The Remains of the Day

Amazon.com

The novel's narrator, Stevens, is a perfect English butler who tries to give his narrow existence form and meaning through the self-effacing, almost mystical practice of his profession. In a career that spans the second World War, Stevens is oblivious of the real life that goes on around him -- oblivious, for instance, of the fact that his aristocrat employer is a Nazi sympathizer. Still, there are even larger matters at stake in this heartbreaking, pitch-perfect novel -- namely, Stevens' own ability to allow some bit of life-affirming love into his tightly repressed existence.

Book Description

A tragic, spiritual portrait of a perfect English butler and his reaction to his fading insular world in post-war England. A wonderful, wonderful book.

Customer Reviews:

"In bantering lies the key to human warmth.".......2007-09-15

"A 'great' butler can only be, surely, one who can point to his years of service and say that he has applied his talents to serving a great gentleman--and through the latter, in serving humanity" (p. 117).

The Remains of the Day (1989) is the third novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (1954). It won the Booker prize in 1989. The book's title not only refers to the time of day (evening), when the narrator reflects upon his day's work, but also upon his mature age, from which he can reflect upon his life. The title also refers to the last grand houses of Great Britain's staffed with butlers such as Ishiguro's narrator, Stevens.

Stevens is a loyal English butler who has who dedicated his life to the service of Lord Darlington. Upon receiving a letter from an ex co-worker Miss Kenton describing her unhappy married life, and at the encouragement of his new employer, Mr. Farraday, an American, Stevens borrows a car to take a "motoring trip" to revisit Miss Kenton. Along the way (in a plot structure reminiscent of Bergman's Wild Strawberries - Criterion Collection) Stevens reflects upon his service to Lord Darlington, the meaning of "dignity," his relationship with his father, and his true feelings for Miss Kenton, whom he cherishes. It was because of his service to Lord Darlington that Stevens never acted upon his love for Miss Kenton. Although she offered him her love, he refused to even acknowledge her feelings by allowing himself to be "off duty" in her presence (p. 169). Rather, all his life Stevens has been consumed by the desire to be a "great" butler, which for him has meant embodying the ideals of service, dignity, and composure. Ultimately, The Remains of The Day is a poignant meditation upon missed opportunities and lost love; one cannot "turn back the clock," as Stevens puts it (p. 239). Ishiguro succeeds at drawing the reader into Stevens' loss as a result of placing duty above the needs of his heart. This is a perfect novel, one that I highly recommend, along with the 1993 Merchant-Ivory must-see film The Remains of the Day (Special Edition) starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.

One of my 10 favorite novels of the last 25 years.

G. Merritt

A Devoted Professional.......2007-09-15

Brilliant novel about a butler so dedicated to perfection that he suppresses all human emotion in the quest for professional "dignity" and service to a great man. Feelings of love, grief, guilt & shame are banished in a life of service, and Stevens is ever searching for a way to improve, even in (what should be) casual "banterings" with a new American employer. However, traces of the butler's humanity emerge as he travels the countryside in hopes of having a former maid return to Darlington Hall. The true character of his former employer, the words of a letter from Miss Kenton, and his own past behavior are under scrutiny during his travels. I loved the subtlety & elegant melancholy of this novel. Thoroughly enjoyable.

The best of Ishiguro.......2007-09-03

In a world full of "good" books, Remains of the Day stands out as a truly amazing one. It speaks to Kazuo Ishiguro's talent that such a simple plot about a reserved English butler could be so engrossing and heartbreaking. The end of the book is especially powerful, and likely to leave any reader thinking about it long after they've finished. This is easily the best work of Ishiguro and, in my opinion, one of the best modern novels out there. Not to be missed.

Excellent.......2007-08-20

Ishiguro is an amazing writer and this novel is no exception. This work is presented first through memories and recollections during a road trip and later via an interaction at the end of the trip and reflections on that interaction. Ishiguro presents a question, which I will not ruin here, that everyone should ask themselves. Before you ask the question he presents you must read this book immediately.

Mr. Stevens is among the finest creations in English literature.......2007-07-11

The story of The Remains of the Day unfolds in a strange but effective way. The narrator is Mr. Stevens, the key character in the novel, and it is his voice that tells the increasingly revealing tale of his life as a 'gentleman's gentleman'.

However, Ishiguro does not simply allow Stevens to give us a memoir of his life from the perspective of advanced years. Instead Stevens records his motoring trip across England as if he is keeping an hourly diary, perhaps spoken into a dictaphone (if such technology had existed in the mid-1950s when the main story is set). This device allows us to experience each stage of the journey as it happens and, more importantly, Steven's growing self-awareness as he tries to piece together the significance of events from his past life.

