collectors to the field of sweetheart jewelry. As an avid homefront jewelry collector, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I was disappointed to find page after page of photographs with hardly any description or even identification! World War I jewelry was mixed together in the same photo with jewelry from World War II. Pins from American war relief organizations were listed under "foreign". Short essays at the beginning of each chapter were informative, but hard to relate to the pieces displayed with them. In my judgement, homefront and sweetheart jewelry collectors will still be looking for that "definitive guide" to our avocation.
Average customer rating:
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Sweethearts of the Sage: Biographies and Filmographies of 258 Actresses Appearing in Western Movies
Buck Rainey
Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0899505651 |
Book Description
Hundreds of leading ladies have appeared in the thousands of Westerns produced since 1903's The Great Train Robbery, riding in and out, never to be heard of again. A relative few of the women stayed around to make a name for themselves. This comprehensive biographical reference book of those rangeland queens is divided into four parts: "Path Finders," active before 1920; "Trail Blazers," whose heyday was in the 1920s; "Pioneers," of the 1930s and 1940s; and "Homesteaders," primarily post-1940. If an actress appeared in at least eight Westerns, or a lesser number of significant oaters, she is in this book. Generously illustrated.
Customer Reviews:
Both THUMBS UP for this Book! Long Live Jeanette & Nelson!.......2003-03-11
I've read both new biographys of Jeanette MacDonald and I would really recommend this one. The one written by Mr. Turk is a sugar-coated silly tribute to Gene Raymond. Jeanette and Nelson were obvioulsy very much in love. This seems evident by just how they looked at one another. Both of them seem somewhat lost today. It's really a shame that society has sunk so low. We can only hope that their kind will come back sometime soon! This book is such a good read and very entertaining while still being very honest and candid. I too have first hand knowledge by way of another Hollywood Luminary, none other than Ann Sothern who was a frequent co-star with Gene Raymond in the 1930's and a fellow player at MGM in the early 1940's. Ms. Sothern shared some very interesting facts regarding the MacDonald/Eddy relationship. It is such a shame that they were not able to live a life together. Many years from now, the written words and gossip will all be forgotten, but the films they made for us will live forever. Thanks Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald from the bottom of my heart for sharing your wonderful talents with us, We all hope you are singing together forever more!
Truth Will Out.......2002-08-30
At last, something other than those family "authorized" bios defending the status quo. Nelson & Jeanette had a 35 year love affair, well documented in this book. Despite their gorgeous voices, looks and talent, there was no happy ending for these sweethearts. Let's hope this book will dispell some of the myths about happy marriages, that were dismal failures and circumstances that conspired to keep these lovers apart. With this book, those who still deny their love will have to face reality.
Two thumbs up--Awesome Book! Where's the Movie Version?.......2002-03-10
I read both the 1994 edition and the new 2001 updated paperback edition of "Sweethearts." Both are excellent, well-written, well-researched and tear-jerkers! I like the new chapter that tells how Miss Rich met and became friends with Jeanette's sister Blossom, who got her started on this story. Also in the new version I counted 56 pages of meticulous source notes, including reproductions of letters (from previously annonymous sources who have since died)for those who have to see it to believe it, Gene Raymond's arrest log, FBI files, etc. Famous people who are still alive and knew about the Jeanette-Nelson romance are quoted by name. No documentation? Get real! Arguing that Mayer was called "Louie B." in the book is a minus point? He WAS called either that or L.B. to his name--and a lot worse names behind his back! Nelson Eddy called him "Louie B." in interviews, so what is the problem here? Also, so what if some of the author's sources who are still living haven't decided to turn over private letters to a library. It has no bearing on the validity of those letters. Miss Rich played a lengthy videotape in Los Angeles last year at a Mac/Eddy luncheon of the owner of some of the letters. The elderly woman held the original letters up to the camera and read lengthy selections out loud, even some of the more graphic ones. Word for word, they were exactly as quoted in the book. Bottom line: Nelson Eddy bedded Jeanette MacDonald, as often as he could, it seems. So get over it! All I want to know is, Miss Rich, where's the movie version? We're waiting impatiently! I'm certain even the younger generation can learn from this tragic story of two people who discovered too late how much they loved each other. But until the movie is made, I highly recommend the book for any fan of old Hollywood or anyone who wants to read a true-life "Romeo and Juliet."
