Amazon.com
To date, Tim O'Brien's novels have all shared common traits: his heroes hail from the Midwest, usually Minnesota; Vietnam figures prominently; and the stories he tells, though invested with mordant wit, are usually pretty grim. So an O'Brien fan coming to Tomcat in Love on the heels of his earlier novels can be forgiven for occasionally checking the name on the cover (and the photo on the dust jacket) just to be sure this is, indeed, the same Tim O'Brien who wrote Going After Cacciato, The Things They Carried, If I Die in a Combat Zone, and In the Lake of the Woods.
In Tomcat in Love O'Brien introduces us to a very different hero: "In summary, then, my circumstances were these. Something over forty-nine years of age. Recently divorced. Pursued. Prone to late-night weeping. Betrayed not once but threefold: by the girl of my dreams, by her Pilate of a brother, and by a Tampa real-estate tycoon whose name I have vowed never again to utter." Thomas H. Chippering, professor of linguistics, war hero, and sex magnet--in his own mind, at least, has recently lost his childhood sweetheart and wife of 20 years to another man, the Tampa magnate, and Lorna Sue's desertion has clearly unhinged him. He has taken to flying down to Tampa from Minnesota on weekends to spy on his ex-wife and plot revenge against her, the tycoon, and Lorna Sue's brother, Herbie, whom he blames for destroying his marriage.
Thomas, Lorna Sue, and Herbie go back a long way together, bound equally by ties of love, guilt, and suspicion. Dating from the afternoon young Herbie nailed an even younger Lorna Sue's hand to a makeshift cross, Thomas has occupied a kind of emotional no man's land between the two: "In my bleakest moods, when black gets blackest, I think of it as a high perversion: Herbie coveted his own sister. Which is a fact. The stone truth. He was in love with her. More generously, I will sometimes concede that it was not sexual love, or not entirely, and that Herbie was driven by the obsessions of a penitent, a torturer turned savior. Partly, too, I am quite certain that Herbie secretly associated me with his own guilt. I was present at the beginning. My backyard, my plywood, my green paint."
Chippering takes his revenge to hilarious lengths, starting with a purple leather bra and panties stuffed beneath the seat of the tycoon's car and escalating from there. But even as he attempts to wreak havoc in his ex-wife's life, he succeeds in laying ruin to his own. His self-proclaimed irresistibility to women gets him in hot water with both his female students and his administration; his obsession with Lorna Sue threatens his budding romance with Mrs. Robert Kooshof, a woman who loves him as his wife never did--and, oh yes, there's that little matter of the squad of Green Berets he crossed many years before in Vietnam who may or may not be hunting him down.
Once you get over the shock of this new, funny Tim O'Brien, traces of the writer you thought you knew begin to surface. Chippering might be a pompous, overbearing windbag, but you can't trust him any more than you did any of O'Brien's other earthier, equally unreliable narrators. In one breath, he tells us, "I must in good conscience point out that women find me attractive beyond words. And who on earth could blame them?" In the next he describes himself as resembling "a clean-shaven version of our sixteenth president." Half the fun of reading Tomcat in Love is trying to sort out just how much of what Thomas H. Chippering tells us is true. Stellar writing, a brilliant cast of characters, and a sly, surprising story that breaks your heart one minute and tickles your funny bone the next all make Tim O'Brien's first foray into the comic novel a resounding success. --Alix Wilber
Book Description
In this wildly funny, brilliantly inventive novel, Tim O'Brien has created the ultimate character for our times. Thomas Chippering, a 6'6" professor of linguistics, is a man torn between two obsessions: the desperate need to win back his former wife, the faithless Lorna Sue, and a craving to test his erotic charms on every woman he meets.
But there are complications, including Lorna Sue's brother, Herbie, with whom she has an all-too-close relationship, and the considerable charms of Chippering's new love, the attractive, and of course already married, Mrs. Robert Kooshof, who may at last satisfy Chippering's longing for intimacy.
