Somewhere: The Life of Jerome Robbins

Book Description

From the author of the acclaimed Everybody Was So Young, the definitive and major biography of the great choreographer and Broadway legend Jerome Robbins

To some, Jerome Robbins was a demanding perfectionist, a driven taskmaster, a theatrical visionary; to others, he was a loyal friend, a supportive mentor, a generous and entertaining companion and colleague. Born Jerome Rabinowitz in New York City in 1918, Jerome Robbins repudiated his Jewish roots along with his name only to reclaim them with his triumphant staging of Fiddler on the Roof. A self-proclaimed homosexual, he had romances or relationships with both men and women, some famous—like Montgomery Clift and Natalie Wood—some less so. A resolutely unpolitical man, he was forced to testify before Congress at the height of anti-Communist hysteria. A consummate entertainer, he could be paralyzed by shyness; nearly infallible professionally, he was conflicted, vulnerable, and torn by self-doubt. Guarded and adamantly private, he was an inveterate and painfully honest journal writer who confided his innermost thoughts and aspirations to a remarkable series of diaries and memoirs. With ballets like Dances at a Gathering, Afternoon of a Faun, and The Concert, he humanized neoclassical dance; with musicals like On the Town, Gypsy, and West Side Story, he changed the face of theater in America.
In the pages of this definitive biography, Amanda Vaill takes full measure of the complicated, contradictory genius who was Jerome Robbins. She re-creates his childhood as the only son of Russian Jewish immigrants; his apprenticeship as a dancer and Broadway chorus gypsy; his explosion into prominence at the age of twenty-five with the ballet Fancy Free and its Broadway incarnation, On the Town; and his years of creative dominance in both theater and dance. She brings to life his colleagues and friends—from Leonard Bernstein and George Balanchine to Robert Wilson and Robert Graves—and his loves and lovers. And she tells the full story behind some of Robbins’s most difficult episodes, such as his testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee and his firing from the film version of West Side Story.
Drawing on thousands of pages of documents from Robbins’s personal and professional papers, to which she was granted unfettered access, as well as on other archives and hundreds of interviews, Somewhere is a riveting narrative of a life lived onstage, offstage, and backstage. It is also an accomplished work of criticism and social history that chronicles one man’s phenomenal career and places it squarely in the cultural ferment of a time when New York City was truly “a helluva town.”

Customer Reviews:

Everything you always wanted to know and more and more.......2007-06-12

I picked this book up out of curiousity. Jerome Robbins was legendary aong those who enjoyed Broadway musical theater. His best known acheivement was probably "West Side Story". In any event, I figured a bit of time spent learning about Robbins' life would be interesting.

Well, yes it was - and it was also a bit of a slog.

Amanda Vail has produced a hagiography of Robbins. Considering that Robbins never did anything really, really, really nasty, that is no sin. However, it is a reflection of Robbins' narcissism that Vail had such massive archives to draw from. 539 pages of biography, followed by just less than 100 pages of notes and bibliography. No one can accuse Vail of inadequate research.

The result is a mind-numbing recitation of what seems to be every day in the life of Jerome Robbins from birth to death. It isn't boring, but it won't be stimulating either unless you really, really are a Robbins fan who just can't get enough.

For me, the reward wasn't in learning far more than I wanted to know about Robbins' sex life, but about his contributions to the development of American dance. Robbins truly was a genius and while perhaps overly detailed, this is the kind of thorough biography Jerome Robbins deserves.

Jerry

Broadway Equals Robbins.......2007-03-14

If Jerome Robbins had only directed "West Side Story" that would have been enough to establish his legend on Broadway...if you read this wonderful biography by the very skillful Amanda Vaill you will discover that almost every production from the Golden Era of Broadway had the Robbins touch. Mr Robbin was also a member of the American Ballet Theatre and created many celebrated dance pieces. A complex individual, at times; a son of a bitch, he always got the best from his performers and his collaborators. West Side Story, High Button Shoes, Peter Pan, Gypsy, Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, The King and I, Fiddler=Robbins

Dance Review.......2007-02-17

My dance teacher raved about this book in class and so I had to buy it. I haven't read it all but it shows valuable insights into Mr. Robbins. Although he was a difficult person, he was a genius, as my dance teacher said, and so he was and he made dance so much bigger and better for us all.

An Insightful Look at the Legendary Choreographer Soars Highest in Vaill's Professional Portrait.......2007-01-03

The mercurial brilliance and personal shortcomings of choreographer extraordinaire Jerome Robbins are captured with equal amounts of compassion and objectivity in Amanda Vaill's comprehensive biography. His impressive resume represents some of the most arresting work in dance and theater - "On the Town", "High Button Shoes", "Call Me Madam", "Gypsy", "Wonderful Town", "Bells Are Ringing", "The King and I", "Peter Pan", "The Pajama Game", "Funny Girl", "Fiddler on the Roof", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". Robbins' most famous work is the stage and screen versions of "West Side Story", his legendary collaboration with composer Leonard Bernstein and then-prodigious lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Yet for all these accomplishments, he was reviled as much as he was revered. Stellar results notwithstanding, his vaunted perfectionism and Method-style approach were taxing to many, and it would often come under the guise of brutality and verbal abuse. Although Vaill's book is the third Robbins biography to be released in the last five years, hers reflects access to the subject's personal diaries before his death at age eighty in 1998, which lends the book a voice that one could easily imagine approximates Robbins' own.

