The Gatekeeper Trilogy, Book Two: Ghost Roads (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Gatekeeper Trilogy)

Book Description

PASSPORT TO HELL

Buffy, Oz, and Angel are Europe-bound, only they're not flying any airlines. They're traveling limbo's "ghost roads" in search of Jacques Regnier. Jacques is the sole heir of the dying Gatekeeper whose Boston mansion is the supernatural barrier restraining thousands of the world's monsters. The evil Sons of Entropy will do anything to destroy the gate -- even if it means trading the power-laden Spear of Longinus to the wicked vampires holding Jacques.

Back home, the ghost ship Flying Dutchman has set sail for Sunnydale, determined to shanghai new crewmen -- dead or alive. For Willow, Xander, Cordelia, and Giles, it's an ocean of trouble, especially when the monstrous Kraken reemerges with a vengeance.

But everyone's assistance will be needed once Buffy locates Jacques, and uncovers the shocking plans the Sons of Entropy have already placed in motion -- a plan that, if successful, will destroy the world and create a horrible new realm ruled by monsters.

Customer Reviews:

Buffy with guns? Buffy killing humans? Whats going on.......2006-04-28

I'll start off by saying I enjoyed the last book, and for the most part enjoyed this book. But their was a few major problems. While in Europe Buffy and friends get attacked by a person with a lot of guns, instead of leaving the guns, which is what Buffy would of done they take them. This is completley out of character for Buffy. After all she's never been big on guns. Another problem is throughout the book Buffy watches humans die with little to no emotion. Sure they are the bad guys but Buffy doe'snt kill humans period. She always finds a way around it. This book does not stay true to the things Buffy stands for, and for that I give it one star. I mean Buffy with guns, come on guys you know more about the Buffyverse than that.

Jhaeman's Reviews.......2005-06-03

GHOST ROADS
Book 2 of The Gatekeeper Trilogy
Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder (1999)

RATING: 3/5 Stakes

SETTING: Season Three

CAST APPEARANCES: Buffy, Angel, Oz, Giles, Cordelia, Willow, Xander, Spike, Drusilla, Joyce, Sheila Rosenberg, Amy Madison

MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Jean-Marc Regnier, Henri Regnier, Jacques Regnier, Antoinette Regnier, Giuliana Regnier (Gatekeepers); Il Maestro (sorceror); Belphegon (demon); Ian Williams, Micaela Tomasi (traitor Watchers); Claire Bellamy (manager of The Bronze); Brother Anthony, Brother Lupo (Sons of Entropy); Giacomo Fulcanelli (sorceror)

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "Buffy, Oz, and Angel are Europe-bound, only they're not flying any airlines. They're traveling limbo's `ghost roads' in search of Jacques Regnier. Jacques is the sole heir of the dying Gatekeeper whose Boston mansion is the supernatural barrier restraining thousands of the world's monsters. The evil Sons of Entropy will do anything to destroy the gate--even if it means trading the power-laden Spear of Longinus to the wicked vampires holding Jacques. Back home, the ghost ship Flying Dutchman has set sail for Sunnydale, determined to shanghai new crewmen--dead or alive. For Willow, Xander, Cordelia, and Giles, it's an ocean of trouble, especially when the monstrous Kraken reemerges with a vengeance. But everyone's assistance will be needed once Buffy locates Jacques, and uncovers the shocking plans the Sons of Entropy have already placed in motion--a plan that, if successful, will destroy the world and create a horrible new realm ruled by monsters."
REVIEW

A gigantic sea monster, a manticore, and a skeleton-crewed pirate ship called The Flying Dutchman? It must be either back-to-back Scooby Doo episodes or Book Two in The Gatekeeper Trilogy. With the Gatehouse slowing falling to pieces, more and more fantastic (in the old sense of the word) monsters are escaping into the world. In Ghost Roads, we see Buffy, Oz, and Angel traveling through Europe trying to find a young boy who is destined to become the next Gatekeeper--but as these things go, Spike & Dru stand in their way. Back home in Sunnydale, Willow, Giles, Xander, and Cordelia work feverishly to repair the breaches between this world and the "Overworld" where the monsters originate.