In
Tomcat in Love, Tim O'Brien takes on the battle of the sexes with astonishing results. By turns hilarious, outrageous, romantic, and deeply moving, this is one of the most talked about novels in years: a novel for this and every age.
Customer Reviews:
Underrated.......2007-07-16
Though this book isn't the literay masterpiece that "The Things They Carried" is it is still an enjoyable read that rings true. The descriptions of the main character's heartbreak and his mixed feelings at being betrayed are dead on. I love how he examines language and the loaded meaning of words once imbued with personal meaning. Yes, the main character is dislikeable in many ways (this is completely on purpose) but despite all his pompous flaws I still liked him. He is a sort of exageration of character flaws that are in many of us. Because he is at times dislikeable it also allows the reader to laugh at his predicaments without having to feel sorry for him. I found the book hilarious, all the characters to be well-developed, and the depiction of lost first love and betrayal perfect.
Crazy at first sight, sweet in the end.......2007-04-26
This book is a easy read at the beginning. It starts with some childhood memory like a lot of other books. Then it became hard to read all that Tommy's craziness and obsessive behaviour. At last, alas, it ended with common sense and some bitter sweet twist.
You need to be patient to read through all those pages, and in many ways, all those loose ends.
Tomcat in Love: I am Not in Love.......2007-02-15
This novel tries to be funny, but the satire falls flat and the whole thing quickly becomes totally tedious. I bailed after 75 pages.
Satire at its finest..........2006-10-29
The many recent negative reviews for this amazing work of literature sadden me greatly. Granted, I may be a bit biased as a huge fan of O'Brien's other books; but, this is certainly not a typical piece of Tim O'Brien fiction.
The main character, Thomas Chippering is self-centered to the extreme, very critical of others, incapable of listening, and obnoxiously perfectionist when it comes to language and word usage. Yet, O'Brien makes it work. Through his faults and sins, we are presented with an intelligent criticism of gender and relationships in contemporary society and perhaps an insight to why we (yes, I am including you in this) behave the way we do. His faults are over-the-top and at points even unforgivable, but aren't they merely magnifications of things of which we are all guilty? His character is wonderfully drawn. All of the side narratives (which at points seem slightly disordered, yet contribute to sense that Thomas is hiding something not only from the reader, but himself as well) tie the story together quite nicely. Chippering makes the proper character advancements, learning things about himself and others through an often-humorous series of mistakes and misunderstandings. However, it isn't unbelievable. He doesn't have some great epiphany that makes him not-sexist or egotistical. He improves. He stays a flawed human, as we all are and will remain.
I will concede that the story itself is outrageous at points. But a true realist like Tim O'Brien keeps it believable. His wit is sharp and his sense of satire and irony are among the keenest I've ever come across. The story is also heart-warming, an endearing look at love and the crazy lengths people will go to for it.
Humor. Sympathy. Tenderness. Social criticism. Self-criticism. Read it. It's all here. You'll love it.
Too Silly.......2006-07-13
Though I don't agree with some other reviewers who believe that narrators or main characters need to have redeeming qualities to be interesting or engaging (read the short story "Rock Springs" by Richard Ford), I found Chippering to be just plain annoying. His voice was too silly to keep reading for 384 pages. Maybe it's funny the first time he tells us something that obviously isn't true, but after 300 references to how attractive he is to women when the women he's with clearly despise him, the story gets to be a bit trite. Had this book been a little shorter, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad. I don't know, though, because I never got to the end - and I'm usually the kind that can't leave a book unfinished.
The most interesting part of the story is one which is left almost completely untouched. I kept wanting to read more about Chippering's betrayal of his Green Beret buddies and what they were going to do to him, but after 280 pages of the same nonsense with Lorna Sue and Mrs. Robert Kooshof, I gave up. Okay, maybe Tim O'Brien has been type-cast as a Vietnam writer - but really his best work revolves around the war. Hopefully (ha ha) he can break out of this label, but if he keeps writing GOOD fiction about the war instead of this garbage, I'll be happy.