The author dives deeply into Robbins' childhood to seek answers to his personal dichotomy, and she pieces together a vivid if somewhat pat portrait of self-loathing. Robbins' mother comes across as a vindictive woman who used her deep-rooted insecurity as a lightning rod for attention, while his father seems weak-willed and foolish. The combination of their personalities already reinforces Robbins' incurable sense of self-doubt due to his shame over being both Jewish and gay. His resulting bisexuality gave way to a string of lovers of both sexes, though his most intense and enduring relationships were with men including a two-year affair with a young Montgomery Clift. Ironically, he was able to translate these passions into some of the most beautiful male-female duets in musical theater. It is in Robbins' professional triumphs and failures where Vaill's book soars highest. She meticulously documents the process of creating his ballet works, in particular, 1944's "Fancy Free" (the basis for "On the Town") and 1969's "Dances at a Gathering", and how George Balanchine acted as both supportive mentor and demonic taskmaster. Obviously, Robbins applied Balanchine's split-personality approach to his own work when he drove performers, whether chorus dancers or ego-driven divas, to tears with his exacting demands.

In spite of his self-assurance in staging and choreographing specific scenes, he would remain steadfast in experimenting with endless versions of the same moment no matter how long it took to satisfy his vision. Feeding into the already rampant insecurities of his cast, Robbins would often have two or more people learn the same part and urge one to shadow the other as he did his solo. In rehearsing the Broadway version of "West Side Story", he would instigate gossip in order to raise the ire of the dancers playing the gang members. Such alienating, frequently self-serving techniques came at a price, for instance, he was fired from the film version of `West Side Story" in mid-production due to his insensitivity to the resulting budget overruns. The darkest moments of his life are almost a carbon copy of filmmaker Elia Kazan's, as they revolve around his guilt over his 1953 testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee and the seven people he named who apparently recruited him for the Communist Party. Vaill is insightful enough not to judge Robbins for this infamous act, especially ironic given the value he placed on loyalty throughout his career. Her extensive portrait of Robbins should satisfy not only those fascinated by his legendary life and career but also those interested in knowing one of the most profound influences on musical theater and ballet in the second half of the 20th century.

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True story, my grandmother told me.
A Train to Somewere
a train to somewhere
a train to somewhere
My Opinion

Train to Somewhere
Eve Bunting
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618040315

Book Description

Marianne, heading west with fourteen other children on an Orphan Train, is sure her mother will show up at one of the stations along the way. When her mother left Marianne at the orphanage, hadn't she promised she'd come for her after making a new life in the West? Stop after stop goes by, and there's no sign of her mother in the crowds that come to look over the children. No one shows any interest in adopting shy, plain Marianne, either. But that's all right: She has to be free for her mother to claim her. Then the train pulls into its final stop, a town called Somewhere . . .

Customer Reviews:

True story, my grandmother told me........2006-10-09

I enjoyed this book especially because my grandmother was a rider on an orphan train when she was around 11 years old. She is still spry at the age of 98. The story she tells me is almost identical, for she felt she was tall, plain and ugly. Her mother died in New York and her and all of her brothers and sisters (6 of them) came to Texas. I think everyone should know about this part of our history. Eve Bunting did a wonderful job of telling the story that so many orphan train riders will never have the opportunity to tell.

A Train to Somewere.......2006-08-18

Marrianne was sent to Saint Christophers and her mom said that she would be back for her. But she never came back. She was on a train with 14 orphans trying to find her mom. But she couldn't find her mom. My favorite part was the end when Marrianne met Mr and Mrs. Books and they adopted her. The story made me sad because her mom didn't want her and a little happy because she got adopted at the end of the train ride. The End.

a train to somewhere.......2006-08-18

I thought it was good and sad. Sad because she didn't find her real mom. I think people should read it because it tells a lesson and it tells a happy ending.

a train to somewhere.......2006-08-18

It was good because she found a new mother. Second, it made me feel happy because she was happy with her new family. She can visit people. You should read it because it was very nice and funny.

My Opinion.......2006-08-18

I think it was a good book. The kids got to choose which parents they want. Their moms drop them off so they're orphans. The end was my favorite part because she found a mom.

Going Somewhere Soon: Collected Stories & Drawings

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WOW!

Going Somewhere Soon: Collected Stories & Drawings

Manufacturer: Storypeople
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0964266024

Book Description

This is the third book, completed on Valentine's Day, 1995. While the first two books were done in Berkeley, this book was done in Iowa, where the artist moved with his family after 16 years in Los Angeles and San Francisco. One of his collectors has said that his stories make perfect sense for someone who's lived in Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and Iowa, so maybe this third book is about coming home. This book carries some of the most resonant stories including 'Chihuahua' and 'Butterflies' ("He told me that the night his mother died, there were storms & far away he saw purple lightning & someone left the window open & the room filled with a swirl of butterflies & she slipped out quietly without anyone noticing & I'm sure the grief was softer because of that".

Customer Reviews:

WOW!.......2007-09-28

What an awesome book!! I was in one of my favorite used bookstores and I was reading from one of the memoirs I intended to buy when a woman was paging through a few books by the author Brian Andreas. She was laughing aloud at something she had read. I asked her what was so funny and she said this author was wonderful..and 'out there' I asked to look at one of the books she was holding. I looked at one page and was hooked instantly. She had all the copies the bookstore owned. She took the book back she had let me look at and headed toward the check out..she turned around and came back to where I was still sitting and presented me with this book. I am now actively looking for the other books by this author. :)

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Between Heaven and Hell: A Dialog Somewhere Beyond Death wtih John F. Kennedy, C. S. Lewis & Aldous Huxley

Average customer rating:

A Great Read
BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL
Pros and cons list for book:
Between...
Good introduction to an important debate.

