Book Description
"Some of the most beautiful writing in contemporary American literature is between the covers of this book . . ." BOSTON HERALD
The triumphant collection of short stories by America's most acclaimed novelist.
Customer Reviews:
Incredible!.......2006-03-28
This is an incredible book, which features many of Updike's earlier stories. The title story is amazing in its meaning and moral complexity. FIVE STARS!!!
Is there a better book of stories anywhere?.......2004-03-08
If there is, you have my attention. Maybe Isaac Babel's Collected Stories or Fitzgerald's Selected Stories. I've been writing for 27 years; I may have written three sentences that compare with the average in an Updike story. In "Flight" he captures in several sentences more about family than I've discovered through an entire life. Sorry for being self-referential; it's a measure of my awe. Updike's magic is that he can tell a story in a single sentence. If you only know Updike through his novels, you're in for a treat. By my lights, this is the greatest living story writer and this is the book that made that clear.
short stories.......2003-12-07
Good short stories from thr great Updike. Each one uniqely different.
Top of his craft.......2002-01-22
I'm a budding short story writer, myself; and no course, no workshop, no amount of instruction can subsitute for the lessons one learns leafing through and ingesting these exquisite paragraphs of John Updike. I find myself, in this volume, more than other Updike works, reading and re-reading the prose, even emailing sections to friends. Like a fine restaurant I want to tell people about, like a band that plays exceptionally well live which you get to catch on a great night, Updike, here, is "on"; he is at the absolute peak of his craft. I only wish there were more collections of short stories written as well as these.
To Discover it again..........2001-11-14
There is little, if anything, one is able to say that can possibly capture the beauty or majesty of a great Updike story. The gentle yet exact measure of his sentences, the bewilderingly complex yet infinitely fluid (and eventually near-epiphanic) weaving of narratives, his control of internal characterization--few are masters in the manner that John Updike is a master.
And this volume contains his greatest story--possibly what I feel to be the greatest piece of literature in all of latter-half 20th century American literature (and we're including it all here, not just short stories). The last story of the volume: Packed Dirt, Churchgoing, A Dying Car, A Traded Car.
Enough with the theoretics and generalities here. This story can change your life. Or, at the very least, it can alter the way in which you interact with literature--what you can expect out of literature.
One piece of advice, though: read it in one sitting.
Seriously.
Don't get up, even just for a little while to fix something to eat. Don't read it bit by bit (it's long, so you may be tempted). And, whatever you do, don't look at the last page before it's time.
It may seem disjointed. It may seem an odd accumulation of narratives. Don't stop reading.
Two years, and a hundred readings later, I still haven't gotten over that first experience. What I wouldn't give to have it again...
Book Description
New York Times Bestselling author Barbara Dawson Smith returns with another enchanting, unforgettable novel featuring the beloved Kenyon family....One Wild NightI have always taken pride in my bad reputation. Polite society viewed me as depraved and utterly dissolute, for I was a disciple of passion. Pleasure was my hallmark, women my pastime. That is, before the incomparable Lady Charlotte Quinton disrupted my life--again.Due to a scandal of her own making, she had been banished from home for five years. Apparently she decided that a life of boring respectability was the key to her happiness. We might have continued down our divergent paths if not for a vicious attack on our families.Tracking a dangerous criminal occupied my time, but the tart-tongued spinster Lady Charlotte occupied my mind--and my desires. Certainly no other woman in London was immune to my charms. Yet the more Charlotte spurned me, the more I vowed to have her. After all, I can resist anything but temptation.... The Memoirs of A Rake by Brand Villiers, fifth Earl of Faversham
Customer Reviews:
A Good Read!.......2004-04-24
Barbara Dawson Smith is one of my favorite writers and this is another entertaining romantic book. Not her best but definitely worth reading. Charlotte and Brand are interesting likable characters and the love story is sweet.