Sounds cheesy doesn't it? Somehow it works, especially the Buffy trio vs. Spike & Dru story thread. It's refreshing to see some of the Scoobies outside of their traditional haunts and the authors obviously had fun researching European cities for the book. Teaming Oz up with Buffy & Angel is a surprisingly effective way of shedding some more light on everyone's favorite lycanthrope and helps show him as something more than just Willow's tag-along boyfriend. Dialogue is excellent--Golden & Holder, unlike most Buffy scribes, are able to write Spike & Dru with just the right mix of menace, playfulness, and insanity.

The Sunnydale thread is the weaker of the two and narrowly escapes being cartoony. Scenes like Giles being forced to walk the plank by skeletal pirates are amusing but too close to farce for comfort. It gets surprisingly serious near the end, however, as Joyce gets kidnapped and a major character gets shot, prompting a trip to the Ghost Roads.

The villains of the book, the Sons of Entropy, are well-depicted. In too much fiction, criminal organizations are either stunningly organized and competent or unbelievably ineffectual. Here, the Sons are individualized to show a wide variety of people in the group with a good depiction of the cult mindset. The Sons' leader, Il Maestro, is a fairly typical evil mastermind.

With excellent dialogue & characterization, and a decent plot, Ghost Roads is a satisfactory middle book in the Gatekeeper Trilogy.

(c) 2005 Jeremy Patrick (jhaeman@hotmail.com)

Jhaeman's Buffy Reviews: http://www.geocities.com/jhaeman

run, buffy, run!.......2004-04-06

Ghost Roads is a heck of a lot better than Out of the Madhouse- there are actual conversations in this novel & not just a bunch of action sequences piled up on one another.

The plot gets more interesting as Oz, Angel & Buffy follow the ghost roads in search of the heir to the Gatekeeper. Willow, Giles, Cordelia & Xander try to keep things in check back home in Sunnydale. Of course, the Sons of Entropy are out in full force & as a refreshing change of pace Spike & Dru are thrown into the mix.

Typical of the Buffy books, this one is fast & easy to read & 100% avoidable if you haven't seen every episode of Buffy a gazillion times already. I only read them because I'm Buffy deprived- purely a guilty pleasure.

an excellent part for a great trilogy.......2002-09-01

The Buffy books aimed for adults have always been good and this trilogy is no exception. If you are a fan of the show, you will appreciate how authentic the story line is. Nancy Holder does it again and truly captures buffy and the gang in full action. You cannot stop reading until you have finished all 3 books. Please start with the first book ,"Out of the Madhouse" and continue the books in order. (Ghostroads is book #2) The story will make sense and i promise that you will be fully satisfied at the end. I only wish that this and other buffy books had a chance to be added as shows for the tv series!

good book with a few faults.......2001-04-13

I've only read a third of the book but I dont need to read the whole book to that its great , but I have to say that it wasnt as good as another Buffy book I read The Immortal . That book was more abt the emotional aspects of Buffys life, but this one was baically abt the ghosts and goblins that surround her life .Actually the book duznt really show Buffy all that much neither duz it highlight her relationship with Angel ,the part I love most abt Buffy . Despite all these faults I still call the book great cuz it is great , as simple as that .U cant deny a book the credit it desrves . Its a very interesting book with a good plot , even though it duznt really show Buffy all that much , the other subplots r also ver interesting.

Average customer rating:

Literally Unique

The Road Movie Book
Steven Cohan
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415149371

Book Description

The road is an enduring theme in American culture; from The Wizard of Oz to Thelma and Louise, and from Bonnie and Clyde to Natural Born Killers, cinematic portrayals of road journeys continually captivate the American imagination. But what is so American about the genre and why does it translate well to some countries but not others?

