Early Autumn

Book Description

A bitter divorce is only the beginning. First the father hires thugs to kidnap his son. Then the mother hires Spenser to get the boy back. But as soon as Spenser senses the lay of the land, he decides to do some kidnapping of his own.

With a contract out on his life, he heads for the Maine woods, determined to give a puny 15 year old a crash course in survival and to beat his dangerous opponents at their own brutal game.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Spenser Novel.......2007-09-15

EARLY AUTUMN is the seventh Spenser novel, and it's definitely one of the best ones. In this story, Spenser first meets 15-year old Paul Giacomin, who will become something of a surrogate son to him. This novel is mainly about their relationship with each other, and how Spenser teaches him how to grow up and deal with life in a self-respecting way.

I love this novel because Spenser teaches Paul about his moral code, which I pretty much fully agree with. I really enjoyed the life lessons in this book. There is a crime plot in this book, but it definitely takes a back seat to the Spenser-Paul relationship.

I've read most of the Spenser books, and EARLY AUTUMN is one of the best ones. Maybe not the best entry to start with (I would suggest GOD SAVES THE CHILD or PROMISED LAND or LOOKING FOR RACHEL WALLACE), but definitely a novel that shows how Spenser has matured as a character.

Highly recommended.

Favorite Spenser Story.......2007-07-07

I started reading Robert B. Parker on a whim a couple of years ago, and I have not been able to put his books down...I even reread the favorites often because they are so enjoyable. The one I pick up the most is Early Autumn, because it truly shows Spenser as a man, not just a literate PI, not just as Susan Silverman's subject and object of affection. Not only is he a true man in this story, but he also shows a young, lost-to-the-world boy how he needs to become a man fast to survive.

In this book, we have some of our old favorites back, like Spenser, of course, Susan, and Hawk. Susan is out-of-sorts in this book, consistently in a bad mood. Interestingly enough, I believe this book came out before A Savage Place, where she had good reason to be angry with our hero (no spoilers on that one). However, I believe that Spenser's ans Susan's relationship came to a true form after A Catskill Eagle, where their love was truly understood as eternal. Hawk is Hawk here, but we see his growing devotion toward Spenser. Not only does he refuse a contract on Spenser, but he kills the man who puts it out on him, after Spenser decides not to kill the man himself. He has Spenser's back, and will for the unforseeable future.

Spenser is hired to find young Paul Giacomin, an awkward teenager who's answer to everything is an indifferent shrug. Once Spenser returns him to his mother, he is left to watch TV. After figuring out the indifference toward Paul by both of the parents, and some underworld bozos try to get at Spenser, he decides he needs to make a man of Paul through some outdoors bodybuilding, and cabinbuilding, along with daily structure. It doesn't happen right away, but Spenser makes Paul see where he will go if he stays with his parents and out of their way (the parent's perfect world, in fact), and lectures him about "the rules", and society's categories of behavior. The troubled teenager slowly comes out of his shell. He still has a long way to go, and will face his demons again years later (I believe Pastime deals with this), but by the end of Early Autumn, Paul is not the same.

Spenser sees to it at the end that the parents will let their boy grow without their influence. We see Paul many times in later books, and he has a better sense of himself. Therefore, not only does Sepnser have a love and a best friend, but he now has a surrogate son in his life.

Spenser is just a big ol' softie . . ........2007-06-06

We see Spenser's softer side in this book, where what starts as what seems a fairly straight-forward attempt to retrieve a boy (Paul) from a non-custodial father turns deadly when the father doesn't want to give up his rights and turns to some unsavory elements to get his way. When mother and father continue fighting dirty and Spenser notes that neither truly want Paul - they just want what he represents (a triumph over the other), Spenser takes matters into his own hands and takes on Paul himself, to teach the boy to be autonomous. Over a summer, he teaches Paul how to be a man and learns that what Paul really wants to learn is how to dance. Spenser manages to dig up dirt on both Paul's parents, so that they will pay support for Paul and at the same time stay out of his life and Spenser will be there for Paul as needed.