Between Heaven and Hell: A Dialog Somewhere Beyond Death wtih John F. Kennedy, C. S. Lewis & Aldous Huxley
Peter Kreeft
Manufacturer: InterVarsity Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0877843899

Book Description

On November 22, 1963, three great men died within a few hours of each other: C.S. Lewis, John F. Kennedy and Aldous Huxley. All three believed, in different ways, that death is not the end of human life. Suppose they were right, and suppose they met after death. How might the conversation go?Peter Kreeft imagines their discourse as a modern Socratic dialog--a part of The Great Conversation that has been going on for centuries. Does human life have meaning? Is it possible to know about life after death? What if one could prove that Jesus was God?Combining logical argument and literary imagination, Kreeft portrays Lewis as a Christian theist, Kennedy as a modern humanist and Huxley as an Eastern pantheist. Their interaction involves not only good thinking but good drama.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Read.......2006-05-02

November 22, 1963 was a day that all who were alive that day will remember. It was the day J.F. Kennedy was killed. But in the shadow of that famous death two other great men died that day, Aldous Huxley and John F. Kennedy. This book deals with those three famous men and a fictional dialog they would have sometime after life, but before a final judgment.

These three great men each believed in an afterlife but differently. Lewis in ancient western theism, Kennedy was a humanist, and Huxley believed in ancient eastern pantheism. Each also believed or practiced different forms of Christianity. Lewis was more mainline orthodox Christianity, Kennedy was a modernist or humanistic Christianity and Huxley an Orientalized or mystical Christianity.

The three men meet in a white mist or fog, they debate where they are, what they believe and where they think they will end up. Like many of Kreeft's books it is written as a dialogue, a conversation in three parts. They each present their world views, their view of the afterlife and their understanding of what their life meant. Yet each is open to the `truth' what truth really is and if it has eternal impact.

This is one of those fun light reads, written in a unique and engaging manner that will presenting the three most common views currently accepted in Christianity, and three of the common interpretations of Christianity in today's world. If you want to understand other streams of Christianity or the Christians around you this book will give you a clear, concise and humorous presentation of the three main approaches today.

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL.......2006-04-11

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK IN ITS CATEGORY.

Pros and cons list for book:.......2005-05-01

Three men died on the same day in November, 1963: JFK, Aldous Huxley, and CS Lewis. The book is a fictional recreation of how their meeting might take place.
I would like to write my review in the form of a pros/cons list with the following premise: I really liked this book.

Cons: I think there are fewer than the pros by far, but my own view includes-
1.) Though I actually agree with Kreeft's portrayal of Kennedy overall as a philosophical dilletante compared to Lewis and Huxley, Kreeft could have been a little more generous to JFK.
2.) Kreeft is a little more philosophically specific than Lewis who wrote to more of a "lay" crowd.

Pros:
1.) I disagree with previous reviews that say that the book misrepresented Lewis. Few people know the ins and outs of Lewis better than Kreeft. Consider these parallels as proof: A.) the aut deus aut homo malus argument is a direct recapitulation of the lunatic, liar, or Lord argument present in Mere Christianity and some of Lewis' other works.
B.) Those who say that Lewis believed that all cultures and religions were equal is not exactly correct. Lewis believed that pieces of truth were lodged in other religions, but did not believe that all religions were created equal. Again a close reading of the opening in Mere Christianity makes it clear that Lewis is an adamant Christian.
C.) The way in which Lewis believed that all people were equal was in their imperfection when confronting the holy reality of God. Huxley, on the other hand, adhered to a more pantheistic view of human nature that lumped the good and the bad in one ubiquitous whole. The glaring metaphysical differences between pantheism and theism disclose the deduction that Huxley and Lewis were proponents of two profoundly different worldviews and thus had fewer mental/philosophical "overlaps" than might appear prima facie. Reading the Lewis book, "Miracles," makes that demarcation even clearer.
Pro #2: There are times when Huxley really comes on strong. If you read some of Kreeft's other works, you'll see he has a healthy respect of Aldous;in BHAH Lewis has read "Brave New World," and in other nonfictional works Kreeft actually praises the insights in the aforementioned book. I think the critique that Huxley is misrepresented is a bit unwarranted.
Pro #3: It is a cool re-enactment of what is much like a Socratic dialogue.
Pro #4: Kreeft isn't psychic, but seems to articulate the biggest differences between the three ideological camps of Christianity, modernism, and perennial philosophy/pantheism pretty well.

I highly recommend this book.

Between..........2005-03-02

*** November 22, 1963 is one of those days that is unforgettable in the minds of many; so much so that at least one man chose November 22 on which to marry so that he could never forget his annerversary. On that day, pretty much everyone will recall that John F Kennedy was shot, but two other men also died, Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, and CS Lewis, one of the most brilliant and influential Christian thinkers of this age. Somewhere between their last breath and eternal destiny, the author has imagined a conversation between the three in which they compare philosophies, JFK representing humanism, Huxley the spokeman for pantheism, and Lewis, naturally being the Christian. In short order, it becomes a two against one debate, but Lewis handles the other two quite well, making a compelling argument that tends to make the other two look foolish to dogmatically oppose him. Though the style is completely different from a similiar book, the Question of God which compares and contrasts Freud and Lewis, those who read that would do well to complement their reading with Between Heaven and Hell. ***

Good introduction to an important debate........2005-01-01

In "Between Heaven and Hell," Peter Kreeft sets up a fictional debate between C.S. Lewis, Aldous Huxley, and John F. Kennedy, shortly after their deaths which, amazingly, all came on November 22nd, 1963. Kreeft uses Lewis, Kennedy, and Huxley as representatives of 3 common worldviews and their interpretation on Christianity: orthodox Christianity, modernist Christianity, and "Orientalist" Christianity, respectively.