In The Road Movie Book, Steven Cohan and Ina Rae Hark collect essays that attempt to answer these, as well as other questions, about one of the key genres of modern cinema. Organized into three sections, the first, Mapping Boundaries, contains essays that sketch broad themes and ideological tropes of the genre. The following section, American Roads, further historicizes the issues raised in section one and traces the continual reinvention of the genre in Hollywood film from the early 1940s to the end of the 1980s. Alternate Routes, the final section of essays, concentrates on road films that depart from the American landscape or that travel on its cultural margins to explore why the road movie is so pertinent to those who are alienated or marginalized by society. The essays discuss a broad range of films, including Easy Rider, Thelma and Louise, The Grapes of Wrath, It Happened One Night, Faster Pussycay! Kill! Kill!, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and My Own Private Idaho. With 44 stills from the movies discussed, this fascinating collection is the most comprehensive volume devoted solely to the genre of the road movie.

Customer Reviews:

Literally Unique.......1999-01-20

What I found unusual about this book is that there seem to be very few existing titles which try to define the Road movie as this book does . Subsequently you want this book to go further than it does. You read it and wonder why so many movies have been ignored or passed over for debate. This however is not a critism as a comment on the difficulty of trying to define a film 'genre'. Steven Cohan does well to pull together a collection of diverse and engaging essays on everything from Easy rider to old Bob Hope movies. The essay on Easy Rider by Barbara Klinger is particularly interesting because it touches on the very crux of the Road Movie genre: the representation of the American phsyce. All these essays chronicle how Road movies have reflected recent American history from the Depression through the Second World War through to modern times. I am still suprised that this book is the first of its kind because movies like EASY RIDER, THELMA AND LOUISE, PARIS,TEXAS, et all touch so deeply into the American identity. Which begs the question why so little is included about the likes of American Grafitti, Dazed and Confused, Fandango etc. A fantastic read none the less. I think this book would appeal to American historians as much as Film buffs, film makers, artists or (like me) students of Architecture and landscape. Get in a car, hit the Road,read this book.

Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings

Average customer rating:

Excellent Resource
Knits up the ravels
A Radiograph of LotR.
Splendid Tolkien Reference Work
a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia

Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings
Michael W. Perry
Manufacturer: Inkling Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1587420198

Book Description

Here is the book that Tolkien fans have needed for half a century--a detailed, book-length chronology of J. R. R. Tolkien's complex tale. Whether you are a serious Tolkien fan or simply someone who enjoys reading the story over and over again, this is the book for you. It's the first totally new reference for The Lord of the Rings since the 1970s.

Beginning over 1400 years before the major events in Tolkien's epic, it describes, year-by-year, the amazing and imaginative background history that Tolkien created for his masterpiece. Then for the main narrative, it becomes a day-by-day reference, describing what each character does on that day and all the places where those events are described in Tolkien's writings. You can find out, for instance, what Merry and Pippin are doing as Sam perpares rabbit stew on the morning of March 7.

Probe deeper into Tolkien. See why someone as serious as Gandalf was interested in fun-loving Hobbits. Discover an exciting new plot, based on Tolkien's notes, that begins when Aragorn captures Gollum. Follow along as the Black Riders and Gandalf race for the Shire. Decide for yourself whether Sauron and the Ring have any ties to Hitler and Stalin. Explore what Tolkien believed about nature and technology.

A few facts illustrate how helpful this chronology is. Most of narrative is a deliberately confusing sea of next days and third days that leave readers as confused as the tale's main characters.The middle 60 percent of The Lord of the Rings gives the current date only once. In the narrative as a whole, the date is given only 23 times, or once for every 43 pages, and most of those come when the plot is moving slowly. That's why those who want to dig deeper and understand better what Tolkien was saying will find this book a must-have.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Resource.......2006-12-10

Perry has done a wonderful job in untangling the very intricate tale woven by J.R.R. Tolkien. Of particular help are the copious margin notes which reference exactly where Perry is drawing the information contained within that section of his book. The commentary made by the author is a welcomed pause for reflection on the events that are taking place and keep the book from being a mere listing of dates and events. I teach a course on J.R.R. Tolkien and have found Untangling Tolkien a valuable resource, since it covers the entire history of Middle-earth: what comes before The Hobbit and what takes place after The Lord of The Rings. Bravo Mr. Perry, I look forward to reading your other books.