This was not really your traditional gumshoe novel, but it did have its elements of violence (Hawk even showed up for a show-down toward the end with the very dangerous Harry Cotton). Written in 1981, this book didn't have quite as many references to modern culture outside of clothing (narrow ties and so forth), which I missed - I did like the culture references from his books in the 1970s and I hope they are back in later books. I enjoyed this book a great deal - the characters are continuing to grow, some in unexpected ways (Hawk, for instance, is a most interesting character and I'm enjoying watching where his character goes). A must-have for Spenser fans!

Oh, yeah!.......2007-05-18

This is my third (i.e. the third one I have read, NOT the third one in the series!) Spenser novel. I did read the first two in the series, Godwulf Manuscript and God Save the Child. Now at last I see what all the hullaballoo over Spenser is about. He's not just a good detective, not just courageous, and not just outrageously smart-mouthed. Spenser also possesses the wisdom of Solomon and all of the goodness and decency we would all like to possess. He wants always to do what is right, and there is nothing harder in life than doing right. If you don't believe me, next time you're in a tight situation just ask yourself what is the right thing to do; betcha even money that of all your options, the right thing will be the hardest thing to do. And Spenser makes himself do the right thing, no matter who has to pay for it. So now I have all these other Spenser novels to look forward to reading. How cool is that?

early autumn.......2007-02-14

Interesting story plot about a teenage boy with two uncaring parents. Spenser, the lead character, decides to do something to improve the boy's life. The author gives us some interesting tidbits about P.I. work. In addition, readers are given insight into his philosophy on living life. It is a fast-paced and entertaining read. Recommended for anyone who likes a detective story that is funny and thoughtful at the same time. The only reason I gave it a 3 star instead of a 4 or 5 is because it is not the type of book I would normally read.

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wonderfully evocative book to share with your child
A beautiful book by a wonderful author
In November
In November
Rylant Does It Again!

In November
Cynthia Rylant
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0152010769

Book Description

In November, the air grows cold and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends.
Cynthia Rylant's lyrical language and Jill Kastner's rich, cozy paintings capture the cherished moments of this autumn month--the moments we spend together and the ones we witness in the world around us.

Customer Reviews:

wonderfully evocative book to share with your child.......2005-11-03

This is such an enchanting book to read to a child! The illustrations (realistic in style) are beautiful and the text is lyrical, reflecting the mood of the season perfectly. My son loves this book and I love reading it to him. The pictures and story remind us both of the family gatherings that are so much a part of November and December. We read many books together and this is one of our lasting favorites.

A beautiful book by a wonderful author.......2004-11-03

My children and I love anything written by Cynthia Rylant, but this book has the added benefit of the most beautiful illustrations. I cannot say enough about how much I love this book. It is something we will pull out every November - probably even after the children are grown! If your children love your family traditions and are comforted by knowing what to expect with each season or holiday, this book is a must for them. You could probably get it from the library every fall, but the illustrations make it worth putting on your shelf with your favorites and keeping for your grandkids.

In November.......2002-11-30

Cynthia Ryland does it again! A wonderful book for use with teaching metaphors. Her descriptive words gives visual meaning to each sentence. A wonderful book to use with six traits writing "Voice" and teaching inference to young children. Each page is filled with words to ponder, reflect, relate and to write about. Although there is no reference to Thanksgiving, many children relate to the special day and time with relatives. A perfect book for November and a perfect title. The illustrations are beautiful; giving a feeling of warmth to the words. Every teacher should own a copy.

In November.......2000-11-08

What happens in November? This story is beautifully illustrated to depict different activities that occur in late fall as the earth and its' creatures prepare for winter. Cynthia Rylant uses a combination of similies and metaphors to capture the reader/listner and draw them into the book. Jill Kastner's paintings blend colors to give a striking contrast on each page that grabs the eyes of the audience to pull them into the text. The realistic activities and traditions depicted in the story are brought to life by the rhthym of the text. The children nod and join in when they hear "In November, the animals sleep more. The air is chilly and they ...shiver!" As the children explore the page with their eyes, there is no doubt that they can relate to feeling chilly and shivering themselves at one time. There is no specific reference made to Thanksgiving in the text, but listners quickly pick up on the special day in November, where friends or families travel to see each other, share a special meal together, and give thanks for their many blessings. As the listners see the final page of the boook, many will oohh and aaahhh, and volunteer, they too, have traveled home after a special dinner at night. The audience of this book gains a sense of peace and belonging to our earth, as they relate to some or many of the illustrations and text in some way. CMH

Rylant Does It Again!.......2000-09-28

We just finished reading this in my Children's Literacy class. It was an apt example of "Voice" in writing. Cynthia Rylant, whom I adore as an author, once again writes a beautifully descriptive book about the month of November. This book is a must for any children's library.