The writing style reflects the period and the character of Stevens beautifully. As narrator, he seems unable or unwilling to acknowledge the emotions that always threaten to unseat the 'dignity' to which he aspires. In his conversations with Miss Kenton, he uses language to preserve decorum at all costs. Passion is his enemy and he fights a lifelong battle against it.

In Mr. Stevens, Ishiguro has given us one of the greatest creations in all of English literature. It is a wonderful accomplishment and the author fully deserves every plaudit and honour he has received for this masterpiece.

Then and Now Bible Maps: With Clear Plastic Overlays of Modern Day Cities and Countries

Average customer rating:

Very helpful Bible Map Book - available many ways
A Great Asset to Bible Study.
Understanding Bible Geography
What you get is nice, wish there was more
Excellent

Then and Now Bible Maps: With Clear Plastic Overlays of Modern Day Cities and Countries

Manufacturer: Ascension Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

World | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

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Timechart of Biblical History

ASIN: 1932645179

Book Description

Take an exciting journey back in time through the various places and events of the Bible! Here you will encounter colorful, user-friendly maps which show the political and religious development of the Holy Land, with helpful explanations of what was happening and why. Recently revised to reflect The Great Adventure Bible Timeline system, this Catholic edition will be a powerful tool in discovering the riches of Bible history.

Customer Reviews:

Very helpful Bible Map Book - available many ways.......2007-05-08

This Bible map book shows where places mentioned in the Bible are located today. This spiral-bound book contains 12 full-color Bible maps, each with a clear plastic overlay that shows modern-day cities and countries. Includes the following maps: * The Middle East during Old Testament Times * Overlay of modern-day Middle East * The Assyrian Empire, Babylonian Kingdoms and Persian Empire *Overlay of same areas with modern-day countries * The Holy Land during the time of the Old Testament * Overlays of United Kingdom, Divided Kingdom, modern-day Israel and surrounding countries * The Holy Land during the time of Jesus * Overlay of modern-day Holy Land * Paul's Journeys (Roman Empire at AD 60) * Overlay of modern-day Mediterranean area. The print is relatively large for an Bible atlas (not giant print, but not as bad as some Bible atlases).

This product is available many ways, so check the ISBN above and make sure you are ordering the correct one, because this review appears on several product pages.
* Spiral-bound book with clear plastic overlays - ISBN 1932645179 Then and Now Bible Maps: With Clear Plastic Overlays of Modern Day Cities and Countries
* Set of 12 Overhead Transparencies - ISBN 0965508234 Then and Now Bible Maps: Compare Bible Times with Modern Day (Then & Now Bible Maps at Your Fingertips)
* PowerPoint with more than 50 slides - ISBN 1890947733 Then and Now Bible Maps (PowerPoint)
* Pamphlet (color booklet to fit in the back of a Bible) - ISBN 1596361301 Then and Now Bible Maps

A Great Asset to Bible Study........2007-01-10

This book has been worth it's weight in gold in my study of the Bible, as it depicts the old world and the one that is now. It's really neat to see the territories that Abraham traveled so many years ago and compare them to the way things are today. I think this book is GREAT!! Also, the layout of the book is such that you can see on one page the changes that have taken place over the years to these areas; no flipping through 5 pages to see where areas/borders have changed. Everything is visually right in front of you on one page.

Understanding Bible Geography.......2006-12-06

Then and Now Bible Maps is an excellent resource for helping put Bible locations in perspective / make them come alive for the Bible reader. Even though I am not "tuned in" to geography, this book shows me where Old Testament and New Testament events occurred, what the places were named years ago, and what the places are now named. A rather short book of 16 actual map pages (with additional information), this book does help the Bible reader gain a better understanding of the world in Biblical times as well as aid in understanding how those long-ago events and places relate to Bible prophecy and what is going on in our world now. I purchased this book along with Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Time Lines. I recommend both books. In fact, I have purchased several more copies of each book to give as gifts!

What you get is nice, wish there was more.......2006-08-18

This book is perfect for any teacher or homeschooler to show students a comparison between a few views of the Middle East regions during Bible times and present day country lines. However, you don't get very much for your money. The book retails for about $20 new and for this you get 5 pages of political-style maps with plastic overlays for present day and a couple for times in between. I had just hoped for more than 16 pages for my money. On the positive side, "Then and Now Bible Maps" is good for quickly showing present day country lines with the use of plastic overlays, and for that reason, it's a very nice addition to your Bible Study library. It also has many interesting facts about both Old and New Testaments between the map pages. However, Hammond's "Atlas of the Bible Lands" is a nice supplement, and a better punch for your dollar, with about 40 pages of geographic-style maps(showing terrain) for about $9 new.