Sort of creepy.......2004-01-04
I didn't like this book at all. The hero(and I use that term loosely) sort of creeped me out. Some of the stuff that happened between he and the heroine was when she was 13! He just wasn't hero material. Brand just seemed concerned with what he wanted. Charlotte was sort of weak, too. I loved Too Wicked to Wed. That book had excellent characters and didn't leave me feeling yucky. I hope Dawson Smith's next novel harkens back to her earlier, better ones.
an engaging read inspite of certain plot "niggles".......2003-09-05
When Lady Charlotte Quinton receives news that her grandmother and her grandmother's two closest friends (affectionately known as the Rosebuds) were involved in a near fatal carriage accident, she immediately leaves her secluded Yorkshire home and makes for London -- or more exactly for Brand Villers, the fifth Earl of Faversham (and her bete noire)'s London house. (Readers familiar with the Kenyon brother/Rosebud series may remember Charlotte as the spoilt anti-heroine from "Romancing the Rogue"). But if being in the same room as Brand is enough to threaten Charlotte with a fit of the megrims, the knowledge that someone is out to harm the Rosebuds will definitely do it. Which according to Brand, is exactly what may have happened.
Someone has been killing off the notorious members of now disbanded Lucifer League over the past couple of months. And Brand, once a member of that club, has been trying to discover who may be behind the murders. His fear is that someone may have struck out at the Rosebuds because of his investigation and because the Rosebud themselves had a hand in causing the Lucifer League to disband. It is Brand's contention that one of the members of the League is trying to bury his past association with the league.
Charlotte of course wants to help Brand discover the identity of the murderer and help protect the Rosebuds. But Brand is still suspicious of Charlotte. He doesn't think that she's changed at all and still sees her as the bitter and troublesome young lady she used to be. Never mind that Charlotte seems to inspire a lot of lustful thoughts in him! (Obviously that just proves that she's trouble!) But Charlotte refuses to standby and wait for someone to try and get to the Rosebuds again, and she determined to help Brand with his investigation. (Hence her decision to agree to pose as Brand's mistress. Now why would a young woman who wants to marry and have children decide to do the one thing that would put an end to her dreams of a respectable marriage?) Will Charlotte be able to persuade Brand to accept her help and will she be able to cope with the reawakening of her desire (so long repressed) for him? Especially since he seems to feel nothing but contempt for her?
The plot premise of "One Wild Night" was a rather good one -- the interweaving of a romance subplot between two people who are reluctantly attracted to each other and who are constantly at daggers drawn, with a hunt for an elusive and dangerous murderer. I also found the heroine of the novel, Lady Charlotte Quinton really engaging, and thought that the authour had done a wonderful job of redeeming the previously unlikable Lady Charlotte, and showing us just how much this character had changed for the better. The hero, Brand Villers, unfortunately, left a lot to be desired. Unlike Charlotte, Brand had not matured with time, and he came across as being completely immature, spoilt and a little too obsessed with his desires and needs. Yes, he's had his share of hard knocks, but unlike Charlotte, he also seems to have chosen to sink rather than to turn his life around and do some good. He also spent for too much time thinking about how it would feel to bed Charlotte, in spite of her shrewish ways, and not a lot time following up investigative leads. Which leads me to my other "niggle" -- for someone determined to discover who the murderer actually was, Brand was a really poor detective. Getting Charlotte alone in some dark corner and keeping her away from other gentlemen seemed to be his main objective. And because the investigative subplot was not that well developed, the sense of suspense and urgency was not always there, thus making "One Wild Night" not that exciting a read.
On the other hand, if you're a fan of the Rosebud series and enjoy the interconnecting story arcs, then "One Wild Night" will prove to be an enjoyable read -- just perhaps not a 5 star one.
exhilarating amateur sleuth historical romance.......2003-09-04
After five years of self-imposed exile following the failed attempt to steal a fiancé of a friend, Charlotte Quinton visits her injured grandma hurt in a coach accident. Two other members of the senior citizen Rosebuds were also injured. The visit is not easy for Charlotte because her grandma convalesces in the home of Brad Villiers, whose relative is one of those hurt. Sixteen years ago she threw herself at him and he rejected her and her friend is his stepsister.
