Book Description
One of the few case studies of undocumented immigrants available, this insightful anthropological analysis humanizes a group of people too often reduced to statistics and stereotypes. The hardships of Hispanic migration are conveyed in the immigrants' own voices while the author's voice raises questions about power, stereotypes, settlement, and incorporation into American society.
Customer Reviews:
Clerical error.......2007-04-21
Reading this book I could not get past the fact that my own parents stories are far more compelling. My father fleeing the communist Rushkies and my mother joining him from Italy. Proud hard working people who embraced America. Learning to read, write and work here as well as teaching themselves to drive. Both have told me that they would never have come here illegally. My father fled Lithuania due to persecution under threat of imprisonment but still would not have come here illegally. How could he flee lawlessness only to enter a country by breaking the law? The writer and readers of these books can't grasp this type of character and courage.They hide from the truth by using terms like undocumented workers. Leaving the incorrect impression that their lack of citizenship is only a clerical error. Decieving only themselves. My parents are the real thing and those who enter under a cloak of darkness are mere law breakers no matter how you spin the truth.
Best ethnography on undocumented aliens ever written.......2006-02-20
Anthropologist Leo Chavez presents a very descriptive and detailed account that takes readers into the lives and experiences of illegal immigrants living and working in the farms and orchards of San Diego County. Chavez avoids the technical and complex jargon so common among contemporary audiences, so this book will be readable by anyone. Detailed accounts are given concerning peoples' decisions to migrate, their experiences of crossing the border and living in the United States without documentation. Although the entire book is great, the best chapter by far is the Epilogue, where the author contextualizes the lives of undocumented immigrants within the larger political and social environment that has recently sought to crack down on illegal aliens.
This book is important reading for anyone with an interest in illegal immigration and the experiences of people who have actually crossed the border. I strongly recommend reading this book along with watching the great 1983 film "El Norte."
A case study of human survial.......2000-11-23
Chavez provides a clear unbiased look at the harsh and often dangerous life of undocumented immigrants mainly in Southern California. Chavez engages the reader through accurate portrayals of people who remain on the fringes of American society for fear of deportation. Their stories are moving; their tenacity amazing. North American readers will be reminded of just how protected and sheltered they are by the virture of living in America. A must read for anyone trying to understand the complexities of illegal immigration or in the postion to make policy on the topic.
Book Description
There are shelves of memoirs about overcoming the death of a parent, childhood abuse, rape, drug addiction, miscarriage, alcoholism, hustling, gangbanging, near-death injuries, drug dealing, prostitution, or homelessness.
Cupcake Brown survived all these things before she’d even turned twenty.
And that’s when things got interesting….
You have in your hands the strange, heart-wrenching, and exhilarating tale of a woman named Cupcake. It begins as the story of a girl orphaned twice over, once by the death of her mother and then again by a child welfare system that separated her from her stepfather and put her into the hands of an epically sadistic foster parent. But there comes a point in her preteen years—maybe it’s the night she first tries to run away and is exposed to drugs, alcohol, and sex all at once—when Cupcake’s story shifts from a tear-jerking tragedy to a dark comic blues opera. As Cupcake’s troubles grow, so do her voice and spirit. Her gut-punch sense of humor and eye for the absurd, along with her outsized will, carry her through a fateful series of events that could easily have left her dead.
Young Cupcake learned to survive by turning tricks, downing hard liquor, partying like a rock star, and ingesting every drug she could find while hitchhiking up and down the California coast. She stumbled into gangbanging, drug dealing, hustling, prostitution, theft, and, eventually, the best scam of all: a series of 9-to-5 jobs. But Cupcake’s unlikely tour through the cubicle world was paralleled by a quickening descent into the nightmare of crack cocaine use, till she eventually found herself living behind a Dumpster.
Astonishingly, she turned it around. With the help of a cobbled together family of eccentric fellow addicts and “angels”—a series of friends and strangers who came to her aid at pivotalmoments—she slowly transformed her life from the inside out.
A Piece of Cake is unlike any memoir you’ll ever read. Moving and almost transgressive in its frankness, it is a relentlessly gripping tale of a resilient spirit who took on the worst of contem-porary urban life and survived it with a furious wit and unyielding determination. Cupcake Brown is a dynamic and utterly original storyteller who will guide you on the most satisfying, startlingly funny, and genuinely affecting tour through hell you’ll ever take.