Average customer rating:

Family focused simple story about the Autumn Season
Great for fall!
A wonderful seasonal story for young children!

Apples and Pumpkins
Anne Rockwell
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689718616

Book Description

It is Fall! And for one little girl, that means the special joys of visiting the Comstock Farm: choosing the reddest apples from the trees and finding the best pumpkin in the patch.

Back home, she helps her mother carve a funny jack-o'-lantern face and puts a glowing candle inside her prize new pumpkin...just in time for Halloween and an evening of lots of "trick or treats"!

Customer Reviews:

Family focused simple story about the Autumn Season .......2006-09-12

A simple story about things that a family can do in autumn. Depicts apple picking with the family at an apple farm, pumpkin picking, and carving a jack-o-lantern. The last three pages feature trick or treating with the children dressed as: pirate, ghost, queen and a devil.

This is a short story with illustrations going across both pages, bright colors, hand drawn.

This book has a low word count and is for very young children, from toddlers through age five or perhaps even six. This is perfect for use by Preschool, Kindergarten teachers and homeschoolers when the teacher wants to read books about the autumn season. Of course it is also good for parents to read to children.

I enjoyed that the book was family focused and about a family doing things together, versus just talking about apples and pumpkins.

Great for fall!.......2005-11-03

I read the Big Book version of this with my primary classes, accompanied with the audio, and they really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun just before Halloween. They liked the fall colors. It was pretty and colorful. It is not a "baby" book as it is classified, but is appropriate for kindergarten or first grade.

A wonderful seasonal story for young children!.......1998-10-22

My 4 year old class really enjoyed this story and the cooking activities we did as follow up. The illustration is beautiful and the prose is appealing to young ears.

A Patterned Past: Form and Thought in Early Chinese Historiography (Harvard East Asian Monographs)

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A Patterned Past: Form and Thought in Early Chinese Historiography (Harvard East Asian Monographs)
David Schaberg
Manufacturer: Harvard University Asia Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0674008618

Book Description

In this comprehensive study of the rhetoric, narrative patterns, and intellectual content of the Zuozhuan and Guoyu, David Schaberg reads these two collections of historical anecdotes as traces of a historiographical practice that flourished around the fourth century B.C.E. among the followers of Confucius. He contends that the coherent view of early China found in these texts is an effect of their origins and the habits of reading they impose. Rather than being totally accurate accounts, they represent the efforts of a group of officials and ministers to argue for a moralizing interpretation of the events of early Chinese history and for their own value as skilled interpreters of events and advisers to the rulers of the day.

What Happens in the Autumn? (Books for Young Explorers)

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What Happens in the Autumn? (Books for Young Explorers)
Suzanne Venino
Manufacturer: Natl Geographic Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0870444522

THE LOUIS BROMFIELD TRILOGY THE GREEN BAY TREE- POSSESSION EARLY AUTUMN

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THE LOUIS BROMFIELD TRILOGY THE GREEN BAY TREE- POSSESSION EARLY AUTUMN
Louis Bromfield
Manufacturer: Blue Ribbon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IOVEI0

Basho's Narrow Road: Spring & Autumn Passages : Narrow Road to the Interior and the Renga Sequence : A Farewell Gift to Sora : Two Works (Rock Spring Collection of Japanese Literature)

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A Japanese journey during the 17th century
Nice
To start with it's Basho.