Two thumbs down.......2002-03-07
I've written several books on classic movie actors and actresses from the silent era to the present, and found this title at a used book store while in the U.S. After reading it, I must say it made quite a romantic story, but couldn't help being disappointed in the author's amateurish abilities as a writer. [Louis B. Mayer's first name is NOT spelled "Louie", for instance...] To begin with, I found the "Sources" at the back of the book very questionable. Sources given as "Newspaper clipping" (without dates) and also the old standby "Anonymous source" don't quite measure up to the standards of a true film historian. If you can't name and date your source, don't write it! Lastly, many of the sources can't be found in public libraries for researchers to access, they are letters housed in the "author's collection." As a historian, I could only recommend this book to Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy fans as a collector's item. Even if the author's claims ARE true, this book is very poorly written and documented, and would not be a definitive source of information for anyone wanting to know more about Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Most, if not all, film historians like myself would dismiss this kind of writing as something suitable for tabloid newspapers. From what I understand, most already have.
Tragic Love Affair Validated.......2001-09-02
Have just finished a second reading of Sharon Rich's beautifully done biography. It verifies what all the Nelson and Jeanette fans have felt, despite an organized effort on the part of Gene Raymond's supporters to demonize Nelson, and destroy his reputation. Unfortunately, they have succeeded---until now, although, they are still writing their poison pen letters in an attempt to deny the truth. Ms. Rich has set forth of wealth of documentation for anyone who cares to explore the tragic story of their attempt to fulfill their love. All the forces united against them--Louis B. Mayer, some of Jeanette's fan clubs, Gene Raymond( who had many years to push his own agenda) have prevailed with their propaganda, but, hopefully, this book will mark a change. Thank you Sharon Rich.Christine
Product Description
The murders remain the most shocking crime in the history of Davis and profoundly influenced the lives of hundreds of people. In this gripping, multilayered work, the horrifying crime seen as the end of innocence for a generation of Davisites is intimately explored: The lack of an apparent motive that for years baffled investigators, the strange and unusual history of the evidence, the questionable and expensive arrest and prosecution of four suspects in 1989, the unraveling of the case after DNA evidence was discovered in 1992, the authors investigation that prompted the long-dormant case to be reopened with startling results in 2002, and the considerable legacy left by John and Sabrina. Justice Waits: The UC Davis Sweetheart Murders is a poignant collage of intrigue, remembrance and hope.
Customer Reviews:
Highly recommended!.......2007-09-05
Joel Davis literally leaves no stone unturned in telling the heart-breaking story of the horrific double-murder of college sweethearts in his hometown of Davis, California, and the winding and bizarre 25 year investigation that followed. The fact he grew up in Davis and was an acquaintance of one of the victims provides a unique perspective to the book, and his unexpected involvement in the case is a fascinating twist. I didn't want to put it down!
A true-crime masterpiece.......2007-05-28
An unforgettable story beautifully told by Joel Davis. "48 Hours Mystery" devoted a broadcast to this tragic double murder of sweetheart college students, solved over two decades later with the use of DNA. Joel Davis brings the reader back to a foggy night in December 1980, when Sabrina Gonsalves and John Riggins are driving to a birthday party for her sister. The horror which unfolds for the families is told in chilling detail, as Sabrina and John's bodies are found two days later. Joel Davis' investigation in this unsolved case spurred its resolution. This is a haunting, memorable story, impossible to put down. "Justice Waits" was not available locally and I ordered it directly from AMAZON. It arrived beautifully packaged with a bookmark autographed by the author, and a copy of the "San Francisco Chronicle Magazine" interview with Joel Davis.
If you only knew..........2006-06-25
Hi... I know this story because I am somewhat involved in it.. All though I am only 20 years old... The killer happens to be my mothers ex brother in law... Pretty sick... I don't know the book... If it goes into detail of his life.. But I know more of the story than I think anyone else does... He had a very very traumatic childhood... His father was the lowest form of scum there is on this planet.. His name was Casper... My mom is actually in the book briefly.. I got kind of mad because I heard the author changed only her first name, and used her current last name, which is Keaton... Even though she did not get that last name (The last name of my father) years and years later... And guess what they changed the first name to? Sally... That happens to be the name of my aunt!!! I'm sure it's a good book... But the author didn't even research a real life persons last name, and carless through it into the book. It is not that big of a deal... But sometimes people don't want to be linked to certain things like this... And now a real life person that is somewhat connected to this tragic incident is carelessly thrown in the mix.. Not that anyone would notice.. Just the locals that we all know....