Brad investigates the accident as he feels that it was deliberate tying back to someone killing the members of the disbanded Lucifer Club. The Rosebuds were witnesses to the end of the club so are possible murder victims. Charlotte reaches the same conclusion and begins her own inquiries until Brad brings her into his. As they work close together, they fall in love, but an unknown assailant wants Brad dead or at least accused of murder by Bow St. and only Charlotte can save him at risk to her own life.
Barbara Dawson Smith is becoming very well known for her exciting Regency romance novels such as ONCE UPON A SCANDAL and HER SECRET AFFAIR. Her latest tale, ONE WILD NIGHT, is an exhilarating amateur sleuth historical romance starring two delightful lead protagonists and the charming Rosebuds. Though the hero's holier than thou ethics towards the heroine come across hypocritical when his indiscretions come to light, readers will appreciate this solid historical suspense.
Harriet Klausner
Product Description
Wild Women: A virgin with an outrageous to-do list hires a reluctant Prince Charming to help her live a whole lifetime in one short week. Too bad he's not interested in starred item No. 12: A one-night stand. Throw in a serial killer, a U.S. Marshal out for revenge, a hoodlum seeking redemption, and a family secret about to be exposed...and you've got wild times, wild rides, and most of all, wild women. Wild Horses: After discovering a slaughtered band of horses and a woman left for dead, an embittered ex-cop wants to investigate the crime and be left alone. He will risk his solitude, his heart, and possibly his life to catch a killer, but can he find forgiveness for his own past sins?
Customer Reviews:
From Back Cover.......2005-02-13
UNFORGETTABLE! On New Year's Eve, Travis Whelan came home to Royal and found himself face-to-face with Natalie Perez, the one woman he couldn't forget... and the baby he hadn't known about. It had been nearly a year since Trav had spent the night in Natalie's arms, a year since his secrets and her pride had torn them apart. Still, the memories of the night they'd shared burned hot. But danger had followed Natalie to Royal, and Trav was the only one she trusted to keep their daughter safe from harm. Would recalling the love they had shared help them to put aside the past and create a future for their family?
3rd in the Texas Cattleman's Club - The Stolen Baby series.
A sexy Texas man and a beautiful amnesiac.......2004-01-22
The third book in the Texas Cattleman's series, REMEMBERING ONE WILD NIGHT by author Kathie DeNosky is outstanding. If you've been reading the series and enjoying it, then don't miss this story.
It was New Year's Eve and all Travis Whelan wants is to drink a beer, shower and go to bed. Yet when he arrives home in Royal, Travis is summoned to Daniel Sorrenson's house to meet Jane Doe. It's quite a shock for Travis when he recognizes Jane as Natalie Perez, the woman he'd had an affair with almost a year ago. But, that's not all the surprises Travis is in for. You see Natalie has a beautiful baby girl named Autumn who just happens to be Travis's daughter.
When Natalie sees the tall, dark, and handsome stranger come through the door everything comes flooding back. He's Travis Whelan, the man whom she fell in love with and the man who broke her heart. Natalie discovered that Travis had lied about his identity and the fact that he was a wealthy man. But, one thing Natalie knows for sure; Travis will protect her and Autumn with his life.
Though Natalie regains only some of her memories, there are still some things that are fuzzy. Like who attacked her and tried to take her baby and why. Flashes of memory, hands reaching out to take Autumn haunt Natalie. Why can't she remember and why does she get all queasy when someone mentions doctors and hospitals? With the help of his friends, Travis plans to uncover whatever is going on and keep Natalie and their daughter safe. he still can't believe he's a father and is angry over the fact that Natalie never told him. Her prejudiced attitude against rich people could have something to do with her keeping him in the dark.