When it came time for me to talk, I wasn’t sure which parts of my past to tell, which to keep secret, and which to pretend never happened. Uncle Jr. had already seen the welts on my back, so he wasn’t too surprised when I told them about some of the physical abuse I endured at Diane’s. Everyone else hit the roof, except Daddy. He got really quiet and started balling and unballing his fists.
I continued my update. Experience had taught me that adults have trouble accepting the idea of children having sex. I decided that from then on, that part of my life never happened. I picked up the story by telling them about Fly, the Gangstas, and getting shot.
I was dying for a cigarette. So it seemed a good time to announce that I smoked cigarettes—and weed.
After a moment Sam looked at me, smiled, and handed me one of her Marlboros. I preferred menthols, but beggars can’t be choosers. I kicked back, took a long drag, and closed my eyes.
Daddy and Jr. were silent. They seemed a bit shocked and unsure about how to respond.
“Well, Cup,” Jr. said, “it’s a little too late to be trying to raise you now. But those cigarettes will kill you. And weed will only lead you to stronger drugs.”
He didn’t know how right he was. But for me, it was too late to be worrying about stronger drugs—the only worrying I did was whether I could find a connection to get some. So I just smiled, nodded, and took another hit off my cigarette.
The eerie quiet returned.
—from A Piece of Cake
Also available as a Random House AudioBook and eBook.
Customer Reviews:
Insightful and rewarding.......2007-09-29
I don't normally read memoir's, but the cover caught my attention first followed by the brief description of the book and the author. The history of Ms. Brown's life was riveting, insightful, and surprisingly inspiring. I feel as if she wrote this so the reader wouldn't feel pity, but rather could really understand what she was living through. I gained so much understanding of drug addiction and I was inspired by her recovery. So much so, I am incorporating some of her 12 step lessons into my own life.
Buy the book, you won't be let down.
Wonderful, Just wonderful........2007-09-21
I usually don't pick up a book because of the pretty cover but this one had me intrigued and by the time I read the description and a few pages, a book was purchased. Cupcake's story is the journey of a young girl who through no fault of her own was denied the right to live with the man she knew as her father after her mother died. Her biological father whom she had no relationship with thought there was money to be gained by pettioning the court for custody of Cupcake and her brother. Her biological father was soon to learn that there was no monitary gain to be found. Quickly, Cupcake began a life of foster homes that included sexual, physical and verbal abuse and then the discovery of drugs which escalated to a level not experienced by most people (or who lived to tell about it).
Cupcake went through hell but the one point I must make is that you never felt sorry for her. Cupcake through her sense of humor, sheer will to survive and an extaordinary intellect has the stuff of someone who not only survives but does it amazingly well. I loved this book and everyone whom I lent it to has wanted to lend it to others. I told them "buy your own".
Torn.......2007-09-16
I thought this was a riveting story with a great ending. However, some things didn't add up for me. I don't do drugs and I can barely remember what happened 2 weeks ago, let alone 10 or 15 years ago in as much detail as Cupcake. I do wonder how much of it is actual recollection or and how much is her own paraphrasing of her memory. However, the thing that bugged me the most was how or why would any decent law firm hire someone that dressed like a [...] and didn't brush her teeth? That makes no sense. I can't imagine they were that desperate for help. Also was it me or at the end of her book did she not say she didn't charge for speaking gigs, however, on her web site she has fees listed. I don't have the book in my possession so I can't vouch and correct me if I am wrong, but, I just thought it was hypocritical.
Interesting read but full of LIES.......2007-09-05
This book was a pretty good read and a page turner, but it's a memoir, and should be called "A Piece of Fiction". I did a lot of drugs when I was younger and I can tell you my "a lot" would be about 5% of what she claimed to have done. So how the HECK CAN SHE REMEMBER ALL THESE LITTLE STORIES AND BITS OF INFORMATION?!?! For her to write such a long book describing small details of what went on during the years of crazy drug use and "blackouts", she would have to have one of, wait, THE BEST memory on the planet, even after years of drugs and waking up next to a dumpster.