Excellent.......2006-07-30

I received the two Now Bible Maps way quicker than expected and they were just what I was looking for. I would do business with this seller again in a flash.

The Many Blessings Cookbook: A Celebration of Harvest, Home, and Country Cooking

Average customer rating:

The Many Blessings Cookbook: A Celebration of Harvest, Home, and Country Cooking
Jane Watson Hopping
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0679414754
Release Date: 1993-10-19

Twenty One Days to a Trained Dog (Fireside Books (Fireside))

Average customer rating:

Yeah right
Good To Have
Didnt like this book
3 dogs ... quarter of a century! still perfect!
This is the best!

Twenty One Days to a Trained Dog (Fireside Books (Fireside))
Dick Maller
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0671251937

Book Description

No one is more qualified to teach you how to train your dog than Dick Maller, president of the U.S. Professional Dog Trainers' Association and operator of the famous Maller School for Dogs, whose dogs have won over 100 awards and have appeared in movies and on television. Here is his easy-to-follow, effective, and above all, humane approach to training your puppy or full-grown dog in only 21 days. Using "operant conditioning" and "positive reinforcement" as the two basic training techniques, the author shows you:

* how to housebreak your puppy quickly and painlessly

* how to break your dog's bad habits (barking, chewing, chasing cars and bicycles, jumping up on visitors, howling when left alone)

* how to train your dog to follow simple commands (sit, heel, turn, stay, lie down and come)

* how to teach your dog to fetch, jump, catch, carry or retrieve an object.

The simple Maller method is your guide to raising a happy, obedient dog -- one who follows your orders not out of fear (as in traditional training methods), but out of delight in pleasing you -- every time.

Customer Reviews:

Yeah right.......2007-07-05

Bought the book, was skeptical, and I turned out to be right. I couldn't teach my adult dog how to behave in 21 days unless I had all day every day to devote to it. It might work for some people, but not for me.

Good To Have.......2007-06-02

I used this book, in conjunction with other training materials. It's useful, but I wouldn't rely on it as my sole training guide. I used it to get a basic idea of how to train my dog once we had passed the 8mo. mark and were basically doing OK.

Didnt like this book.......2006-03-03

I did not like this book at all. It states to wait for the puppy to do the wanted action and praise the puppy. That to me does not seem like the way to train a puppy. I have ordered the dog whisperer video and am hoping for better results.

3 dogs ... quarter of a century! still perfect!.......2005-03-24

I first purchased this booking the late 70s or early 80s. If I recall correctly, it was on the "suggested" table at a local bookshop in the Hamptons.

Ah yes... the 1980s! In finance, Ivan Boesky personified the times of "live big, show off." At the movies ET phoned home, Peggy Sue got Married. The toys to own were a Rubik cube and Pac man.

Those icons are long gone ...yet this little book has survived! Ain't life strange?

Well since that time (almost thirty years ago) I've had two more dogs and two more wives.

I got my latest dog last month. Once again I went back to this "21 days" classic book. After all it kept me in good stead through "Buffy" and "Charlie" and now is being reread for use with "Trumper" (the dog not the Donald).

I see why this has survived almost thirty years on the Simon & Schuster backlist as well as more than thirty five printings in five different editions and four languages. It is a true classic.

This is the one book to buy to train your new pup or old dog. It is brilliant in its absolute simplicity.

I'm not sure this book actually needed one more review. However, there are very few things in my life that (a) I liked in 1980 and still like (b) that survived from 1980 and (c) that cost under $10.00 yet has brought so much joy.

It belongs in every doggie persons library.

This is the best!.......2004-09-22

No ifs, ands or (none housebroken) butts ... this is the best dog training book I've ever seen. It did take me more than 21 days (more like 42 days). However, considering my earlier training attempts fell on deaf ears (I thought dogs have really good hearing) ... I am thrilled. The best ten bucks I've ever spent. Get this book ... from amazon, the library or a friend. These guys really know howw to train dogs. Or actually they know how to train layman to train dogs!

The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984

Average customer rating:

Great little read
I just wish it got more in-depth.