REMEMBERING ONE WILD NIGHT starts off with a bang and just keeps them coming. Travis and Natalie are intriguing characters with some history, not to mention a daughter. I loved watching their interaction, both of them fighting the strong sexual pull they felt each time they were together. And let's not forget Autumn. Now that little girl would steal anyone's heart including her daddy. Interlaced in this sparkling romance is a thread of danger woven into the story perfectly. Why did someone try to kill Natalie and take her child? Can Travis find out before it all comes to a head?
Author Kathie DeNosky proves once again why she is a fast growing commodity in the world of romance. REMEMBERING ONE WILD NIGHT with its multifaceted characters, fast paced story, and passion on every page is definitely one for the keepers shelf. I look forward to the next installment of the Texas Cattleman's series but more importantly I can't wait for Ms. DeNosky's next book.
Average customer rating:
- One Night
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- One Night
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One Night
Margaret Wild
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Jinx
ASIN: 0553494341
Release Date: 2006-08-08 |
Book Description
Gabe is the best looking guy in school—that’s why his friends send him to get girls to their party. Helen is not much to look at—that’s why her friends want her to come along. But Helen gets under Gabe’s skin in a way no other girl has.
It was one night. One night with lasting consequences. Now Helen has to decide if she wants to keep the baby—and if she should tell Gabe, who hasn’t spoken to her since their one night together.
Filled with love, fear, and the tough choices born of casual acts, One Night is a passionate and compellingly readable novel about teen life, the hardships of parenthood—and the joy and forgiveness between family and friends.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
One Night.......2006-09-28
Gabe is bored with the typical girls he's always with and wants something more. When he meets Helen he finally finds a girl who doesn't just see his pretty looks and wants to know the real him. But after one night together he ignores her and refuses to answer her phone calls.
Helen is pregnant. Her parents kicked her out and Gabe wont answer the phone. She doesn't know what to do, but she will do anything to keep her baby.
One Night is a great story. It's written in poems and it's a pretty quick read. I recommend it to anyone.
Amazing.......2005-07-28
This was an amazing book. It was so original, I've never read anything like it. I especially liked how the story was in poem form.
Beautiful.......2005-06-06
Gabe is a brash teenage guy who steadfastly ignores the pain of his past and seemingly lives only to toy with girls at parties. Helen is a serious, smart girl who wants to be a plastic surgeon and is uncomfortably aware of her previously deformed face. By chance, the two meet at a party that Helen reluctantly went to with a friend. Somehow, Helen and Gabe connect emotionally in an almost magical way and she is pregnant before the night is over. Helen is forced to deal with a life that changes each day in frightening and awe-inspiring ways.
Yes, this book is written in free verse. But as someone who usually shuns poetry, I can say that this style resulted in some of the most mind-blowingly moving images I have ever encountered in a novel. "One Night" is a quick read, composed of many one-or two paged poems that are each meant to chronicle a particular event or feeling in the lives of Helen, Gabe, and those connected to the two main characters. The poems vary in length, yet Wild writes them in such a way as to make every single word count. With surprisingly few words, she captures Gabe's desolation, Helen's powerful spirit, the upheaval the pregnancy causes, and the pain of labor. Wild is able to write in a way that will keep teens reading, but also to express controversial issues and wrenching emotions in ways that would make great authors proud. This is one of those books that you "travel" through with a racing heart, wanting to absorb every word of each poem, yet rushing ahead to find the next stunning line from this author's pen. With its simplicity yet depth and its hopeful ending, "One Night" is a book that will leave an impression.
One Night.......2004-10-13
Helens life is forever changed the night she meets beautifull and charming Gabe. Although her face is disfigured, Gabe falls for her, the way he has fallen for so many before. This novel in verse lets you look into the life of Gabe and Helen, and leads you though her pregnany, and then finally to the birth of her son, Raphael. Each and every poem is beautifully phrased, and is remarkaley touching. An excellent follow up to JINX, although in my opinion not quiet as good.