And sorry, but no law firm would hire a girl that came in dressed like a slut, talking back, and hadn't brushed her hair or teeth in weeks.
Nuff said.
Amazing !!!!.......2007-08-12
This was an excellent book ! I can't even begin to explain how this book touched my heart...I would encourage people both young and old to read this book...It is sad, yet inspiring...Cupcake Brown tells a life story that will make you cry...This is a must read !!! AMAZING !!!!!!
Book Description
Frommer's. The best trips start here.
Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.
* Complete coverage of San Diego's top sites, plus side trips to Temecula's wineries, Disneyland,(r) and Tijuana.
* Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
* Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.
* Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.
Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com
Customer Reviews:
Very good if you are visiting San Diego for the first time.......2007-07-16
Very good tips for my first trip to San Diego, has a lot of specific information about what you can do, even for a short period or a more time frame. The recomendations are from a person that lived in San Diego, so I think that gives a more realistici opinion. It includes a map that is easy to use and very helpfull.
Customer Reviews:
Good resource, but paper could be better quality.......2007-05-15
This is a good resource, as it provides good detail at street name level, which most other local maps don't provide.
However the paper quality this is printed on is not great, the paper is quite thin and with heavy use, I can imagine the pages becoming creased or torn. This needs to be printed on thicker or tear proof paper.
Also this is a heavy book and therefore not easy to carry around. The map continuation is not logical, if you are following a road which goes off the page, it is not followed on in a logical sequence, so you have to flip quite a number of pages to get to the same place and I think some detail is lost between the middle bindings and edges of pages.
Incredibly accurate and useful.......2007-02-27
I use the Thomas Guide every day to navigate my emergency ambulance to calls, and it's never failed me. It is extremely accurate and easy-to-use, just look up the street name in the back and match it to the grid on the map page. The only downside to this product is that it does not always give complete mapping within gated communities, although it usually will (the roads are never missing, only occasionally their labels). Otherwise, perfect, and WAY cheaper than GPS.
Thomas Guide San Diego 07.......2007-02-11
I am very pleased with the guide, the service and the price.
Thanks
George Talbert
The industry standard, but a rather steep learning curve.......2006-11-07
Thomas guides are used by Police, Fire, Ambulances, etc., and thus should be considered a highly accurate mapping product.
If you've used Thomas guide's in the past, you won't have any trouble with this one.
If you've never used a Thomas guide, you may have a bit of trouble understanding the layout and structure of the guide at first. Intuitive is not a word I would use to describe this product, but once you understand how to use it, you will find everything you could need.
Book Description
The author of The Death and Life of Bobby Z. and The Power of the Dog now gives us a fierce and funny new novel—and a blistering new take on the Mafia story.
Frank Machianno is a late-middle-aged ex–surf bum who runs a bait shack on the San Diego waterfront when he’s not juggling any of his other three part-time jobs or trying to get a quick set in on his longboard. He’s a stand-up businessman, a devoted father to his daughter, and a beloved fixture in the community.
Frank’s also a hit man. Specifically: a retired hit man. Back in the day, when he was one of the most feared members of the West Coast Mafia, he was known as Frankie Machine. Years ago Frank consigned his Mob ties to the past, which is where he wants them to stay. But a favor being called in now by the local boss is one Frank can’t refuse, and soon he’s sucked back into the treacherous currents of his former life. Someone from the past wants him dead. He has to figure out who, and why, and he has to do it fast.
The problem is that the list of candidates is about the size of his local phone book and Frank’s rapidly running out of time.
And then things go really bad.
Customer Reviews:
"It's about corruption, and corruption is cancer.".......2007-09-25
Frank Machianno has left the past behind, not so much with regret, but expedience, his youth retired in favor of the businesses that have made him successful and given his daughter an enviable education. Although divorced, Frank keeps in close touch with his ex, only recently healing the scars of the rift with his daughter, Jill. Better known these days as Frank the Bait Guy, his bait shop on Ocean Beach Pier in San Diego a popular spot for local fishermen, Frank is content to ride the surf of an afternoon during The Gentleman's Hour, lunch with his daughter every Tuesday and dinner with his longtime romance, the elegant, red-haired Donna.