The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984
Ian Glasper
Manufacturer: Cherry Red Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1901447707
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Book Description

If the bands in Burning Britain were loud, political, and uncompromising, those examined in Ian Glasper's new book were even more so. With Crass and Poison Girls opening the floodgates, the arrival of bands like Zoundz, Flux of Pink Indians, Conflict, Subhumans, Dirt, The Mob, Omega Tribe, and Icons of Filth heralded a new age of honesty and integrity in the 1980s underground music scene. It was a time when punk stopped being merely a radical fashion statement, and became a force for real social change. Anarchy in punk rock no longer meant "cash from chaos"—it meant "freedom, peace, and unity." Comprehensively covering all the groups and names, big and small, The Day the Country Died also features exclusive interviews and hundreds of never-before-published photos.

Customer Reviews:

Great little read.......2007-07-19

If you are a fan of hardcore/punk then you need this in your collection.

Forget BLush's 'American hardcore' BS this is well put together collection of histories of some of the most (and least) well known Anarcho/Punk bands of the UK. From Crass to Zounds, Flux, Oi Polloi and a whole bunch of others are included. Yeh, because of the number of bands included in this book there is not an awful lot of detail there is a gret little discography at the end of each chapter though for anyone looking for the music of the bands mentioned.

Most of the stuff on the bands covers their history (how they formed, band members, memorable events etc) Still, for the size of the book its still worth buying. It is interesting to read some of the comments of band members who for the most part are speaking long after their former bands have split up and have since moved on in life. Interviews that stand out for me are from former members of Crass who for the most part seem to see themsleves as beeing unfairly placed as 'spokesmen of the anarchist movement' and also their own concept of what anarchism realm meant.

I just wish it got more in-depth........2007-04-11

As an american punk in suburbia in the early 80's, these anarcho bands were a big part of my soundtrack, so it's great to read the interviews, and learn about the bands. I do think the interviews could have been a little more candid, though I give high marks to several of the features. It's also real nice to read about some of the lesser known bands.
I give it 4 stars for the content. This is Ian Glasper's best book.
I would have given it 5 stars, but nicked off a star for the typesetting (I blame the publishers for that though), I would find my eyes getting very strained after even reading for a little bit.
Also, I am wondering why the Poison Girls were not featured.

Noel Coward: The Complete Illustrated Lyrics

Average customer rating:

A meticulously-researched compilation of The Master's Voice.

Noel Coward: The Complete Illustrated Lyrics
Noel Coward
Manufacturer: Overlook Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0879518960

Customer Reviews:

A meticulously-researched compilation of The Master's Voice........1999-05-19

BEVIS HILLIER - The Spectator: "In the LYRICS something close to genius flares out;it is his songs that make Coward immortal...This collection is illustrated with a pleasing choice of photographs of Coward and his friends,song-sheet covers and programmes. The effect is of a personal scrapbook...The second merit is the formidably good editing by BARRY DAY. His notes to often rather-light songs are so learned...it is useful to get sorted out,once and for all,the extent of Coward's collaboration with Kern and to hear from different artists about auditioning for Coward or the premieres of his songs."

Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 (Adventure Press)

Average customer rating:

Fact filled and mesmerizing account - worthwhile read
Great Book
The Labor Day hurricane of 1935 . . . hmmmm, sounds familiar
Very thorough account
Great Story

Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 (Adventure Press)
Willie Drye
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0792280105
Release Date: 2002-08-01

Book Description

The most powerful hurricane in United States history assaulted the Florida Keys in 1935, one of the darkest years of the Great Depression. With winds surpassing 200 miles an hour and a storm surge topping 20 feet, the “Storm of the Century” killed more than 400 people in a two-day span, devastating small villages and killing hundreds of World War I veterans working on a federally sponsored project—and kicking up a far-reaching political storm of acrimony and controversy in its wake.

Told from the alternating viewpoints of veterans and local residents who survived the storm, Federal Emergency Relief Administration employees, and governmental officials, Storm of the Century is an ambitious work of investigative journalism and historical research, panoramic in scope and haunting in its emotional immediacy. Featuring previously undisclosed documents from the original government investigation, noted journalist Willie Drye's vivid account of the storm's rampage is accompanied by fascinating revelations about how federal administrators ignored early hurricane warningsÃ£and why supporters of Franklin Delano Roosevelt were deeply concerned about its effect on the election of 1936. Drye's bracing narrative expertly evokes the Florida Keys of the 1930s and delivers the first comprehensive explanation of how the economic crises of the Depression and the cruel mandates of political expediency collided full-force with the might of the hurricane itself and ultimately exploded into a national tragedy.