Kreeft, an orthodox Catholic, naturally sides with the general worldview of the Anglican Lewis over the modernist Catholic Kennedy and the Buddhist Huxley, but Kreeft is fair and respectful towards Kennedy and Huxley. While the book is very short at only a little over 100 pages, in informal, conversational format, it provides a good synopsis of how the three men interpreted the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, as told in the New Testament.

The first half of the book is Lewis debating Kennedy on the subject of Christianity. (Huxley agrees to listen and argue his philosophy later on, mainly against Lewis of course, which he does in the 2nd half of the book.) Kennedy's worldview is definitely the most prevalent in the present-day, Western world, and therefore, the debate between Lewis and Kennedy will be the more interesting of the two for most readers raised in a Western culture. The Lewis-Kennedy debate is basically a summation of several Lewis books, most of which were themselves an argument for orthodox Christianity versus the modernist Christian and post-Christian worldview. Lewis handles Kennedy fairly easily, and Kennedy fans or readers sharing Kennedy's worldview will probably find themselves wanting to propose several objections to Kreeft in support of their side of the debate. But this is a quick summary after all, and Kreeft is obviously aware of that.

Moving on to the pantheist Huxley, the debate becomes slightly more foreign and rare to the average Westerner used to debates between monotheists and atheists. Huxley was a brilliant man (as all three were, of course), and his philosophy was deep, well-argued, and at times, abstruse. Kreeft uses this debate to answer the question often put to Christians, phrased in one form or another, "How is Jesus different than other major religious gurus?" This debate, again being a quick summary, leaves a few pantheist arguments on the table and isn't ended as easily as the Lewis dispatching of Kennedy's case is, but it suffices.

I recommend this book as a good introduction to the believing Christian's argument against modernist Christianity and Eastern philosophy. The book is entertaining and can be read in a couple hours, if not less.

Living Somewhere Between Estrogen And Death

Average customer rating:

Good title, disappointing content
Funtastic and Clean Humor
For Older Readers
They Are Called 'The Golden Years' For Sure.
I laughed until I cried

Living Somewhere Between Estrogen And Death
Barbara Johnson
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0849936535

Book Description

For women only, this is one of Barbara Johnson's most unique books. With her zany collection of observations about "life between the Blue Lagoon and Golden Pond," Barbara jumps right in, showing women how to survive growing older with courage and joy.

Customer Reviews:

Good title, disappointing content.......2007-06-12

This is a banal loose collection of rambling thoughts and unoriginal observations, many of which are simply quoted from other authors. It seems as though Johnson is attempting to be an older-generation Erma Bombeck and falls far short of that goal. I threw the book away when I had only yawned through half of it.

Funtastic and Clean Humor.......2005-12-30

Barbara Johnson is a joy! Her sense of humor and writing style make this an exjoyable book. Unlike most humor writers, her style is clean and wholesome...no vulgarities. Recommended to every woman who is approaching or is in middle age or older, and is looking at peri-menopause and beyond with dread instead of anticipation. This book is uplifting.! There is some humor that is a bit "corny", but it's a laughable kind of corny. Definitely "thumbs up" for this work!

For Older Readers.......2005-11-02

I'm 49, post-menopausal, and I love the Golden Girls, Erma Bombeck, and The View, but that type of sharp humor is not in this book. This author's humor is mild and corny, with LOTS of capitalized words. You know, for EMPHASIS! That said, it's pleasant to read. Companionable, but not terribly compelling. A nice book for the nightstand, to pick up now and then.

They Are Called 'The Golden Years' For Sure........2005-10-14

This book is "For Women Only" as the seal on the front cover shows. She is somewhere between Erma Bombeck and Fanny Flagg with her type of humor and sayings. This volume was written for those with a sense of humor but, if you've heard all that homespun advice, it's not so funny anymore.

None of the stuff women must live through during midlife crisis would be relevant to men, unless they are married to such creatures; they too have their own type of menopause. Chapter 7 is all about the causes of men, as she makes fun of the male personality. One I liked: "Youth looks ahead, Old age looks back, Middle age looks tired."

While the younger years may be the most fun, many grandmothers enjoy a more meaningful relationship with their adolescent grandchildren during the teenage years. These are times the rebels in the family show their true selves. They tend to turn for solace to loving grandparents during these turbulent times. Teens trust those who have given them unconditional love during their growing-up years and who are nonjudgemental.

Memory is a mental bank account for elders. In it, we deposit the treasures of our lives so that, in time of need, we can withdraw hope and courage. Remembering good memories can make us feel like mental millionaires. One of my heroes, General Douglas MacArthur once said, "Whatever your years, there is in every being's heart the love of wonder, the undaunted challenges of events, the unfailing childlike appetite for what comes next, and the joy of the game. You are as young as your hope, as old as your despair." My doctor told me just today to "give in to the body's need to heal" and to take the needed naps with joy; don't begrudge the "time out" but look forward to six weeks down the road when you can do all the things you did before the invasive surgery. Be accepting of the circumstances and don't fight against your best interests, getting well again.

Ms. Johnson uses an excerpt from one of "Dear Abby" columns called "How to Plant a Special Garden:" First, plant five rows of peas: 'Preparedness,' 'Promptness,' 'Perseverence,' 'Politeness, and "Prayer.' Next to them, plant three rows of squash: 'Squash Gossip,' Squash Criticism,' and 'Squash Indifference.'
Then five rows of lettuce: 'Let us be faithful,' 'Let us be unselfish,' 'Let us be loyal,' 'Let us be truthful,' and 'Let us love one another.' And no garden is complete without turnips: "Turn up for church,' 'Turn up with a smile,' 'Turn up with determination.' Leonard Levinson's quote, "Sorrow is the future tense of love." You've heard that it is better to be safe than sorry. But, telling someone you love that you are sorry you said or did something which made them sad is one of the best things a woman can do.