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Tomcat In Love
Tim O'Brien
Manufacturer: BROADWAY BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OJV50G |
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Tomcat In Love
Tim O`Brien
Manufacturer: Broadway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KAG3GA |
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Tomcat in Love
Tim Obrien
Manufacturer: BANTAM DOUBLEDAY @ DELL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000Q1HX3A |
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Tomcat in Love
O'brien
Manufacturer: Broadway, 1998
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NZU5Q6 |
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Tomcat In Love
Tim O'brien
Manufacturer: Broadway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 000225820X |
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Tomcat in Love
Tim Obrien
Manufacturer: BANTAM DOUBLEDAY @ DELL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000Q1JTG4 |
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Tomcat in Love
Tim O'Brien
Manufacturer: Flamingo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OILZZC |
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Tomcat in Love
Manufacturer: Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0606278559 |
Customer Reviews:
Déja vu.......2005-03-21
The first novel I read by Mrs. Holt was "Mistress of Mellyn" and I was enraptured, I simply could not put it down. Until today, it is one of my favorite novels and it has been re-read many, many times. When I bought the volume that included my cult novel plus three others, I must confess I had great expectations. Too great, maybe. The stories have pretty much the same elements - an old mansion/ castle "with beautifully carved ceilings"; the sensual, manly, rich and not such a decent hero, who presumably (or actually) has a lover, a beautiful, sensual and married woman; the impoverished, proud and "by no means a beauty" heroine; the troubled child; the woman who loves the old house and knows all about it and intends to marry the hero to have the house, and so on and so forth. After finishing each of the three first novels, I was left with a boring feeling of déja vu and as passed on to the next, I started looking for all the well-known elements. "Mistress of Mellyn" is still and will remain for all times one of my favorite novels and I intend to re-read it plenty of times more. But the other three novels in this volume - and here I beg pardon of all who are fans of these stories - were like drafts to my favorite novel, and therefore a big waste of time.
Amazon.com
Originally published nearly 40 years ago, this gothic classic has been frightening, romancing, and winning fans ever since. Part Jane Eyre, part Rebecca and all good, clean, campy fun, Mistress of Mellyn will keep you tearing through the pages, and looking for copies to lend out to friends.
Our heroine Martha Leigh is a prim and freshly minted governess who has been hired by the remote and demanding Connan TreMellyn to care for his daughter Alvean. As the departure of the three prior governesses suggests, Alvean is a difficult charge, though understandably so since the recent death of her mother, Alice. As Martha tries to connect with Alvean, she researches the history of Mellyn, and discovers hidden family secrets that still haunt the present. Now familiar with Alvean, she feels herself falling for Connan. Though the desire between Martha and Connan grows, Alice's tragic death continues to haunt them both and endanger any future they may have.
A delightful combination of highbrow writing and lowbrow sentiments, Mistress of Mellyn is a guilt-free treat you can indulge in. The romance, suspense, and mystery tromp across the pages with predictable frequency, and there are enough dark looks and dark corridors for any gothic fan. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien
Book Description
As Martha Leigh approached the sprawling mansion of her new employer, Connan TreMellyn, an odd chill of apprehension overcame her. Soon whispers of past tragedy and present danger began to insinuate themselves into Martha's life. Powerless against her growing desire for Connan, she is drawn deeper into family secrets. But though evil lurks in the shadows, so does love -- and the freedom to find a golden promise of forever . . .
Customer Reviews:
A man's perspective.......2005-07-23
Judged from a man's point of view, Mistress of Mellyn succeeds on a number of levels, most of them tied in with the "whodunnit" factor of the book.
It is almost as though Victoria Holt gave REBECCA a good read and then thought to herself, "Gee, I could take that same plot and make it much, much better." So some elements of the famous Daphne Du Maurier story repeat themselves here--the forbidding mansion, the sexy master of the house, the elderly servant mumbling gloomy, doleful advice like a Cornish version of Maria Ouspenskaya. You'd think that she (Holt) would have changed the setting a wee bit though, I mean move it away from the cliffs of Cornwall, for heaven's sake, you're just asking for comparisons!