I didn't want to put it down.......2005-11-29
Joel Davis' first book is excellent! From the moment I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. It's a very intense story that's full of interesting details. I grew up with one of the murder victims--John Riggins--and after reading Justice Waits, I feel like I knew Sabrina Gonsalves as well as the other people in the book, because of Joel's descriptive story-telling. Interestingly, Joel didn't just tell the story, but he became part of it. I highly recommend this book.
thoughtful and thorough.......2005-09-11
I'm not usually a reader of crime-books, but, having gone to Davis, I wanted to give this one a try. Once I started, I dragged it around from the kitchen sink to the car to the sidewalk outside of my kids' school because I didn't want to put it down! It's terribly gut-wrenching and made my heart ache for the Riggins Gonzales' families; but it also provides an important reminder of how vulnerable our justice system truly is.
Customer Reviews:
Rescued By A Rancher.......2005-08-08
A very enjoyable read. Sweet, funny and with the required happy ending! Loved it!
Once upon a time, a lonesome cowboy gets lucky!.......2004-10-04
Tracy Lynn Randolph was nearing thirty and she decided that she would have to use artificial insemination to fulfill the promise she had made to her dying mother all those years ago - give her father grandchildren. But once Tracy Lynn told her father the good news, he keeled over and had a heart attack! Lincoln Slade, the town's former bad boy, comes along and not only manages to save Jerald Randolph's life, but also claims responsibility for Tracy Lynn's child! Jerald demands that Tracy Lynn and Linc marry, so they agree to a marriage of convenience. But once the marriage ends, can Tracy Lynn let go of this man?
Linc Slade had had a crush on Tracy Lynn for ages, but he always knew they could never end up together. Tracy Lynn was a society girl, a woman more comfortable at fancy parties than living on a ranch. Linc, on the other hand, was a loner, the younger son of an abusive drunken father, and preferred the company of animals over the company of people. But as he gets to know Tracy Lynn better, he's wondering if maybe she couldn't fit in with ranch life, after all. She brought joy to his bitter heart, but could he let go of his past to embrace a future with Tracy Lynn?
The book started out a bit slow, but definitely earned five stars in my opinion by the end! Linc was a wonderful hero - brooding, emotionally scarred from his childhood, and noble. He could rescue Tracy Lynn from being an embarrassment to her father, but he didn't know just yet that he needed her to help rescue him from his past! The cast of secondary characters was also quite good. The ending just left me breathless. You could honestly feel the emotions of both Linc and Tracy Lynn throughout the book. I'll definitely be looking forward to reading the rest of the Texas Sweethearts series!
Highly recommended.......2004-03-03
Tracy Lynn Randolph and her mother planned her future just hours before her mother succumbed to ovarian cancer. Now she's about to turn thirty, and Tracy chooses to take destiny in hand since prince charming has yet to appear. But after successfully utilizing a sperm bank and then proudly announcing the good news to her father, he demands the name of the father before he keels over with a heart attack.
Lincoln Slade witnesses the disastrous encounter, stepping in and offering his name as father to the baby. Linc then helps with CPR to help save Tracy's father's life. With her father about to run for the senate and demanding that things be put right while he's in the hospital, Tracy and Linc find themselves at the justice of the peace the very next day. Having already lost one parent prematurely, Tracy will do whatever is necessary. Little does she suspect that Linc's intentions are more than just honorable.
Author Mindy Neff brings together new technology and old fashioned values in RESCUED BY A RANCHER. Tracy's loss of her mother and fear of loosing her remaining parent provides powerful motivation for pleasing her father. Linc's noble price-like rescue conceals a heart long smitten by a girl he did not believe he could ever have. His bad boy background provides the perfect foil for the mayor's daughter. With a delightful secondary cast, readers will be hoping for another Texas Sweetheart story soon. RESCUED BY A RANCHER comes highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- Permanently housed in my top 5
- Boys get mountains, girls get boys
- Vivid Characters
- the great book !!!!
- Sweet as Honey
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Honey, Baby, Sweetheart
Deb Caletti
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0689864744 |
Book Description
Right away I got that Something About To Happen feeling. Right away I knew he was bad, and that it didn't matter.
It is summer in the Northwest town of Nine Mile Falls, and sixteen-year-old Ruby McQueen, ordinarily dubbed The Quiet Girl, finds herself hanging out with gorgeous, rich, thrill-seeking Travis Becker. But Ruby is in over her head, and finds she is risking more and more when she's with him.