Knits up the ravels.......2004-10-31

An amazing accomplishment by a dedicated Tolkien fan.

That is how I'd sum up the book Untanging Tolkien. Michael Perry has first unraveled all Tolkien's "dates" -- which can be extrapolated from phases of the moon -- and then knit them together again in a cohesive outline, presented in much greater detail than Tolkien's own timeline (found buried in Appendix A of LOTR). By incorporating information from other Tolkien writings, the author of Untangling Tolkien collates additional facts about all the characters and the circumstances surrounding the War of the Ring, folding them all into this detailed chronology. He includes material that sheds light on possible parallels between Tolkien's work and events that were contemporary, and he provides original commentary that suggests some additional motivations for Tolkien's characters. Sidebars offer references to every source for the information presented and for each conclusion the author has drawn.

I found the format, with quick-reference bulleted lists and clearly delineated sections and subheadings, well-organized and easy to use.

NOTE: I read the third printing that was published in May 2004. Apparently the author has corrected many of the errors that David Bratman objected to (below). You won't find a better overview or a more throrough treatment of time and dates in LOTR than Perry provides in this book.

A Radiograph of LotR........2003-12-27

This book is layed out as a chronological record of the events covered by Tolkein's masterpiece with prefaces that explain the calender system created by Tolkein and its conversion to our more mundane (and possibly inferior) system. The type is clear, and margin citations clear and present for every entry. It's primary utility, at which it succeeds admirably, is as a kind of radiograph of Tolkein's work that reveals its astonishing complexity more clearly and allows one to admire, and more importantly, explore the book itself more quickly, easily, and deeply.

The book also contains copious notes inline with the chronology. These vary from informative to tangential, but at worst do not detract from the book's primary function. Mr. Perry is perhaps foremost as Lewis scholar, and so C.S. Lewis, a close acquaintance and friend of Tolkein, makes a number of appearances. Also making appearances in the notes are William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill.

All in all, a unique book which will save anyone who wants to do an in depth study of LotR a lot of time.

Splendid Tolkien Reference Work.......2003-12-21

Superb, exhaustive chronology of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga. Perry does a superior job in untangling a number of thorny chronological issues in Tolkien's narrative, and he employs some fine literary detective work in reconstructing what events are happening across Middle Earth on any given date. Especially admirable is his reconstruction of how much moonlight there was during each day of Frodo and Sam's journey into Mordor.

In addition to chronology, Perry supplies a lot of background information about Tolkien's themes and sources, as well as biographical tidbits about Tolkien. For example, there are fascinating discussions of Tolkien's views of technology, freedom, and totalitarianism. Perry also discusses Tolkien's stance toward the misuse of Germanic myths by the Nazis.

This is a great resource for Tolkien-lovers everywhere.

a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia.......2003-12-21

A year-by-year, later day-by-day, chronicle of the war against Sauron from the founding of the Shire to the glorious conclusion seems at the outset like a good idea. Perry calls LOTR's Appendix B, the Tale of Years, "far from complete" but it covers the whole period: what he means is that it's not detailed enough for him. Appendix B won't tell you which day Sam cooked coney for Frodo; Perry will.

But alas, the book does not stop there. The entries are written as bullet lists like a PowerPoint presentation, and many add pointless little flowcharts such as two-generation family trees. They reduce Tolkien's magnificently complex subcreation into a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia. And each yearly or daily entry comes with its commentary, whether directly relevant, side points, broader considerations, or dogmatic essays in applicability. The unrelieved banality and inappropriateness of these must be read to be believed; as also the author's clumsy, grammatically inept style, and his smug superiority to the characters. (He frequently criticizes the good guys' "blunders," all of them more complex than he implies.)