And yet think of how different REBECCA would have been had Rebecca and Max de Winter had a little daughter! Which is pretty much what happens here. Little Alvean is sort of like Miles and Flora in Henry James' THE TURN OF THE SCREW, and Martha Leigh is a bit like the governess who worried about her charges so in James' 1890 novelette. When "Marty" first meets her and tries to find out what her lessons should be, the little girl is rude, disrespectful, and totally spoiled by having been allowed to run free. Plus her father's aristocratic snobbery towards the middle class has infected young Alvean so she feels no compunction about telling Martha that she doesn't have to listen to her.
The whodunnit aspect comes towards the end of a long and suspenseful story. The very last person in the world who you would suspect, turns out to be the killer, a mad monster whose actions seem incalculably cruel. Only later do you begin to piece it together and to feel even a little sympathy for the murderer, who was coming from a very tough place which Victoria Holt sketches out pretty well. Anyhow, I liked it, but I can see how if you read 50 of these books they would all start to seem the same.
** Well Worth Reading **.......2004-09-18
Martha Leigh is the central female character of this delightful story. The tale is told, mainly in the first person, with added dialogue.
After the death of their father, 20 year old Martha and her 18 year old sister Phillida, are taken to London by their aunt Adelaide, for 'a season'. At the end of that season Phillida had married, but after four years of living with her aunt, Martha still had not found a husband.
"There are two courses open to a gentlewoman when she finds herself in penurious circumstances ...." aunt Adelaide had said. "One is to marry, and the other to find a post in keeping with her gentility."
Thus, one of aunt Adelaide's friends suggests that Martha should become governess to Connan TreMellyn's daughter, Alvean.
Martha arrives at the house, Mount Mellyn, to find her employer is a cold imposing man, and his daughter is resentful towards her. The house itself is a 'cold brooding house on the Cornish cliffs'.
It was only Martha's growing love for Alvean and an unwilling attraction to Alvean's father that made her stay on and try to solve the mysteries which shrouded their lives.
What eventuates between Martha and Connan TreMellyn is a little predictable, however the journey towards the outcome is a delightful read; and, there is a wickedly surprising 'twist' at the end of the book (which I'm not going to spoil for you).
The book is very well written, and I found the characters very interesting.
The author of my copy of this title was Victoria Holt. This was one of the pseudonyms of Eleanor Alice Burford. After marrying she became Eleanor Alice Hibbert. Others she wrote under included Jean Plaidy, Ellalice Tate, Kathleen Kellow, Elbur Ford, Philippa Carr. She wrote almost 200 books under these names!
Her books are VERY addictive!
Sadly, most of her books are out of print at the date of this review. Some can be purchased on the Internet or from second-hand bookshops.
The First Victoria Holt to Read.......2003-09-23
This is the first Victoria Holt book that I read, and I think it was where I should have started. I have always liked the stories of Jane Eyre and Rebecca, so this one sounded interesting. It lived up to expectations. It is about a governess that finds out she is in much more than she bargained for. The house she is living in is filled with history and mystery. Her employer, with whom she falls in love, is very much the same. With twists and turns, and a huge surprize ending, this book is one you will remember for years to come.
Alice doesn't live here anymore..........2003-07-29
What happened to Alice, mistress of Mellyn? Was she just a high-class skank who ran off with philandering neighbor Geoffrey? And what is the mystery of the leper's squint?
This is a fine combination of "Jane Eyre" crossed with a dash of Du Maurier's "Rebecca." For a romance novel, a genre that I normally despise, this is quite a fine read. Victoria Holt (aka Jean Plaidy) knows how to keep her plots moving swiftly and her surprises juicy.
Fantastic reading.......2003-05-10
Don't listen the O'Brien review above, this book is far from "campy" (a pretentious term pretentious people use to justify reading romance and popular novels)...yes, this book does owe a lot to Jane Eyre I suppose but the vivid characters, chilling suspense and romance make this a treat you won't forget. Miss Holt proves herself to be a writer of enduring power and imagination. Nothing "campy" about that!