Yes, this book is for women only; but the jokes about being old apply to the men, too. It's funny -- hilarious to some, I'm sure, but insightful in a way we all need to be reminded.

I laughed until I cried.......1999-10-17

This book was my introduction to Barbara Johnson. Wow, am I ever gonna have to make up for lost time! She's great! I literally laughed until I cried. What a mind! What a sense of humor. I could relate to everything she said. The Bible says that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine. Boy, did I ever get a large dose! I'm buying some extra copies for my "over 50" friends! What better gift than the gift of laughter?

Somewhere in the World Right Now (Reading Rainbow Book)

Average customer rating:

A World Tour
an excellent look at time and space
Have you ever wondered what people in Alaska are doing NOW?
This book is wonderful!
a lovely and important book

Somewhere in the World Right Now (Reading Rainbow Book)
Stacey Schuett
Manufacturer: Dragonfly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679885498
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Book Description

School Library Journal called Stacey Schuett's stunning authorial debut "a book that is perfect for sparking an interest in geography, emphasizing the amazing concept that at the same moment we are getting ready to sleep, other people are starting a new day." And in a starred review, Publishers Weekly added, "Schuett proves as nimble with words as with a paintbrush." It's a good-night wish that circles the globe.

Customer Reviews:

A World Tour.......2007-03-21

My son enjoyed this book a great deal when he was in Kindergarden and First Grade. It managed to teach and link at least three distinct subject areas; science, geography and culture.

There are definately more female than male children presented in the narative and drawings, but my very pragmatic little boy told me "that is just a phase our civilization is going through and not to worry about it."

This book also has a practical benefit that makes it good evening reading; both your blood pressure and your child's blood pressure will likely return to normal levels because of the way the book is structured to end with the child going to sleep. I think this is one of the best bedtime "reads" out there for young children.

an excellent look at time and space.......2005-11-02

I knew this book was about time zones from reading the reviews. But I wasn't prepared for how rich and well-thought out the text was. Schuett is a long time illustrator writing her first book and she has done a really remarkable job. I feel as if she composed the text and pictures simultaneously (which, no doubt, she did). They blend perfectly. The book contains a map of the world with its timezones, as well as some background for parents briefly describing the history of time. But the most incredible thing about this book is the maps. Each illustration, which shows people in the world moving about their day, is painted on top of a background which is an actual map of where they are. Including names of countries, cities, rivers, and so on. This special touch takes this book to a whole new level. For one thing, how many children look at a globe, with its colors and grid, and strange markings and really realize what it means? That the map represents another town, like your own in some ways, with people who do what you do (read bedtime stories, head out for a day of work, write a note for a friend and hide it in a secret spot).

Use this book to introduce time zones, move on to a discussion of maps and globes, and finish with linear measurement. Use the city names on each page to locate exactly where these map exerpts were taken from and pin a piece of string onto your globe from your house to that spot. See how far away these families are from your house. And if they're on the other side of the globe -- literally -- that will make it all the easier to understand how, when the sun is shining here, it must be dark there! This is a MUST OWN for homeschooling or any family who has elementary school children.

Have you ever wondered what people in Alaska are doing NOW?.......1998-08-26

Have you ever wondered what it is like, right now, on the other side of the World? What people in different countries are doing, right now? With this book you can get a glimps of Kenya in velvety darkness, day break in India, Australia in late afternoon shade........and on around the globe. Also learn about how and why daylight savings time came about, and the reason for the Internation Date line........and why it's crooked!

This book is wonderful!.......1998-08-04

This book is a wonderful, colorful book that is very well written and is a great plot line. It follows the activities of various people around the world at the same moment in time - explaining about time zones. It starts with a baker in London and ends with a child going to sleep in Boston. Each page/location has lovely illustrations, including an overlay of a map of that city. It makes a lovely gift, especially for children who have contact with other countries (or parents who want to expose their kids to other cultures and countries). I've bought several copies for friends and family!

a lovely and important book.......1998-08-01

Schuett is able to gently explain the concept of time zones using beautiful, soft language and lovely illustrations that mix paintings with maps of the world. Her reader's note is for a more advanced reader, but the book itself reads like a lullaby. A perfect bedtime read that will, no doubt, provoke a multitude of questions about our world and other cultures. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

A Moving Tale of Love & Obsession
The movie was better
Poignant Romance
Richard, I Never Knew
the ecstasy and the agony

Somewhere In Time
Richard Matheson
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312868863

Book Description

Like What Dreams May Come, which inspired the upcoming movie starring Robin Williams, Somewhere in Time is the powerful story of a love that transcends time and space, written by one of the Grand Masters of modern fantasy.Matheson's classic novel tells the moving, romantic story of a modern man whose love for a woman he has never met draws him back in time to a luxury hotel in San Diego in 1896, where he finds his soul mate in the form of a celebrated actress of the previous century. Somewhere in Time won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, and the 1979 movie version, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, remains a cult classic whose fans continue to hold yearly conventions to this day.

Customer Reviews:

A Moving Tale of Love & Obsession.......2007-07-05

The novel has become a classic tale of romantic and obsessive love, notions of fate in our lives and the possibility of time travel.

More known for the 1980 film adaptation staring Christopher Reeve as the protagonist, Richard Collier, Jane Seymour as Elise McKenna and an excellent performance by Christopher Plummer as her aggressive manager, author Richard Matheson penned the screenplay, turning the film into a cult-like classic with continued popularity over a generation.