Frank's comfortable lifestyle vanishes one overcast afternoon when the protagonist, aka Frankie Machine, realizes a hit has been put on him. Wracking his memory, Frank cannot figure out who is behind this- no shortage of candidates- but he has always lived by the code and never considered turning rat. Sending out the word to ex-wife and girlfriend, Frank goes on the run, the only friend concerned with his disappearance, a fellow surfer and soon-to-retire FBI agent, Dave Hansen. Adding up the facts and not liking the conclusion, Hansen quietly tracks Frank's recent activities, Frankie's mob ties long known to the bureau. What follows is a hair-raising cat-and-mouse game, Frank sorting through the past, year by year, dissecting the men, the crimes, friends and foes, exposing San Diego mob activity and its ties to Chicago and Detroit.
Back in the day, everyone wanted to be a player and Frankie was a natural, falling into a life of crime after leaving the service, reliable and loyal to the criminal code, his wife closing her eyes to the truth as their marriage gradually unravels. Moving up the ranks, Frankie Machine is the man for the job, now the old man the young turks want to take out to enhance their reputations. Lucky for Frank, the latest generation of hoods has lost the hard edge of the old guard, too used to their comforts and the added boost of drugs. Such unprofessional behavior works for Frank at the beginning, but as the smoke clears the heavy hitters get onboard, Machianno handicapped by his age.
In true Winslow form, the action rocks from the first page, Frank the Bait Guy revealed along with his cronies, the years riddled with violence rivaled only by the Soprano's and every bit as riveting. Plumbing the dark depths of organized crime in California, the motives remain the same- greed and power. Nothing is sacrosanct, double-dealing, cold-blooded assassinations, the corruption of government, personal betrayal navigated with impunity by men who live outside the law. Fully cognizant of his own role in his current predicament, Frank uses every skill, if a little the worse for wear, confronting so-called friends and enemies alike, prepared to go out the way he lived his life- full throttle. Creating a particularly sympathetic protagonist, Winslow colors his hero in shades of gray, both flawed and strangely noble, riding the cusp of a changing world where the real criminals wear suits and haunt the halls of Washington: "They own the game and the game is fixed." Luan Gaines/2007.
An excellent twist of modern and classic mob drama.......2007-09-24
The Winter of Frankie Machine is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure that is both gritty and intelligent. A great read for fans of both classic and modern mob-themed stories.
WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT FRANKIE MACHINE?.......2007-09-16
How can you not like Frankie Machine? As he says, "It's a lot of work being me," and that's quite true. However, that's what makes him so attractive - he's a persnickety cook who drives to five different stores to get the exact brand of ingredients he wants for a single dish. Only the best for him. He's a man who believes that "Quality of life is about the little things - doing them well, doing them right."
He's 63-years-old, owns a California bait shop, the O.B. Bait and Tackle. Everyone who knows him loves him. Life is good,. He has time for surfing with a pal, even if some refer to them as geezers, and he hopes to put his daughter, Jill, through medical school. But that is now. Then is something quite different.
When Frankie is ambushed he gets away in one piece, but the big question is why? In a series of flashbacks we learn that Frankie was once a hitman for the West Coast Mafia. He was an A-1 assassin, true to the mob code, and true to his word. He never was a squealer, so why aren't they leaving him alone? His memory is darn good and Frankie knows there are quite a few who have reason to want to be sure he is permanently silenced.
It's not long before some killings occur and for a while Frankie finds himself running from everyone - the mob and the cops.
Don Winslow has created a killer with a very human face, a plot that surprises, and a narrative often filled with humor. Frankie is a true gent and we can't help pulling for him. The Winter of Frankie Machine will be a movie next year starring Robert De Niro, and this reader will be first in line at the box office.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
Super characters in a well-told tale.......2007-09-07
You've gotta love Frankie Machine. He's a little bit of everything. Frank has as many faces as he has names. You will meet Frankie Machianno who is divorced but still is Mr. Fix-It when his ex-wife Patty needs a handyman. Jill is Frank's daughter who has just been accepted for med school. Donna is an ex-showgirl and Frank's girlfriend. Frank loves his family and wants to be there for them always.