There's actually some good chronological analysis and speculation hiding in here. But how can someone who knows his Tolkien that well say that the wizards were Valar, or that Rohan gave Isengard to Saruman (it wasn't theirs to give, and Saruman was made its warden, not a freeholder), that Boromir and Faramir had a sibling rivalry (Tolkien specifically says not), or suggest that Galadriel should have sent daily eagles to check up on the Fellowship?

Book Description

When Mr. Sabatini's pizza oven breaks he calls on Bob and the team. Bob gets the oven working and helps out even more by delivering the pizzas!

Customer Reviews:

a nice addition to a home library.......2007-02-12

We have many books and I wanted to buy a book that was a little different to the ones we already had. Hence, this book. It's a good book. Yes, there are others, but it's a better book.

Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road

Average customer rating:

A very charming read
One Terrific Book and Author!
Excellent Book. Well Done.....
What an Oz-some book!
Really Most Sincerly .... Wonderful!

Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road
Meinhardt Raabe , and Daniel Kinske
Manufacturer: Back Stage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0823091937

Book Description

Dear Readers,

I will never forget the morning that Meinhardt Raabe's agent called me and insisted on stopping by my office that very same day. "I've got a Wizard of Oz project that you have to see to believe." From the moment I looked at Mr. Raabe's charming memoir and his remarkable collection of Oz memorabilia, I knew this would be a book unlike any that I have published.

Memories of A Munchkin, written by Meinhardt Raabe with Daniel Kinske, almost feels like three books in one.

Part one is a memoir by Raabe who stepped into film history at the age of 23 when he played the Munchkin coroner in THE WIZARD OF OZ. It's a charming and inspiring story that begins on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, moves to his appearance in a special "Midget Village" exhibit at the 1934 World's Fair and on to Hollywood. Through an agent, Raabe was cast in THE WIZARD OF OZ and much of the memoir is devoted to his account of working on the most beloved film of all time - enduring tough auditions, watching as the glorious Munchkinland set was built, putting up with long days of rehearsal, being costumed by legendary MGM designer Adrian, hob-nobbing on the set with the stars, witnessing various mishaps during filming, being visited on the set by curious Hollywood royalty such as Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable, and much more. Here, too, is Raabe's life after THE WIZARD OF OZ: His career as an accomplished pilot with the Civil Air Patrol during World War II; more than 30 years as "Little Oscar," spokesman for the Oscar Mayer ompany; his charity work and his role as advocate and kindred spirit to Little People everywhere. Mr. Raabe's memoir is lavishly illustrated with the most incredible material such as! blueprints of the Munchkinland set, Adrian's costume sketches, MGM's original Oz matte paintings, and many rare, behind-the-scenes photos from director Victor Fleming's personal scrapbook.

Part two of the book is the most complete collection of OZ movie posters and lobby cards ever published. Included are a beautiful watercolor painted by the legendary Al Hirschfeld, and the jumbo window card that was originally displayed in Mr. Raabe's hometown theater of Watertown, WI!

Part three is a collection of specially commissioned Oz art from some of the world's best-known and best-loved illustrators - people like Al Hirschfeld, Frank Frazetta, Mort Drucker, Jack Davis and Frank Kelly Freas. I especially like Ron Dias' painting of what he imagines the interior of a Munchkin house would look like, and Philo Barnhart's piece that combines the main characters of Oz with those of Snow White. Duck Edwing's piece, Hearse of a Different Color, could not be more colorful or more charming. And you won't believe all the detail - and clever humor - in Tom Bunk's piece depicting the Kansas tornado at the beginning of THE WIZARD OF OZ.

Put it all together and you have a treasure trove of Oz stories and memorabilia. No fan of this beloved Hollywood classic will want to be without Memories of A Munchkin.