Considered by Matheson to be his best-written novel, the book begins with a Note by Collier's brother, Robert, who has doubts whether he is doing the right thing in publishing his brother's manuscript. This clever literary device, to my mind, gives the novel credibility, presenting the work as not a work of fiction but a real event.

Richard Collier is a writer for television diagnosed to have a brain tumour, (a death sentence) and sets out to travel in his car, flipping a coin, leaving his destinations to chance, he arrives at the Coronado Hotel, a 19th century establishment where Collier comments, "The Past Haunts this hotel". In the hotel's quaint museum, he discovers a photograph of a well known stage actress of the time period, Elise McKenna. Richard's obsession begins; he falls in love with the long dead woman, and wonders how he can get back to her, in the year 1896.

What is so good about this novel is Matheson's descriptions and feelings about the past once he travels back in time. The reader can see and feel what Richard sees and feels, in some cases, quite acutely. Richard Collier's method, too, to travel back to the 19th century, for me, seemed quite feasible. There are no machines or technological transporters, merely his Will to reach his one true love.

As has been mentioned many times, Richard Matheson is an original writer, his work mixing categories or genres, that is to say, science fiction, horror, romance and the supernatural. He is a prolific writer of over 16 novels, film scripts, and television movies and was one of the main writers for the legendary show, The Twilight Zone. Matheson's other famous text, What Dreams May Come: A Novel, adapted for the big screen as well, starring Robin Williams, is also considered by the author to be one of his best novels.

I found this novel to be very moving, realistic and original. Well worth owning and reading again.

The movie was better.......2007-01-13

I've wanted to read this book since I saw the movie, Somewhere In Time, but it's been too expensive (over $60.00). Its finally come down in price (under $20.00) and I was a little disappointed. The movie is one of my all time favorites, but I thought the book was just all right. This is one of those rare instances where the movie was better than the book.

Poignant Romance.......2007-01-02

I saw `Somewhere in Time' with Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour, first. I was thrilled to know that it was a based on a novel, `Bid Time Return.' The story is a little different from the movie, but the concept is still there.

This is a doomed romance from the beginning. Richard Collier is a terminally ill man that falls in love with Elise, an actress of another century. He is staying at the Hotel Coronado in San Diego, and finds a way to travel back in time. The author leaves it up to you, if Richard truly traveled back in time, or if it was merely a delusion brought on by his illness.

I'd like to believe that Richard and Elise's souls traveled to a place where time was not an issue, and at last, their love could flourish.

If you were passionate about the movie, you'll thoroughly enjoy the book by Richard Matheson.

Sci-fi fans, romantics, fantasy lovers, or simply people that love a good read this novel is for you.

Richard, I Never Knew .......2006-12-22

I never realized that Matheson, the author of Duel, Hell House, et al, is really just a hopeless romantic. In this case, that's a good thing. Somewhere In Time is the time-travel story of Richard Collier, a man with a terminal brain tumor in the year 1971. Collier falls in love with a picture of a turn of the century stage actress and through a combination of meditation and longing is able to travel back to the 1890s. He then proceeds to win over the object of his affection. This is a story that effectively conveys the sense of desperation that Collier feels as one thing or another continues to conspire against the would-be lovers. In the final analysis, the strength of this book is in the rich atmosphere of it's setting that make an impossible situation believable. Fans of sci-fi and romance will find a lot to like. Others may also. I'm not a fan of either genre particularly, yet found Somewhere In Time very enjoyable. Docked one star for being a little repetitive at times. Otherwise, it is highly recommended.

the ecstasy and the agony.......2005-07-20

The concept of this book was certainly strong, and its sheer romanticism carried me along with it most of the way. Matheson was always a fabulous plotter, and knew how to add that special twist of irony to the end of a story, as we see in so many of the TWILIGHT ZONE episodes that he created.
Matheson solves the mechanism problem of time travel with a combination of self-hypnosis and pure love, an interesting combination. His devices to allow the two protagonists to get to know (and love) each other are somewhat weak, given the morals and mores of the time he is describing, and the disappearance of the actress's mother from an active role towards the end of the story (in order to allow for some flagrante delictoing) seems rather too convenient.
As a romantic at heart, the ending of this story was very disturbing to me............the two SHOULD have been able to stay together, as the main chracters do in Finney's novel TIME AND AGAIN. Was all of Matheson's story merely a long-winded way of saying that time travel shouldn't be attempted, because history can't be changed? But in fact history has already been changed here; the relationship between the characters changes both of their lives forever, simply because they met and fell in love.
In any case, I will never bring myself to read it again, because that last couple of pages is simply too painful. This does not change the fact that I think the book is very well-written..........I just wanted a different ending, sappy fool that I am at times.

Somewhere in Ireland A Village is Missing An Idiot

Average customer rating:

Feherty's No Idiot
Feherty writes as he speaks
great service and book in perfect shape
Absolutely hysterical! Laugh out loud funny!
If you read the column, buy the compilation

Somewhere in Ireland A Village is Missing An Idiot
David Feherty
Manufacturer: Rugged Land
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Golf | Sports | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1590710223
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Book Description

Golf's multitalented combination of Dave Barry, P.J. O'Rourke, and Rick Reilly, David Feherty is the nation's funniest and most popular on-screen golf personality. His "Sidespin" column is the most popular feature in Golf Magazine, and his first novel, A Nasty Bit of Rough, cracked the New York Times bestseller list. Now, at long last, an omnibus of Feherty's best nonfiction hilarity. Somewhere in Ireland, A Village is Missing an Idiot is a collection of Feherty's most popular Golf Magazine columns, intermingled with his most outrageous work from Golfonline.com. As an added bonus, readers will be treated to some notorious pieces from his work at the British publication Golf Monthly. Edited by and with a running commentary by Feherty, and accompanied by some of the priceless letters to the editor from readers across the country and around the globe complaining about Feherty's perversity, Somewhere in Ireland is the perfect Father's Day gift for the crankiest duffer in every family.