Product Description
7 massmarket paperback Titles By Victoria Holt - The India Fan - Devil on Horseback - Judass Kiss - Shadow of the Lynx - Captive - Mistress of Mellyn - Legend of the Seventh Virgin
Product Description
Victoria Holt is a pseudonym for Alice Hibbert (also has written under the name of Jean Plaidy and Phillipa Carr) ~ This, her first novel as Victoria Holt, the author establishes her interest in an issue that will inform all of the Holt novels and will become more pronounced through three decades, that is, the independence of women and their right to live a full life, one in which mind and heart are balanced.
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Mistress of Mellyn
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000F71C1O |
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mistress of mellyn
holt
Manufacturer: Fawcett Crest Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000FML9FI |
Product Description
The Famous Bestseller, part Jane Eyre, part Rebecca, a well-written and romantic book about a young woman challenged by the dangers of an old mansion deep in the duchy of Cornwall.
Book Description
An exciting and at times Hilarious confrontation between chaos and logic!
As the end of the twentieth century nears, an asteroid is hurtling toward Earth. When it hits, the impact will result in the end of all life on the planet.
Ambassador Spock travels back in time to subtly warn Earth's inhabitants of impending doom while calling into question humanity's priorities. However, before the truth is told, the all powerful being Q appears and reminds Spock that he is prohibited from interfering in Earth's history. Besides, Q doesn't see mankind as something worth saving.
This initial encounter between the two legendary characters explodes into a battle of wits as Spock cleverly befuddles Q with his own words. As barbs are exchanged, and humanity's laws and wonders are laid bare, Spock's logic just may convince Q that humans are indeed a species worthy of salvation, but will he be too late?
In Spock Vs. Q, Leonard Nimoy and John de Lancie again bring their characters to glorious life in the most lively and entertaining debate since Nixon vs. Kennedy. Recorded in front of a live audience, Spock Vs. Q is a stirring audio program that could only come from Alien Voices.
The Sequel
The battle of wits and logic is joined again!
Following their debate over the fate of mankind, Spock and Q continue their discussions over a meal. After dining, the two return to the stage to recount their repast, which included encounters with several of Spock's former shipmates.
However, at the moment the two verbal sparring partners shake hands, a power surge places them in total darkness. Suddenly, Spock and Q are no longer on stage, but somewhere in deep space.
As they struggle to determine what has happened, a curious personality change takes hold. Spock is overcome with giddy delight. Q is much more serious, even...logical.
Masterfully performed by Leonard Nimoy and John de Lancie, Star Trek® Spock vs. Q: The Sequel is a fascinating and often hilarious role reversal that reveals previously unknown sides of Spock and Q. It is a program so original it could only come from Alien Voices®.
Customer Reviews:
Absloutely Hilarious!.......2007-03-12
i just got my copy of this gift set and although i'm not a "trekker" nor a "trekkie", this set is still great to have. the verbal sparring between spock and q isn't one to be missed.all through out there were lessons about acheiving out fullest potential as human beings and doing good wherever we can.
i would definitely recommend this to all star trek fans.
Pure ST fun.......2007-01-02
This collection of two live performances is a lot of fun. In the first, "Spock vs. Q," Spock has come back in time to warn Earth of an impending disaster (an asteroid is about to strike the planet), but Q shows up to prevent him from altering the space-time continuum. In the second, "Spock vs. Q: The Sequel," Spock and Q have just returned from dinner when they are suddenly zapped out into space -- and have switched personalities.
Plotwise, the first CD is better than the second. The jokes wear a little thinner in the sequel, and while it's great hearing Spock laugh and joke, the gimmick only carries the narrative so far. In the first CD, the Spock/Q banter moves at such a fast pace that I found myself missing bits of cutting insults or inuendo or ST references. It was great.
Don't be fooled, however. These CDs are about much more than a few laughs and paper-thin plots. Like the best of Star Trek, these audio adventures are morality plays in disguise. Beyond the banter, these shows carry wonderful discussions (and messages) about humanity, love, the environment, charity, and even that often-taboo (within ST) subject of the divine.