He is also known as Frank the Bait Guy. He owns a bait shop, a linen business, a business that sells fish to local restaurants, and he owns several rental properties. At age 62 Frank the Bait Man enjoys being in charge of his various operations, surfing once in a while and spending time with his loved ones. He supports his community with contributions to Little League, the high school and other organizations. Frank the Bait Guy is a very upstanding, respected citizen.
Then the reader really gets to know Frankie the Machine. Frankie the Machine is a hit man for the mob. Even when you read about the killings you can't dislike Frankie. You know it is wrong to murder but you still can't dislike Frankie. When enemies from his past come after him, Frankie has to go on the run. He has no idea who to trust. His race against his enemies takes you back through Frankie's life to the beginning, before he became known as Frankie Machine. The book does not lack for excitement and suspense.
Don Winslow has created a wonderful character in his book, The Winter of Frankie Machine. Give the book a try and see if you don't love him too.
Armchair Interviews says: Word is out that a movie is being made of this book--so watch for it, starring Robert DiNero.
The Greatest thing about Frankie Machine..........2007-07-29
...is that DeNiro is going to star in the film version with Scorcese at the helm, and that may make Winslow one of this country's most popular authors. The man deserves more recognition. His body of work matches Leonard, Connely, DeMille, Sanford, Child, Crais, and Mosely to name the authors whose books I most look forward to. This is a wonderful tale of an unglamorous Mafia hitman and I gotta say I really can't see DeNiro as a 62 year old Italian Surfer, but it is hard to see anyone else in the role as well. I would give the book 5 stars, but I felt that the storyline became a bit too convoluted at times. It is also one of those books that make you feel a bit slimy because when you strip away the veneer you are left with an awfully sleazy hero, and you are almost ashamed to root for him. It also starts off slower than the other works that I have read by Winslow to date, but that is a minor quibble. I hope the film does the book justice. It will not be an easy task.
Book Description
Man in the Middle is the story of one young man, Peter Neil, who finds himself thrust into the world of a high stakes hedge fund. For a time, he buys into the game of wealth-creation with unbridled enthusiasm. Only after discovering that the deaths of several people -- his mother included -- were not what they seemed, does he realize he needs to get out. With the help of a diminutive SEC agent and an old flame, he devises an inspired plan to extricate himself from those wishing to control him. Executing that plan, however, carries not only life-or-death consequences, but is as daunting a task as Peter Neil, or anyone else, has ever had to handle.
Customer Reviews:
Wooden writing; better alternatives available.......2004-07-06
As a retired trader (I made it by 30), I picked up this book out of curiosity. Mediocre writing (too much tell, not enough show; larding on of adjectives, poor editing), boilerplate plot, and mostly cardboard characters make this an offering not worth your money. Financial details appear accurate, if a bit out of date. The writer needs to hone his craft substantially; readers interested in financial thrillers would be better entertained by the work of Michael Ridpath or even Stephen Frey. I laughed when I saw the author's website: "financial thriller.com." Hardly. At least it wasn't in the plural. I hope he keeps his promise and makes this the only one.
Great Financial Novel.......2004-02-19
As an investment banker I enjoy reading novels built around finance intrigue vs. lawyers, doctors or policemen. This is a very good book of a recent college grad who after the death of his mother is given an opportunity to be a hedge fund trader. In a year he goes from not wanting the job to being one of the top traders and all the internal office politics that develop.
But this is no ordinary job and he wasn't recruited based upon his intelligence. The novel starts with two deaths of people who do business with the hedge fund as well as the death of his mother. Morris weaves many different plot lines like the death of his mother, his family life and a relationship with the attorney of the hedge fund, his love life involving the daughter of the attorney, and his conflicted views of wealth.
Overlapping these story lines is a great "whodunit" as the new trader fights to learn a business and duck clues that may involve him in an elaborate scheme. I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in a good murder mystery built around a financial world background.
Entertaining & Accurate.......2004-01-16
This book entertains. It is pretty well written and the characters and conflict seem authentic. The story is fluid and I give Morris credit for projecting his knowledge of the securities markets into a format that isn't pious or clinical - not an easy task.