Basho's Narrow Road: Spring & Autumn Passages : Narrow Road to the Interior and the Renga Sequence : A Farewell Gift to Sora : Two Works (Rock Spring Collection of Japanese Literature)
Matsuo Basho
Manufacturer: Stone Bridge Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1880656205

Book Description

Matsuo Basho (1644-94) is considered Japan's greatest haiku poet. Narrow Road to the Interior (Oku no Hosomichi) is his masterpiece. Ostensibly a chronological account of the poet's five-month journey in 1689 into the deep country north and west of the old capital, Edo, the work is in fact artful and carefully sculpted, rich in literary and Zen allusion and filled with great insights and vital rhythms. In Basho's Narrow Road: Spring and Autumn Passages, poet and translator Hiroaki Sato presents the complete work in English and examines the threads of history, geography, philosophy, and literature that are woven into Basho's exposition. He details in particular the extent to which Basho relied on the community of writers with whom he traveled and joined in linked verse (renga) poetry sessions, an example of which, A Farewell Gift to Sora, is included in this volume. In explaining how and why Basho made the literary choices he did, Sato shows how the poet was able to transform his passing observations into words that resonate across time and culture.

Customer Reviews:

A Japanese journey during the 17th century.......2006-09-28

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (9/06)

Matsuo Basho (1644-94) was a famous Japanese haiku poet. In 1689, he took a 1,233 mile journey across Japan. His travels lasted five months. He was joined by his friend Kawai Sora. Basho wrote about this trip. He titled it, "Oku No Hosomichi," which translates to "Narrow Road to the Interior." This story is considered to be a masterpiece of Japanese literature. He took four years to write it and revise it.

Basho started this trip when his house burned down. He had two goals. One goal was spiritual; it involved "poetic truth." The other goal was a practical one in which he would use his travels to become well known as a poet. Sora developed stomach problems and had to end his travels with Basho. Basho wrote a short piece for him. In the second part of this book, there is a translation of "A Farewell Gift to Sora."

Basho funded his travels with donations from wealthy friends and students. He felt that there were three types of poets. The first type is confused noisemakers. The second type is wealthy people who desire to write instead of gossip. The third type is poets who work hard at writing true poetry. These poets write to "soothe their heart." Basho was the third type of poet.

Hiroaki Sato includes annotations to go along with the writings. This adds richness to the story and helps explain more about the culture and what was happening at the time. I read the story first with the annotations to gain understanding of what I was reading; then I went back and reread the story by itself so that I could feel how it flowed. Without the annotations, I would have enjoyed Basho's story, but I would not have understood much of what was written. Sato also includes pages of notes and commentaries. This is a well researched piece. "Basho's Narrow Road" is a beautiful story about Basho's travels. In it he reflects on the beauty of the countryside and the spirit of the people that he encounters.

I recommend "Basho's Narrow Road" to people that enjoy Japanese poetry, especially Haiku. It would also be a great book to use for a college literature class. I really enjoyed Basho's journey.

Nice.......2002-11-24

This was the first time that I have read Basho's Narrow Road to Oku, snd I enjoyed it a great deal. Actually I read it twice this week. The first time I read through it I tried to read it without using the notes. I was lazy, so it came out that I really didn't enjoy what I was reading because I really didn't know what was going on throughout most of the book, so I read it again using the notes, and I got much more out of it. The annotations are on the left page while the actual text is on the right page, so there is no flipping to the back of the book every time that you need to look up something. There are endnotes that give more information about the haiku Basho writes. This is a very cool book, that gives the reader a glimpse at the literary world of japan back during the 17th century.

To start with it's Basho........1998-08-08

This is a very well translated and annotated edition of this great work.

Everything for Fall: A Complete Activity Book for Teachers of Young Children : Activities for September, October, and November

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Everything For Fall: A Complete Activity Book for Teachers o

Everything for Fall: A Complete Activity Book for Teachers of Young Children : Activities for September, October, and November

Manufacturer: Gryphon House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0876591853

Customer Reviews:

Everything For Fall: A Complete Activity Book for Teachers o.......2000-06-19

I truly enjoy this book. It is perfect to help me with my active 4y.o. class. The best part about this book is that it takes the best ideas out of several good books and condenses them into a user friendly format.The book is divided into the fall months with thematic threads for each. Very useful.

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EARLY AUTUMN a Story of a Lady
LOUIS BROMFIELD
Manufacturer: GROSSET & DUNLAP
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J51YQ0

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Early Autumn
Louis Bromfield
Manufacturer: Triangle
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000L29IP0

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