Customer Reviews:

Fact filled and mesmerizing account - worthwhile read.......2006-11-14

I was not even aware of the Hurricane of 1935 until I saw a recent special on television. I wanted to learn more, and this book filled the bill. Willie Drye laid the groundwork by telling about the residents of the Keys and what life was like then before the storm. He explained how isolated they became with one only road in and out and how the planned-for railroad would improve things immensely. The stories of the veterans who lived in the area to work on those railroads were well told. I found the book riveting and hard to put down until toward the end. Once the book turned to discussing the "blame game" and how the various agencies tried to save face in light of the deaths of so many veterans, it bogged down for me and lost a lot of its verve. Nevertheless, I would recommend STORM OF THE CENTURY as a fact-filled and interesting account of what was a horrific experience for people so ill prepared to survive it.

Great Book.......2006-05-17

Starts off a little slow and gets a little boring in the middle, but all-in-all Willie Drye does a great job telling the story of the hurricane and the political nightmare surrounding it. The parallels to this disaster and it's lack of leadership to Katrina and the bumbling leaders involved in it (Nagin/Blanco) are uncanny.

The Labor Day hurricane of 1935 . . . hmmmm, sounds familiar.......2005-11-29

Reading this book just a few months after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi gulf coast, and the subsequent political fallout that ensued there, is fascinating. Because in the 1935 hurricane that barreled through the Florida Keys with winds up to 200 mph (it's the most powerful hurricane to strike the US) we also have a set of "victims," accusations of governmental neglect, and finger-pointing and fudged reports that came with official investigations.

The 1935 hurricane (storms weren't named back then; this one occurred on Labor Day so is often referred to as the Labor Day hurricane) begins years before it actually formed off the Bahamas, and many miles to the north. The story really commences in Washington, DC, in 1932, when thousands of WW I veterans marched on the capital demanding the bonus money they were promised for fighting in the Great War. They set up camps in Washington, and, mainly because the Depression was affecting much of the population, were not very popular. When FDR became president, he decided to ship the vets off to Florida to help construct the road that was stretching from Florida's mainland across the Keys to Key West. Since 1912 the Florida East Coast Railroad ran tracks to Key West, but no road ran the full distance. (Interestingly, the storm killed the railroad for good along the Keys; the road and most other things were built or rebuilt.)

By early 1935, these veterans began arriving in the Keys and were lodged in work camps. Thus the "victims" were in place. Drye tells what life was like in the camps (much discontent, drunkeness, and violence), and how the men felt they were merely shuttled out of sight and forgotten.

The storm formed off the Bahamas late in August and was first predicted to hit Havana, Cuba. Hurricane tracking techniques were still pretty primitive in 1935, with most of the information coming in from ships at sea. The weather bureau, however, located the storm about 200 miles too far south, and its predictions for the Keys minimized the dangers at first. The first finger-pointing of blame after the tragedy was directed at the weather bureau.

Then the storm hit. It was compact and ferocious, destroying everything in its path. Drye relates first-hand experiences by those caught in it. Some survived, many did not (hundreds died). Many of the survivors - and victims - were the veterans who had not been taken off the Keys as they should have been. Here's where the governmental neglect charges come in. Apparently a train had been readied and was even on its way to take the men out, but delays in ordering it prevented it from getting to the camps in time. In fact, the train itself was blown off the tracks by the tremendous winds and the storm surge.

The first official report on the disaster said no one was to blame, it was just "an act of God." This outraged many people and additional hearings were held, but the results were the same. Drye includes some of the testimony taken during the hearings, and it's not surprising to see the half-truths, outright lies, and protect-my-own-rear-end declarations pile up.

Drye tells this story dramatically, informatively, and well. He refuses to cross over into melodrama where the temptation to do so is great (the first-hand accounts). He includes a few collateral and secondary events (the ordeal of the passenger ship "Dixie" on its way to NYC from Texas that got caught right in the middle of the hurricane, and some things about Ernest Hemingway who was at home in Key West at the time) that add to the interest of the book. And one can't help but draw comparisons to the Katrina disaster of 2005. An excellent book. Highly recommended.

Very thorough account.......2005-06-13

This was an excellent story, meticulously researched by the author and presented as if he were actually there to witness it all. Awesome, suspenseful hurricane tale.

Great Story.......2004-09-01

This is the first book I have ever read on a natural disaster. It was a great story. It was rich in history and science, but not too overdone. I'm from the coast that does not have hurricanes and the description of the storm blew my socks off. Great props to the author even if you could tell what his political motivations were.