My only problems with the book are as follows: 1) the corny dialogue, mostly between Neil and his coworker; and 2) the difficulty in reconciling the Neil character before and after he starts his trading position. They seem like two entirely different people, with two entirely different thought processes and intellects. There is just a giant leap in his actions from the beginning of the story to the end. Maybe that is Morris's point - "realizing his potential." I just found it a little difficult to grasp.
These are really nit-picks however. This book is fun to read and I congratulate Morris on an impressive first effort.
Read a review of his next, not out yet, and ordered this one.......2003-12-13
...Man in the Middle is fantatstic. A young man is sucked into the world of high finance. Now I'm an idiot when it comes to Wall Street, but I understood the story and wanted to be Peter Neil, the protagonist, understood the lure of wealth, the seduction of a world that most of us only dream about. Until I realized that I too was seduced, just like he was, and his dream was no more than a bonifide nightmare. Exciting as hell, but a place you want to live in until you realize that it will corrupt you. Amazing. Fun. Furious. Fantastic. And, when all is said and done, a great read.
I ordered three copies of Morris' next, the one reviewed in our local paper. Gonna give two away and keep the one for myself. Is this guy the next Grisham? No. In my opinion, he's better.
Clear your calendar, cause you won't want to be interrupted!.......2003-11-19
Ken Morris's first novel is an old-fashioned thriller reminiscent of Cussler or Grisham, but set in the world of high finance. It is a compelling page turner with a likeable hero in Peter Neil. Peter's journey from the edge of penury to a fantasy job in a powerful financial services organization shows the seduction of great riches as Peter struggles with the integrity factor. To complicate matters, there are very real and evil forces who not only threaten his job, but his life as well.
For the reader, it is a roller coaster ride with plenty of squeals, surprise twists, and turns. I rooted for Peter and found myself on the edge of my seat as the story unfolded and his future hung in the balance. Can't wait for the next novel!!
Book Description
Combining unique travel choices, outdoor adventures, and little-known locales into guides where vacations meet adventures, each title in the Hidden series also offers readers the comfort of detailed maps, Internet information for each listing, author picks, suggested itineraries, and walking and driving tours. Hidden Coast of California includes complete details on San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, California's three great destination cities, along with the entire coast from Oregon to Mexico. The ultimate beach lover's guide, Hidden Coast of California covers 175 beaches including 123 with surfing, 48 with camping, and even 21 nude beaches. Bringing out the local character of the California coast, this guide is packed with recommendations for over 150 small hotels, guest cottages, and coastal inns. It also includes 50 maps.
Customer Reviews:
The Hidden Urban Coat.......2007-06-23
Ray Riegert has devoted a lifetime to travelling the coast of California and finding favorite restaurants, bed & breakfast establishments, and cataloging some of the finer museums and beaches. This book has a little something for everyone, but a lot more if your idea of hidden travel is visiting the large cities of the California Coast. San Francisco receives nearly 100 pages of coverage alone and the clear emphasis is upon urban areas. In these places, Riegert has found some of the best eating establishments, listed the finest gay friendly nightclubs, discussed local parks, and, of particular interest to me, included a number of popular and classy neighborhood bookstores. However, what I consider California's truly hidden coast, its wild and scenic parks and open space areas, receive decidedly less coverage. A few trails are listed, though the trailhead locations are not identified, and only Point Reyes National Seashore gets the full coverage it deserves. On the positive side, Riegert does not neglect the many rural hostels of California where budget travellers can stay often at cheaper rates than at nearby campgrounds.
The reason I am giving this book 3 stars is that it has a lot of text, well over 500 pages, and all of it is in small print. This makes for difficult reading. The lack of photos also detracts a bit from a travel guide. On the whole, I think the author tried to be a little too comprehensive with the book and the result is that while everything was mentioned, almost everything could have used a fuller description. Still, if you want 3 day weekend tours of California's largest cities along with adequate descriptions of nearby smaller tourist destinations (Laguna Beach and La Jolla in southern California, Big Sur, Mendocino, and Eureka to the north) this is a nice book.
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
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Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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What Dreams May Come: A Novel
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Somewhere in Time (Collector's Edition)
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A Stir of Echoes
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Somewhere In Time (1998 Re-recording)
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Time and Again
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.