This is a great collection, and a joy for any Star Trek fan.
Clever idea, but not that clever.......2006-02-28
I am a star trek fan from way back. I enjoyed listening to the CDs, but from a purist standpoint, Q couldn't lose to spock, and the overall presentation was not as captivating as I would hve liked. Worth a listen, but probably cheaper to buy for your ipod
Incredible performance.......2005-10-26
When I bought the "Star Trek: The Spock vs. Q Collection" I knew I was in for something special but what I didn't know was how special it was going to be. This collection is absolutely hillarious, both Nemoy and DeLancie are in great form and the interaction between the two is not to be missed.
Two masters at their craft.
The story itself is great and so is the writing, the dialog is intelligent and the delivery is fast pace, you can tell they were having a lot fun performing together.
As a bonus you get a cd with a short preview on the show, if the complete show is available on dvd please let me know I'd buy it in a second.
Also I recommend the other five cds recorded by Alien Voices, you won't be sorry.
Cool concept!.......2005-09-07
I wasn't exactly sure what I had purchased. Being a ST fan, I was merely intrigued by the title. I wasn't disappointed. These two plays seemed to be great fun for Leonard Nimoy and John de Lancie. They displayed a great, witty reparte that was, for Spock, somewhat emotional at times. It was great fun to listen to their arguments and wonder what an episode or two with Q and Kirk's crew would have been like. Afterall, since Q is immortal and omnipotent, that shouldn't have been a problem, right? Enjoy! I certainly did. It made a long road trip tolerable.
Customer Reviews:
Very thorough and balanced.......1999-08-15
It is a must for every christian, beginning with Pastors and so forth.
We must revisit the house that God built, and begin to lay upon it with the knowledge that all of our work will be tried!!
So build it right and it will stand.
God wants to focus us!.......1999-04-02
The Christian Church of the nineties is drowning in a flood of human ideas and programs to bring "God's dreams" to pass. Impatient to impress, we preach on television each week, and our radio programs air three times a day. We knock on every door in town, run full-page advertisements and take out full-color billboards across our country. Somehow we're missing the mark!
What if God were to take away from the Church everything He never told us to do?
God is solemnly calling us to enter the gates of His true house. It is here that we will discover--and learn to live out in practical ways--the spiritual order of the House that God built for David...and of the House that God is building in and with us!
Product Description
Story of Harvest house homeless shelter. A model for long-term sheltering for women and children in crisis.
Book Description
A complete story of God's house on Earth, past and future. This readable and entertaining discussion begins with the tabernacle of the wilderness and covers all of the temples: Solomon's, Herod's, the Tribulation Temple and the Millennial Temple. The past, present and future of the house of God on Earth are clearly explained. A vital and important part of God's plan, which should be understood by every Bible student.
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The house that God built
Sandra Finley Doran
Manufacturer: Pacific Press Pub. Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Baptist
| Protestantism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
New York
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0816306427 |
Books:
- War and Peace: 3-Volume Boxed Set (Everyman's Library (Cloth))
- Waterland
- Wild Thorns (Interlink World Fiction)
- X Out Of Wonderland
- 26a: A Novel (P.S.)
- A Dictionary of Maqiao
- A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812
- A River Sutra
- A Slipping-Down Life
- Adios Hemingway
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Albert Einstein: Out of My Later Years Through His Own Words
- The Gospel According to Jesus: What Does Jesus Mean When He Says, "Follow Me"
- On Being Told That Her Second Husband Has Taken His First Lover and Other Stories
- One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd
- Return of the Straight Dope
- Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your Add Child
- The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
- Royalty Revealed
- Reforming Capital Income Taxation
- America's Best: IndustryWeek's Guide to World-Class Manufacturing Plants
July, July: A Novel
Going After Cacciato
Northern Lights
If I Die in a Combat Zone : Box Me Up and Ship Me Home
In the Lake of the Woods