Mark Glubke Senior Editor Back Stage Books

Customer Reviews:

A very charming read.......2006-07-06

As an avid Wizard of Oz fan for almost 20 years now, I've read just about every book about the making of the movie. I was beginning to feel that there was nothing more for me to learn about this movie, until I read this book. Mr. Raabe's book gives a very interesting, fresh perspective about making the film, or at least the Munchkinland sequences. His writing style is conversational, so you feel as though he's sitting right there telling you all about what it was like to be on the beautiful Munchkinland set (describing details that I had missed in my many viewings of the movie), what it was like to meet Judy Garland, and other behind-the-scenes tid-bits. His Munchkin Coroner career aside, Mr. Raabe has had a fascinating life as the original Little Oscar mascot for Oscar Mayer, and as a flight instructor for the Civil Air Patrol. In addition, there are many photos from the making of the film, which I have never seen before, as well as original art that was commisioned for this book and shows many different artists' interpretations of Oz and Munchkinland. I very highly recommend this book for any Oz fan!

One Terrific Book and Author!.......2005-09-02

Our family met Meinhardt Raabe when our daughter was born with dwarfism 24 years ago. Meinhardt is an incredible person, and he speaks from his heart, in his daily life, as well as in this book, Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road. He speaks openly and shares his life and experiences with you as if you were sitting down right next to him. You can't help but notice his genuine caring and sincerity coming through every page as he speaks candidly of his lifetime experiences. Our family highly recommends you buy this book. It will be a family treasure for many years to come.

Excellent Book. Well Done............2005-08-04

I think of myself as a big Oz/Judy Garland fan and I think this is the best book ever written about the Munchkins. I thought I had seen every behind the scene still but I was wrong. There are many in this book that are from Mr. Raabe's collection that are new to me. I'm so happy that someone that was actually there during the making of The Wizard of Oz wrote such a complete book. I enjoyed it immensely. I would tell anyone who likes The Wizard of Oz to make sure this book is part of your collection. Thanks Mr. Raabe!

What an Oz-some book!.......2005-07-21

This book is a must-have for all Oz fans! You get a Munchkin's eye view of the filming of The Wizard of Oz. Memories of a Munchkin is jam-packed with rare photographs. It's like a feast for the eyes.

You'll come away with a new-found respect for the always charming Meinhardt Raabe. With only 9 of the original 124 Munchkins still alive, this book is a treasure. I've talked to Meinhardt in person several times and he's always so sweet. After reading this book, you'll feel as though you've met him too!

Memories of a Munchkin is full of little known trivia and fascinating tid-bids, sure to please even the most casual Oz viewer.

If you only buy 1 book this year, make it Memories of a Munchkin!

Hats off to Meinhardt Raabe for such an Oz-some book!

Really Most Sincerly .... Wonderful!.......2005-05-13

This book is a must have for any die hard(like me) fan of the 1939 film THE WIZARD OF OZ. It is brimming with never before seen pictures of the movie set, munchkins, scene direction...not to mention other movie stars of the day & lots of Judy Garland!
Meinhardt's story is both intersting & compelling, he's a sweetheart!
Don't miss out...buy this book TODAY!

Driving Visions: Exploring the Road Movie

Average customer rating:

An interesting cinematic journey--hop in and enjoy the ride...
One For The Road

Driving Visions: Exploring the Road Movie
David Laderman
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0292747322

Book Description

"This is a superbly conceived, thoughtfully organized, and well-written study of a subject—the 'road movie'—that has lacked anything close to a coherent, book-length overview.... It will make an ideal course text and should also have a wide appeal to non-academic readers."

— Scott Simmon, author of The Films of D. W. Griffith and King Vidor, American

From the visionary rebellion of Easy Rider to the reinvention of home in The Straight Story, the road movie has emerged as a significant film genre since the late 1960s, able to cut across a wide variety of film styles and contexts. Yet, within the variety, a certain generic core remains constant: the journey as cultural critique, as exploration beyond society and within oneself.