Average customer rating:
- Beautiful!
- weak
- Great book
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San Diego Then and Now
Nancy Hendrickson
Manufacturer: Thunder Bay Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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San Diego: Views of Past and Present
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Phoenix Then and Now (Then & Now)
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Los Angeles Then and Now (Then & Now)
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Hollywood Then and Now (Then & Now)
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San Diego Legends: Events, People, and Places That Made History
ASIN: 1592231268 |
Book Description
Celebrating beloved cities from around the world, this book from the Then and Now series offers a unique combination of historic interest and contemporary beauty. Then and Now San Diego features over 100 fascinating archival photographs contrasted with specially commissioned, full-color images of the same scene today. Each work is a visual lesson in the historic changes of this great urban landscape.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful!.......2006-12-18
This is one of two San Diego photo books I purchased for my husbands birthday. Absolutly beautiful! The black and white photography really captures some of the details that are lost in color photos.
weak.......2006-12-03
This book lacks color and detail. The real San Diego book was done by photographer George Ross Jezek. This is a knockoff of his ideas. Shame on you
Great book.......2005-04-20
It's facinating to see the way the city has changed, the author has some good history and trivia throughout the pages as well.
If you are from San Diego or have ever lived here, this makes a great coffee table book.
Book Description
Whether you're looking for the finest cuisine or the least expensive places to eat, the most luxurious hotels or the best deals on places to stay, Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides provide useful information by local experts to find the best of everything at each destination.
Customer Reviews:
Top 10 San Diego .......2007-07-19
Top 10 San Diego is a small little travel resource that fits nicely in a pocket, purse, or backpack. There are plenty of maps included in this book. All are full color and fold out large enough so that the lost tourist can actually figure out where they are going. I can't stress this point enough. I've been stuck too many times on public transit or while negotiating a busy street while flipping through some oversized travel guide to find that one black and white map that I need a magnifying glass to read.
I also like the whole top ten notion. Before reading this guide, I had already done a good deal of research on the places I wanted to go, where I wanted to stay, and what activities San Diego had in store for me. Top 10 San Diego gives me a good reference that I can use to get to these places no matter what area of the city that I happen to be in at the time. Looking through these lists, I was also pleasantly surprised to find a few more little gems that I hadn't previously known. I was particularly impressed with the various sections on restaurants, shopping, performing arts venues, and offbeat activities.
travel guide.......2007-05-13
DK Eyewittness always produce great travel guides especially there 10 ten sites. Its easy to read, small enough to carry around and has little gems of advice in there.
Better than a map!.......2007-01-18
I love DK books and this one is no exeption! It was everything I expected from DK and more. I bought this book for a trip to San Diego that my husband and I recently took. This book was a lifesaver! The maps in the book were clear and easy to follow, the information on different sites was great; we carried this book with us in the camera bag and refered to it often. The maps were clear enough that we used them to successfully navigate through the city (I also had seperately purchased a very expensive laminated map of the city which proved to be useless and a waste of money). If you want the basics (top 10 everything) and a really good set of maps, this is definately the book for you! The book refers to the sunsets at Point Loma - don't miss this! They were absolutely breathtaking! By talking to the locals, we found several great restaurants that were not "touristy" and therefore not listed in the book. We were pleased with all recommendations, but Fish Tacos at South Beach Bar in Ocean Beach is a must! Inexpensive ($3 & $4), fresh and delicious!
Books:
- Showing Our True Colors (True Success Book)
- Simple Gifts : Four Heartwarming Christmas Stories : Just Curious / Miracles / Change of Heart / Double Exposure
- Simple Gifts : Four Heartwarming Christmas Stories : Just Curious / Miracles / Change of Heart / Double Exposure
- Skin: The Complete Guide to Digitally Lighting, Photographing, and Retouching Faces and Bodies
- Skin: The Complete Guide to Digitally Lighting, Photographing, and Retouching Faces and Bodies
- Skin: The Complete Guide to Digitally Lighting, Photographing, and Retouching Faces and Bodies
- Suite Française
- Surface Tension
- Techniques of Natural Light Photography
- The Camera (Ansel Adams Photography, Book 1)
Books Index
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