Anthony

Not a rivetting experience for me. But then I though F.Scott was a bit wishy washy because his characters were lost. Maybe that's what I feel here. If you are chasing Kundera to understand him, go ahead. It didn't make a lasting impression on me.

This is the second book in a huge trilogy. I read it withought reading the other book first. If you really want to invest a massive allotment of time I'd read them in order. Wiki the author and you might even start with a smaller monograph prior to this writing.
I like this style characters sketches and stories of real people living life up hill. He captures, like the faded sepia photos of the dust bowl farmers , the character and times his actors are living in. The action is believable and the emotions true.
His narrative is punctuated with real news flashes and song and a variety of period headlines which complement the naratives of the protagnists. At a later date I'll explore the other writings of this lesser known contemporary of Hemmingway, and Fitsgerald.
Seriously entertaining, enchanting.

OK first John Lee can read a phone book and it would be worth listeng to. This tale is about a person who spends time at THE SEASHORE, not at sea. He has a troubled tragic life and time and remembers it all with you as he writes this. He does not however remember it in any logical form but rather changes time and characters extensively. This left me as the reader lost to figure out what was what and when it all happened. This detracted from whatever story he was trying to tell. In movie form you might have visual cues as to where the pieces of his life fit together but I didn't like it here. Now you may say that I have no appreciation for his artfull stream of consciousness and rich descriptive language. The former no the latter yes.

So we did forget as a nation the accomplishment of the Dutch to the America you and I know today. Not just cole slaw and tulips but the beginning of the demand for redress of government in constitutional form. Similar to Kurlansky Mr. Shorto writes the extensive and somewhat recent (1972) discovery of the documents left by the Dutch East India company. He animates history in a most interesting way and fleshes out the characters believably. Why didn't they let us read history like this in high school. If Kurlansky's Cod or Salt interested you, then you'll love this book. Now it does help my understanding of the narrative because I used to live in the Bronx. All the names of places well known to me were derived here. Bravo Shorto!

OK so I worshiped her work in Anatomy of Healing or what ever that book was a decade or so ago. This guided meditation just didn't get it done for me. Her voice was irritating and she did not sound like she really believed her own words. Take a walk after dinner instead and skip this.

OK so I worshiped her work in Anatomy of Healing or what ever that book was a decade or so ago. This guided meditation just didn't get it done for me. There is only so much of this preaching a person can take. Worse yet her voice irritated me. If you are a devotee of her approach go for it. Otherwize have another cup of coffee.

I took the bait and decided to believe the entire thing and I enjoyed the adventure. I think if you are going to argue about finding reality in this you'll miss the point. It is all a dream and this dream seems very real. It may be a "boy" book because of the unknown and the adventure and the danger and the survival and yes the futility of it all. Think of it as Huck Finn and Tiger Jim or Robinson Crusoe goes to Seaworld.

I loved Owen Meany and it was good to hear that John Irving loved it to. Short interview but worth getting an insight into Mr. Irving.

Sometimes history is more interesting than fiction. This is one of those times. I gained a greater understand of just exactly was going on at this time in history. If this book was required reading in my high school (class of '65) I'd be a historian right now. HIstory???? this is an adventure tale. Take the time to enrich your today with a greater understanding of your yesterdays. Enchanting story

Tony Hendra is a magical author.. look for his other books especially "Father Joe"..
So Carlin devoted to the art up to and after death leaves us this material. I still feel sad when I think that this genius is gone , Zappa too. Leaving us to survive without a sidebar or a punchline or a riff. If you don't know the genius of G. Carlin you should read his other books first, putting each book in as complete a historical venue as you can. His work was contemporary but you have to know what the time was he worked in.. Really this could be a college course in literature, "Time dependent humor". If he was joking about Nixon and you don't know who Nixon was historically then you won't understand the humor/comentary. This book is after he died.. Sorry I gave away the plot but you have to see this book as the snow on top of the mountain. A mountain of work left by Carlin, a sidebar to our history.

OK so you want to better understand the thinking of the other side of the world. Not so long ago America welcomed these divergent ideas in a spirit of naive discovery and wonder. The Chattauqua lectures were happening on the east coast and Big Sur was a colony of artistic thinkers and lifestyle experiments. And P. Yogananda , having discovered the discipline/ritual/extacy of an enlightened life brought it to America and we loved it. This is the story of how one person developed to become a spiritual leader for millions. It makes sense to see his life unfold.
I found this to be a wonderful story of his experience. Not preachy, not pushy. just where he came from what he saw and how it affected him. How it changed his thinking. If you are a devout Christian or Catholic this will not sway your faith but it may expand your idea of what a saint is.