This book traces the generic evolution of the road movie with respect to its diverse presentations, emphasizing it as an "independent genre" that attempts to incorporate marginality and subversion on many levels. David Laderman begins by identifying the road movie's defining features and by establishing the literary, classical Hollywood, and 1950s highway culture antecedents that formatively influenced it. He then traces the historical and aesthetic evolution of the road movie decade by decade through detailed and lively discussions of key films. Laderman concludes with a look at the European road movie, from the late 1950s auteurs through Godard and Wenders, and at compelling feminist road movies of the 1980s and 1990s.

Customer Reviews:

An interesting cinematic journey--hop in and enjoy the ride..........2006-06-30

I had the unique opportunity to interview the author and fellow College of San Mateo colleague, David Laderman, for my TV cable access series, "Peninsula Speaks" produced locally here in the Bay Area.

What initally started out as a 30 minute installment about the book and his work ended up being a fascinating hour long discussion and survey of the "road movie" and its impact in the cinema.

At any rate, Laderman's coverage of the road movie is exhaustive--virtually nothing is left uncovered; if anything, the book is complete survey of the road movie from its humble beginnings to the present day--a very comprehensive and, I must say, a very multicultural perspective (Pardon my ignorance, but I had no idea there were road movies per se in gay/lesbian cinema!)

What I truly appreciate is Laderman's focus on some true historical classics like John Ford's "Grapes of Wrath" and a low-budget, little-known film noir gem, Edgar J. Ulmer's "Detour", perhaps one of the most underrated efforts of the film noir era. Also included is "Five Easy Pieces," one of Jack Nicholson's best work. (If you have seen the film, you know Jack's scene telling the waitress in the coffee shop what to do with his sandwich is priceless!)

Laderman's ideas are sound: the road movie is an ideal medium, because characters are linked together--compelled to interact side by side as the action carries on around them. Nonetheless, they are also moving--a unique idea for the road movie as a metaphor for all Americans pursuing the American Dream: people constantly searching and moving forward towards a goal and a better life.

In later films (1960's-90's) the road movie is a catalyst toward self-discovery, identity and even despair as in "Five Easy Pieces" and "Easy Rider." I enjoyed the book and the interview; my only slight disagreement with Laderman is his contention that the road movies of the 1980's can easily be dismissed as a kind of cinematic propaganda ("Madd Maxx" and "Back to the Future") throwback to Reganesque quasi-traditional 1950's era values over the progressive and pluralist views that followed in the 90's. But all in all, a very interesting, competent and complete survey of a genre that deserves more study.

One For The Road.......2004-09-26

Among the features of this entertaining and provocative study, I like the fine discriminations: "REPO MAN, we should clarify at the outset, is not really a road movie. It belongs to the non- or semi-road movie tradition of AMERICAN GRAFFITI, TAXI DRIVER, and SPEED." These are movies, he tells us, in which the characters drive all the time, but "within city limits." To qualify as a real road movie you have to go somewhere. The genre began in earnest in the late 1960s, sort of as a cinematic aftershoot of the epochal road novels of the 1950s, including Kerouac's ON THE ROAD which itself oddly has never been filmed. However, you can find precursors to the road movie in the American cinema of the 1950s, 40s, 30s, and even earlier, because it seems as soon as people started hitting Route 66, filmmakers had the idea to restage the old quest legends, or pilgrimage stories, in a Model T or a Thunderbird.