In an effort to keep Ruby occupied, Ruby's mother Ann drags Ruby to the weekly book club she runs. When it is discovered that one of the group's own members is the subject of the tragic love story they are reading, Ann and Ruby spearhead a reunion between the long-ago lovers. But for Ruby, this mission turns out to be much more than just a road trip....
Customer Reviews:
Permanently housed in my top 5 .......2007-06-28
This book changed my life. This book changed my life. (Once more, with feeling: ) THIS BOOK CHANGED MY LIFE. I think it should be required reading for anyone with ovaries, regardless of age. I'm going to butcher the story by trying to one-liner it, but it's basically a good girl falls for a bad boy arc, with so many phenomenal character sketches and side plot lines. The main character's mom runs a book group for the elderly, and those characters do amazing things throughout it, including the scene that made me put the book down because I was crying too hard. She deals a lot, in a perfectly developed but still subtle way, with expectations put on girls vs expectations on boys, even as kids-that boys get to be adventurous and how it's supposed to be enough for the girls to settle for having the boy and not having the adventure. "Boys get mountains, girls just get boys." Every word of this novel is perfect. National book award finalist, as well.
Boys get mountains, girls get boys.......2006-11-30
I thought this book was amazing. Possibly the best I have read next to Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen. I was captivated by Ruby's tale and found it nearly impossible to put the book down. Mostly I enjoyed how much I was able to relate to Ruby and all the little morals in the story were great.
I highly recomment this book to everybody. It's a great read and chances are you will enjoy it as much as I did :]
Vivid Characters.......2006-05-24
When Ruby's dad decides to come home for awhile, her mom cleans the entire house, shops for gourmet groceries, and starts wearing dresses all the time. She tries to become the magical, perfect woman who will make him stay. But she's done this dozens of times before, and Ruby knows that no matter what her mother does, her dad will disrupt their entire lives for a week or so and then leave her mother shattered again.
Ruby escapes with troublemaker Travis Becker, the gorgeous son of the town's richest family. He rides his motorcycle too fast and loves the thrill of taking things that are not his. Ruby quickly loses control in the relationship, as Travis's behavior quickly progresses from exciting to dangerous.
Ruby and her mother are both desperate to escape from the relationships that entrap them. True love does exist in the tiny town of Nine Mile Falls, however, and the two become involved in a plot to reunite two soulmates who have been separated for over 60 years.
Every character, even the bit players, are vividly described and made individual. The plot easily becomes a natural extension of the relationships among these characters. This book has the wisdom of a story told from a distance, as if an older and wiser Ruby is looking back at the defining summer of her life. Deb Caletti has created a little bit of magic with this book, perfect for anyone in love, looking for love, or repairing a broken heart.
the great book !!!!.......2006-03-17
I think this book is the coolest I wish there was a second book to this. It talks about a girl who likes a bad boy who turns out be a thief and her family is wierd. She meets a boy that she likes to who likes whales. Then she has to break up with the bad boy. She is sad. You have to read the book to know how it good it is and what's it about. You will feel that you are there and you are her and you would feel. one more thing is that some girls have to fall in love with a bad boy. But there is one more thing this book helps you know is that. Bad boys are not a good idea sitck with the good boys that is what I learned form this book. It is the most coolest book I have read.
Sweet as Honey.......2006-03-08
Ruby's always been quiet and shy. She knows it. She embraces it. Thanks in part to her mother, the elderly members of a book group, and a boy - who may break her heart . . . or just might win it - she's about to let go, just a little bit. She does not rebel nor become completely impulsive, but she does learn to be more in control and more decisive.
Caletti's sophomore effort has a lot of heart. This is just as enjoyable as her debut novel The Queen of Everything, but with a warmer tale to tell. It will leave you smiling. Highly recommended, especially for fans of That Summer by Sarah Dessen. Honey, Baby, Sweetheart deserves every award it has received, and that in itself is a rarity.
Customer Reviews:
Your best choice.......2007-03-20
This has to be one of the best books on marriage, if not the best book, that I have read up until the present. The authors have focused in on the major issues, biblically, and made a workbook out of it as well. It has become most useful for couple's retreats and for pre-marital counseling sessions.
Gavin Aitken
Biblical Counselor
Sao Paulo, Brazil
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