You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons - The World on One Cartoon a Day

Average customer rating:

An excellent choice for cartoon fans and travelers alike
the true essence of travel
Vicarous travel at its best
One guy named Mo

You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons - The World on One Cartoon a Day

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Travel | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0786837470
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Book Description

On June 1, 1990, less than a week after graduating college, Mo Willems embarked on a yearlong trip around the world. Travelingwith only a notebook, pen and ink, and one change of clothes, he spent the next twelve months backpacking across more than thirty countries.At the end of each day, he drew the one event that stuck out in his mind the mostfrom the sublime to the ridiculous.Recently annotated by the illustrator and featuring a foreword from best-selling humor writer Dave Barry, You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons: The World on One Cartoon a Day is a unique snapshot of an artists coming-of-age as he tries to understand the world around him.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent choice for cartoon fans and travelers alike.......2006-08-17

Before Mo Willems became a children's book author, he packed sketchbook and set out to explore the world. At the end of each day he drew a cartoon of a single event which stuck in his mind - and his sketch diary YOU CAN NEVER FIND A RICKSHAW WHEN IT MONSOONS: THE WORLD ON ONE CARTOON A DAY is the result. Each page holds a full-page black and white panel blending humor with observation. An excellent choice for cartoon fans and travelers alike, a foreword by Dave Barry adds to the package.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

the true essence of travel.......2006-06-06

This book is absolutely delightful. When the author was just out of school, he took a trip around the world, and each day he drew the one thing that stuck out in his mind. Fifteen years later, he added commentary and occasionally context to each cartoon, and publishes the whole darn thing.

The things he records is what the rest of us usually remember the best when we come back from a trip. This book doesn't consist of pictures of landmarks and more landmarks. It's a true distillation of his experiences, and it bounces from funny to poignant to regretful and back again. His Dutch grandmother is distressed to discover that a year traveling around the world doesn't include 10 months visiting her in Holland, and he gets pickpocketed by one of three men, but he doesn't know which one. He regrets being wary of two Iranian men he met at the time, the Turks are offended when he tries to locate malaria pills in their country, and he gets embarassed when someone fusses over the cold he got from partying too much in Pamplona.

It's not geared towards kids at all--I never even heard of Mo Willems when I picked up this gem. It's a truly wonderful travelogue though.

Vicarous travel at its best.......2006-06-05

Mo's newest book is a "page-turner" for the armchair traveler with a sense of humor. Each page has a great cartoon of a unique time and place. I especially enjoyed Mo's impressions of places I have been; his graphics refreshed and enhanced my own memories. This is a great gift idea for the college graduate (unless, of course, you want them to go get a job instead of seeking adventure first!)

One guy named Mo.......2006-05-28

When you think about it, picture book author/illustrators by and large do not suddenly come out with thick memoir-like tomes. Not even Maurice Sendak has done it. It just isn't done. So when I found myself hefting Mo Willems's handsome 396-some encapsulation of his time spent traveling around the world in 1990, I didn't quite know what to make of the idea. Willems is cute as a button and he pens a mean pigeon but can he ... (how shall I put this?) ... well, can he do a book that isn't five-year-old-centric? Apparently, yes. Yes and indeed and thank you kindly, m'am. Taking a concept for a book that could've easily ended up as a better idea than product, Willems has put together a thoughtful look at how we've changed in the eyes of the world, how the people of the world appear to us, and how difficult it is to cultivate an "us" vs. "them" mentality when you've just met the "them" firsthand.

It was a kind of cartoon diary. When young Mo Willems, future cartoonist/author/Nickelodeon pawn, graduated from college he took his newfound freedom as an opportunity to take the ultimate worldwide unguided tour. Patches in place on jeans and sideburns making their, "precipitous drop toward my shoulders", Mr. Willems chose to record his experiences in the form of a cartoon a day. These cartoons are of a wide and somewhat assorted variety. They may be illustrations of all the goatees seen that day, or a picture of a long skinny Mo reenacting a situation. They might even be just a view of something he found particularly touching or sweet, like a boy watering a public tree. There are some constants, of course. Each cartoon includes the date, a description, and where Mo was on that given date. Usually there is also an additional comment below this information at the bottom of the page. It's here that present day Mo gives a little context to what you are seeing. He might explain how the trip was going, the story behind the cartoon, or just riff a one-liner on what you see. Sometimes he won't even say anything at all, leaving his original comments and pictures to stand on their own. Each leg of the journey in this book is indicated by its own map. Those maps then give a convoluted but legible dotted line that shows where Mo done gone.