Customer Reviews:

Feherty's No Idiot.......2007-01-19

The book is great. Feherty's an Idiot like Columbo was stupid! His writing is genuine, refreshing and entertaining; IF you like stories about golf and golfers, which I do. Feherty may not have been much of a golfer, by his own admission, but he is a natural when it comes to writing.

Feherty writes as he speaks.......2006-11-06

If Feherty cracks you up from time to time with his bizarre musings during his job as a TV golf analyst, expect more of the same, except in the book, he doesn't have to worry about the FCC. I laughed out loud at times, and at least snickered at others. Totally politically incorrect and worth the read.

great service and book in perfect shape.......2005-08-22

thanks for the great delivery and outstanding produce. the book was exactly as you described it.
thanks for doing a good job.

Absolutely hysterical! Laugh out loud funny!.......2005-04-07

I just read the first two chapters and have been laughing out loud! He has amazing creativity and is truly a wordsmith. Well worth the price paid. I hope Feherty continues to write more books because they keep getting funnier!

If you read the column, buy the compilation.......2004-07-02

I only recently picked up on David Feherty and his writing. Being on the far side of the Pacific from where he plies his trade sets me back as to the happenings off the green in the golf world by, well, years. I found this one book helpful not only with catching up on golf in general, but also in getting aquainted with Mr. Feherty and his pen.

Most I think will go after this book because they want to see "the lighter side of golf". As anyone who has read this book or regularly looks at the column itself can tell you, this is off-color humor that is best taken in small amounts over a vast period of time. Not that there are any boring segments (some are less interesting than others, but none outright boring), but rather the parade of gradeschool humor that is presented in just about every other chapter can be wearing.

What will likely keep a reader coming back (perhaps once a week at most) is that he is a fairly good writer. Containing selections from his column over the past five years and more does carry the trap of repition in phrases and cliche, but this isn't tiring in the least. He is very capable of retelling stories better than most in the sports world. His "letters" do tend to wear on one's patience at times, however.

Book Description

This novel begins in 1969, and as Peter, Paul and Mary croon on the radio and poster paints are splashing the latest anti-war slogans. Suzanne, a poet, lives in a Maine beach house awaiting the birth of a love child she will name Sparrow. Claudia, who weds a farmer during college, plans to raise three strong sons. And Elizabeth and Howard marry, organize protest marches, and try to raise their two children with their own earthy, hippie values. By 1985, things have changed. Suzanne, now with a M.B.A., has taken to calling Sparrow "Susan." After personal tragedy, Claudia spirals backward into her sixties world-and into madness. And Elizabeth, fatally ill, watches despairingly as her children yearn for a split-level house and a gleaming station wagon.In this beloved, critically acclaimed first novel, Hood's clear, brave, and penetrating voice captures the spirit of three friends struggling to resolve their lives in a complicated time warp called lost youth.

Customer Reviews:

An Amazing and Simple Story.......2004-01-06

An amazing and simple story of what shapes the people we become. The characters were like people you know.

Entertaining.......2003-06-16

Though not deep literture by any stretch of the imagination, this book made me fall in love with Ann Hood. The themes explored here (the sixties, lost idealism, familial relations, the complexity of romantic relations) are frequent themes in her novels. so much so, that they become fairly redundant after awhile. this, however, is her best outing. Rather than probing deeply into the pysches of her characters, Hood instead takes the reader on an entertaining skim of thier surafaces, which are interesting enough to make the read a pleasant one. this book is kind of like a well made tv movie: insubstantial but entertaining, impossible to turn away from once you're hooked. an earlier reviewer compared the style to those of Ann Tyler or Alice Hoffman. I think thats an accurate comparison, although Hood may even be a little more accesible due to the fact that the novel is zippier and less bogged down in ulitmately irrevelent detail.

A Man's Take.......2001-05-04

I read this book a LONG time ago, and I have been searching for and reading Ann Hood ever since! Maybe it was my age and maturity - whatever - when I read it, but I LOVED it! I'd highly recommend this or any Ann Hood to everyone. For me, it was an eye-opening look into the woman's side of things. It made me think, and changed my point of view in a big way.

A simple read.......2001-04-09

Though it's not my favorite book of this year, but it was a pleasant, quick read. I wish that Ms. Hood had written in depth about her characters ~~ instead, I got a fuzzy image of each one of them, which is disappointing because she could write more about Claudia, Elizabeth, Suzanne, Sparrow and Rebekah. They are the kind of women that I'd be interested in knowing a little better than the sketch that I was given in this book.

Claudia, Elizabeth and Suzanne were friends in college during the 1960s. Then one summer, each of them fell in love and got pregnant for the first time. Claudia and Elizabeth remained friends, while Suzanne moved to Boston to raise her daughter Sparrow alone. Claudia and Elizabeth married their respective lovers and raised families on a gorgeous farm ~~ with crabapple trees and daisies on that farm. Suzanne left her lover Abel because she refused to have an abortion ~~ and in turn became a hard, brittle woman whose daughter could never understand. Elizabeth also had a daughter Rebekah ~~ that she tried to understand but it wasn't till she was diagnosed with cancer that she was able to finally reach out to her daughter.

There is a thin story line here ~~ and that alone is disappointing. Ms. Hood could have written more about Elizabeth and Rebekah, Suzanne and Sparrow, and Claudia's inability to let go of her son who drowned. The ending leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

If you're looking for a quick read and something light, then I would recommend this book. It is well-written, but there isn't enough substance there to hold your imagination like a good author tries to do. It quite doesn't match up to my expectations of what a good book should do. It is sufficient enough if you need something light to read.