Laderman points out it is not strictly an American genre and there are plenty of road movies from other continents--look at Mel Gibson in THE ROAD WARRIOR for example, or even something like WEEKEND by Jean-Luc Godard, in which most of the characters get stuck in a mammoth traffic jam--quel ennui! Laderman links the road movie to a variety of sources such as the picaresque novel of Defoe or Cervantes, the novel of social realism (think of THE GRAPES OF WRATH and how it moves slowly across a vast, devastated and dusty America), or the visions of Europeans coming to America and seeing it as one big highway--Nabokov with LOLITA, Antonioni with the bizarre and underrated ZABRISKIE POINT. In between he treats everything from EASY RIDER to DETOUR, BADLANDS to SUGARLAND EXPRESS. Gay and indie cinema are not neglected either so expect plenty on MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO and STRANGER THAN PARADISE. I wouldn't drive and read this book at the same time, but outside of that, ready, set, go!

Clifford's Really Big Movie, On the Road, Sticker Storybook (Clifford the Big Red Dog)

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Clifford's Really Big Movie, On the Road, Sticker Storybook (Clifford the Big Red Dog)
Ruth Koeppel
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Share-and-Be-Fair Sticker Book (Clifford the Big Red Dog)

ASIN: 0439628156

Book Description

Worried that the Howards think he eats too much, Clifford runs away from Birdwell Island with Cleo and T-Bone. They join a traveling animal show in order to win a lifetime supply of Tummy Yummies dog food, leading them on an amazing adventure that crosses America. The world outside of Birdwell is more than ready for the Big Red Dog . . . but is Clifford really ready for the big wide world without Emily Elizabeth by his side?Kids can help Clifford win the big carnival contest . . . and return home safely to his family . . . by placing the included stickers on the correct pages.

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Road Trip (SpongeBob SquarePants)
Adam Beechen
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689873824

Book Description

Book Description

Pre-Level 1
Recognizing Words
• Word repetition
• Familiar words and phrases
• Simple sentences

Poor Bob is sick. Can Wendy and the team work together to fix the road?

Customer Reviews:

Cute Story and a Pre-reading Practice Book - a review of "Wendy Helps Out.......2006-07-31

This is a nice little book about Bob the Builder and his buddies. In this story -you might recognize the plot from television series-- Bob has a cold and is put out of commission. But that doesn't mean that the work can stop. Thus Wendy takes charge of the team and they work together to finish the road on time. "Can we do it?" Well, of course, they can!

Plot aside, this book provides reading practice for the pre-reading set as it is one of those books that has icons that replace some of the words.

The way that we have been using it is that dad or I reads the story, following the print with our finger, pausing at the icons for our son so that he can decipher the picture and join in the 'reading fun'.

Our son is now four, but by doing this, even younger children can figure out that sentences are read from left to right, and top to bottom, from page to page. For a child of three or four years of age you might even find that they will begin to site read whole words.

Four Stars. Wall to wall color: the whole page is filled with colorful pictures. Nice story about how Wendy takes over and the team works hard to complete a task while Bob is sick with a cold. Okay read-aloud. Children like the story and can learn many pre-reading skills. Don't be surprised if they memorize the text.

A great early reader for your little girl or boy!.......2002-01-31

I picked this up through a school book club for my 4-year-old daughter. She is quite a good reader at this point, and enjoys reading this book. It is written with easy to read language, but not to the point of being uninteresting for the child. I am especially pleased that the featured character, Wendy, is female. This is sadly lacking in many children's books. Look for "Dizzy's Bird Watch" for an equally great book.

A book that lets my 2 year old read!.......2001-10-17

My son just got this book, and he loves it. It has small pictures included in the text that let him read along with the story. Something that makes books all that more magical and amazing to him. While the story is basic and short, for a two year old its just the right size. I do think the price is a little high for a paper back book of this size, but the enjoyment my son gets out of it are well worth the price.

Good but anemic.......2001-09-21

This booklet stimulated my grandchild's[3 years old] interest in books and being a participant in the actual reading.The prospective buyer needs to know that this is a very abreviated, paperback booklet and for the price plus shipping should receive at least a second booklet.

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Run-Away Roley
Alison Inches
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 068984753X

Book Description

Ready-to-Read

Level 1: Starting to Read

Roley is sleep-rolling his way through town! Can Bob and the machines get him home safely?

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