I gotta say, fresh-outta-college Mo had a good eye and ear for his subject matter. It would be the height of narcissism to take something you created in your youth that wasn't funny and publish it for the masses to messily consume. The moral equivalent of printing your high school poetry, say. Fortunately for everybody involved, young Mo was a pretty funny cat. Captions like, "bad day for the hand crafted tribal blowdart salesman" and "the locals call him `Mr. Socks'", hardly even need pictures. They're funny all on their own. The young artist's consistency is also something to cheer on. Admittedly I haven't gone over all 300-some pictures in this book to make absolutely certain that he wrote every day. A quick scan, however, shows that no matter how crazy his last 24-hours or wacked out his company (both if he was lucky) the boy still managed to put pen to paper and get it down.

Then there are the illustrations themselves. His style firmly in place, Mr. Willems' sketches are presented without so much as a smidgen of dirt or a crease about the edges. Good old Photoshop. There were some repeating images in this book that amused me especially. I liked how most of the women had breasts that looked like the lowercase letter "W" on its side. I liked the overly elongated hero and his shockingly clefted chin. Plus I loved the fact that there was a chicken in this book that did not look anything like the bird Willems would later draw for the illustrator compendium, "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road".

Every five years I write a letter to myself and then squirrel it away until it's time for them to be read. It's a fun way of meeting again and again my younger stupider self. Willems mentions experiencing something rather similar when he looked back at his old sketches. Of them, he says that they are, "my gateway to understanding the weird guy who occupied my skinny body back then". Part of what makes the book interesting is the tension between young smelly Mo and wise and successful I-think-I'll-live-in-Brooklyn Mo. Obviously old-Mo has the hometeam advantage on this one. He can laugh and prod his younger self and there ain't nothing little young-Mo can do about it. Fortunately, you're on old-Mo's side. For example, there's a picture of young-Mo sitting awkwardly between two evil-eyed fellows with Saddam-like moustaches. The original text reads, "patriotic paranoia pops up: stuck between two iranian tourists". Old-Mo's response is apropos: "I shudder at the stupidity of my youth when I look at this sketch. These guys were quite happy to separate who I was from my government, but I was unwilling or unable to do the same for them. A wasted opportunity". Whether he's lamenting his own ignorance or merely commenting in hindsight on a mistake of some sort, it's nice to have two points of view from the same fella to bandy about.

The book is remarkable for all these reasons, but here's the most important one. For his last few weeks, Mo continued to draw his observations while bumming around the United States. And for all the crazy kooky things that can happen to a guy overseas, it's funny to weigh the similarities and differences to what you see them here at home. Plus it gives the ending of the book a sense of resolution you wouldn't think to find in any kind of a diary, let alone a cartoon one. In his Epilogue, Willems says that this trip and this experience drove home for him the idea that what he sees on the worldwide news affects real people. "... they all really exist, and what they do affects us". One could say the same of this book too. It will affect you. A loving look at everything that is wonderful and horrible in having to live on "this big, wide, wonderful world". A book worth visiting.

Country Roads of Massachusetts : Drives, Day Trips, and Weekend Excursions

Average customer rating:

a sage introduction to the sights and psyches of Upstate

Country Roads of Massachusetts : Drives, Day Trips, and Weekend Excursions
Michael Tougias
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1566261252

Book Description

Ramble through America's rural heartland on winding back roads that lead to an endless variety of out-in-the-country attractions. Each title explores 10 or more meandering weekend tours, as authors share their intimate knowledge of people, places, and country life.

Customer Reviews:

a sage introduction to the sights and psyches of Upstate.......2001-06-29

What other state can claim as many notable small towns as does the Empire State? Cooperstown, Lake Placid, Sleepy Hollow, Woodstock, Watkins Glen, Chautauqua, Corning, Saratoga Springs, West Point, Oyster Bay, several Hamptons, Ticonderoga, Seneca Falls-- Norman Rockwell (who lived a short walk across the state line) might just have been a tad jealous. Only the first and last make it into this book, and just as well. When Country Roads Press sends America's top small-town journalist through America's top small-town state, you don't want to waste him on places you already know.