A Haunting Writer.......2001-01-04

I read this novel and Hood's "Three-Legged Horse" and "Something Blue" a few years ago. They are simple, slight novels that take only a short time to read, but they have lived with me since, becoming almost iconic.

I am not particularly good at remembering plots or names, but fragments - the lobsters that a child thinks have been brought home to be pets which are then boiled alive... the child struck dumb by the fear inspired by the bizarre death of his father, and the death itself - remain with me always.

Book Description

A classic tale of sensuous secrets and unanticipated passion, from the extraordinary New York Times bestselling author

The toast of the town ...

All London is at Julia Wentworth's feet—and anything she desires is hers for the asking. But the glamorous leading lady guards a shocking secret: a mystery husband whom she does not know, dares not mention ... and cannot love.

For years Damon Savage has been searching for the stranger his parents wed him to without his consent, hoping to legally free himself from matrimony's invisible chains. And he is astonished to discover his "bride" is none other than the exquisite lady he'd hoped to make his mistress! But though his wife by law, Julia will never truly be Damon's—until he conquers her fears, his formidable rivals ... and her proud, passionate, and independent heart.

Download Description

All London is at Julia Wentworth's feet. The beautiful, enchanting actress is the toast of the theater world--and anything she desires is hers for the asking. But the incomparable leading lady guards a devastating secret: a mystery husband whom she does not know, dares not mention. . .and cannot love.

For years Damon Savage has been searching for the stranger his unscrupulous parents wed him to without his consent. Wanting no more than to be legally rid of the foolish chit, Damon is shocked to discover his "bride" is the exquisite stage performer whom he intended to make his mistress! But though his wife by law, Julia will never truly be Damon's--until he conquers her fears, his formidable rivals. . .and the stellar lady's proud, independent heart.

Customer Reviews:

One of my Favorite Lisa Kleypas books.......2007-08-29

This Novel lived up to all my expectations! It was very interesting to watch the hand of fate at work with the bringing together of Julia and Damon after they had been married for such a long time but never lived together as husband and wife, as Damon leaves the morning after their forced marriage. Both are strong-willed, with Julia fighting to maintain her independence.

Unexpectedly Julia finally meets her husband and finds herself being drawn to him. Yet as her parents have given her a dismal view as marriage and he is concerned about her career and her ability to fit in his world, she resists her attraction to him. On the other hand, Damon, as a nobleman, feels that Julia does not possess the qualities that a society wife should have. However, he becomes captivated by Julia on his first sight her and is unable to fight his attraction. Eventually the two realised that love means compromise and excepting each other for who you are.

I first read "Suddenly You" by Ms. Kleypas in the summer of 2001 and since then I have become an avid fan, purchasing several of her books and never being disappointed. If there was a down side to this book, it was that you wanted to see a happy ending for Logan, the star actor in the company, I wanted him to find love. Let us hope that Ms. Kleypas devotes some more attention to him in another book.

The book is fast-paced and one that you must read!

Enjoy this author.......2007-05-18

I really enjoy this author. Hew books are very creative and descriptive. She ranks up with other romance authors as one of my favorites.

Never disappointed in Lisa K........2007-04-12

This was one of the few books I have owned by LK that I had not read yet. I kept reading the 3 to 3 and 1/2 star reviews and thought if it wasn't as good as her others then I'll put off reading it and read some others I have. Well once again I thoroughly enjoyed yet another of this wonderful author's books. Maybe this book wasn't "quite" as polished as some of her later books but I enjoyed it, was enthralled with it, loved it every bit as much and just barely noticed a difference. By now everyone knows the story so I won't even go into that here.I felt the story was fleshed out very well, I cared about the characters very much as they were well developed, and the love scenes were touching and marvelous as ever. Devil in Winter is still my favorite book by Lisa Kleypas so far, but, this one was quite enjoyable and touching for me. I have yet to be disappointed in any book by this fine author and I certainly was not in this one. Yes it's another Kleypas Keeper for me! Bravo Lisa K. once again.

First romance book.......2006-08-15

I really enjoyed this book! It is my first romance book, it's romantic, dramatic, and just a good book in general. It's kinda like reading a soap opera! I can't wait to read other great romance books by Lisa Kleypas.

Kleypas's worst.......2006-07-25

I usually like Lisa Kleypas; I love her Wallflowers Quartet. This book is the worst of her offerings I've read so far, however. The characters left me cold, and I had to force myself to continue reading -- it went on way too long, and I just skipped the last few pages.

One thing that just bugged me were mistakes in the writing and proofing. The heroine, Julia, has a dual identity, Jessica, and at times, Kleypas had characters who only knew her as Jessica call her Julia. It's just sloppy.

By far the biggest problem happens towards the end of the book. I'm normally willing to buy a romance novel hero's insane jealousy, but the "hero" of this novel, Damon, goes so far as to abduct Julia painfully. At that point, I seriously expected her to turn from him and toward her friend and boss, whom Kleypas hinted from beginning to end felt more for Julia than he was letting on. After being abducted, and dealing with Damon's new and scary demeanor, Julia, unbelievably, melts towards him. She's supposed to be an independent woman, and all of her qualms about leaving her life, independence and acting behind just disappear...and why -- because he practically abuses her? She finds that endearing enough to completely submit to him?

Normally, I wouldn't get so worked up over a throwaway romance novel, but this one offended and disturbed me. Yech. I literally threw it away when I was done. Get back to humor-filled stories, Lisa Kleypas, please.

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