Bill Kauffman (of Batavia and Elba) has milked a career out of keeping the leaders of the land's great Lost Causes from, as he puts it, "going down the memory hole", in books such as America First! and With Good Intentions, and in frequent pieces in The Wall Street Journal, American Enterprise, Chronicles, Liberty and other magazines. Here he applies the same special talent to a "second tier" of New York villages, and one wonders if he chose these particular communities for an unusual richness in odd stories and characters, or whether he'd have dug these up anywhere he went.

Kauffman's at his best at home in the western snout of the state, where he unlocks the somewhat feudal nature of Geneseo, LeRoy and Angelica. (The obscurer the town, the more fun he has with it.) The pump industry of Seneca Falls, a quarter of the world's total, gets as much of his attention as the distaff business there. And why not? Sanitation has saved more lives than medicine. Hundreds of millions owe their lives to this important town, celebrated for the all the wrong reasons.

His subjects have given us three presidents, Mormonism, women's suffrage and colored gelatin, but if there's something else of note in town, Bill'l let us know. (And if it's in the next town over, he'll cheat and go there.)

Further afield Kauffman's more the tourist, especially across the "soda/pop" line, which is not as close to the city as he imagines. Cooperstown is not quite as cute as he paints it-- indeed, one of its charms is the relative lack of the boutique pollution that has ruined many similar places. And couldn't he find a "country town" left on Long Island? That in itself is sad. However, his analysis of the Burned-Over District is so sharp it will inspire the reader to try his hand at the built-over districs as well.

Finally, some things to look for which aren't in the book (and may no longer exist):

Westfield-- the weird, wing-shaped Theatre Motel and Drive-In on the lake;

Bath (in the Hammondsport chapter)-- the Chat-a-Wyle Café and its grape pie;

Palmyra-- where Winston Churchill's grandparents married, perhaps not in one of the four churches at the intersection;

Oneonta (in the Cooperstown chapter)-- the book mentions the NY-P League team there, but check out their Depression-era ballpark in the Susquehanna valley, one of the handsomest settings in all the sport. (And in "Soccertown, USA", no less.)

Branson's Best Day Trips: A Guide to Discovering the Best of Branson & Ozark Mountain Country
Average customer rating:

Local Shaffer Writes the Ultimate Branson Book

Very helpful book

Excellent resource!

Branson's Best Day Trips: A Guide to Discovering the Best of Branson & Ozark Mountain Country
Carol A. Shaffer
Manufacturer: Pelican Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Insiders' Guide to Branson and the Ozark Mountains, 6th (Insiders' Guide Series)

Branson Missouri Map

The Ozarks: An Explorer's Guide, First Edition: Includes Branson, Springfield, and Northwest Arkansas

The Cheapskate Guide To Branson, Missouri: Hotels, Entertainment, Restaurants, Special Events, and More

Insiders' Guide to Branson and the Ozark Mountains, 5th (Insiders' Guide Series)

ASIN: 1589800095

Book Description

Writen by an area resident, Branson's Best Day Trips has 11 family-pleasing day trips to major tourist attractions (such as popular Silver Dollar City theme park) as well as fun and inexpensive places only a local would know. Would you enjoy touring a fish hatchery, viewing a nature film, and hiking in the pretty Ozark hills? How about exploring a working gristmill or a Victorian village where every building is listed on the National Register of Historic places? Also included: Info on avoiding Branson's infamous traffic jams, 20 maps, 60 souvenir photos, restaurant suggestions, and historical highlights throughout.

Customer Reviews:

Local Shaffer Writes the Ultimate Branson Book.......2000-08-21

Now this is a guidebook, written by Branson "local" Carol Shaffer. Branson's Best Day Trips mixes area history (better than any show!) and photographs with a complete guide to Ozark attractions from shows to inexpensive day trips in the area. After all, the Ozarks do not begin and end on the Strip; Shaffer takes you to surrounding communities, and provides 19 maps and detailed directions clear enough for even the most directionally-impaired traveler! To top it off, Shaffer's writing style is delightful. We highly recommend this book.

Very helpful book.......2000-03-16

We used this book throughout our vacation. The maps were great. Our favorite chapter was the one to Branson's free attractions. We would have missed a lot had it not been for this book and would recommend it to anyone.

Excellent resource!.......2000-01-15

Wow, what a great book! I can't believe how much information is in here. Carol obviously knows the area and I think she was able to explain a little of the background behind the different places without becoming a history lesson. I also think the maps are very clear and plenty easy to read and I think the text was well written. I especially like the section on how to navigate the various side-roads (if you've been to Branson you know how bad the traffic can be). I went on vacation to Branson before but only got to see a third of what is in this book - now I can't wait to go back again!

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