Average customer rating:
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One Wild Night
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739436910 |
Book Description
The second of a planned 10 volumes that will reprint all Sturgeon's short fiction covers his prolific output during 1940 and 1941, after which he suffered five years of writer's block. Showcasing Sturgeon's early penchant for fantasy, the first six selections include whimsical ghost stories, such as "Cargo," in which a World War II munitions freighter is commandeered by invisible, peace-loving fairies. With the publication of his enduring SF classic, "Microcosmic God," Sturgeon finally found his voice, combining literate, sharp-edged prose with fascinating speculative science while recounting the power struggle between a brilliant scientist, who creates his own miniature race of gadget makers, and his greedy banker. Voice found or not, every one of the stories here is readable and entertaining today because of Sturgeon's singular gifts for clever turns of phrase and compelling narrative. As Samuel R. Delaney emphasizes in an insightful introduction, Sturgeon was the single most influential SF writer from the 1940s through the 1960s.
Customer Reviews:
Now he's hit his stride.......2000-03-24
In this volume Sturgeon is beginning to hit his stride. Some of these are among the best short stories in SF (e.g. Microcosmic God, Shottle Bop).
In the earlier stories, Sturgeon was still trying to find his ideal voice. Much of the prose was forced, and some rather simple plot devices (especially irony) were common. In this volume, though, he is coming into his own.
Brilliant!.......1999-06-07
The best part of this collection is that he only got better later . . . this is only the second volume and just about every story here is a keeper and the really great ones will stick in your head forever. "The Microcosmic God", "Cargo", "Jumper" and all that type are nothing less than entertaining and at the same time showing you Sturgeon's highly sensative glimpses into the human heart. This guy cared about everyone and understood what made people tick, while some of his stuff might be considered formulaic still at this point, he can't be a genius everytime out and seeing everything in the proper order and context allows you to see his evolution. This entire ten volume series is a blessing, there aren't many writers who we get the chance to see them develop and there aren't that many who deserve this chance, all in all Sturgeon is at the top of the list. Cheers to whoever thought of this idea. Make sure these always stay in print!
One of the all-time best short stories!.......1998-11-28
Okay, I have never read this book, but I would like to comment on the short story, Microcosmic God as it has always been one of my favorites. My dad told it as a bed time story when I was younger and I've actually read it several times since then. The story involves a brilliant scientist named Kidder, who has absorbed the sum total of man's knowledge and is frustrated by the fact that he will not live long enough to witness future breakthroughs in technology. The logical solution of course, is for him to create his own race of beings (called Neoterics), with a faster metabolism and shorter lifespan (about 12 days, I think), so that he can observe their evolution and eventually learn from their discoveries. It is truly amazing that Sturgeon is able to pull off this level of scientific arrogance in a realitively succinct and believable manner (after all it is a SHORT story). Can the creation of intelligent life possibly be so simple? Hardly, but I was willing to swallow the premise, because the idea is fascinating and I truly wanted to know how it would turn out. I can easily understand why Kidder would go to such lengths in order to glimpse the future of mankind. Of course, the story also includes an evil banker, Conant, who wants to exploit Kidder's inventions (such as a pill that cures the common cold) for profit, but by far the most absorbing aspect of the plot is the Neoterics themselves. Kidder keeps them in a large covered atrium (they are extremely small) and observes them through a magnifier. While human rights activists would obviously protest Kidder's treatment of the Neoterics (in one instance he lowers the roof of the atrium steadily over a period of time, causing widespead distruction and panic, and waits for them to create a support system out of tinfoil) one can't help being impressed by their resourcefulness and the collective way they respond to every threat. Kidder creates a written language for the Neoterics and begins communicating w/them. It is soon apparent that they believe him to be God. I don't want to ruin the outcome of the story, but I would definitely recommend this as a quick read for anyone, not just science fiction lovers. It explores the themes of faith and mortality in very original way.
Book Description
Teach Yourself Hinduism is an easy-to-comprehend introduction to this ancient religion. Although it is the third largest religion in the world and boasts hundreds of millions of followers, many of us in the West remain unfamiliar with what it means to be Hindu. Here readers will find out about the religion's origins, beliefs, culture, and more.
Customer Reviews:
Well Written.......2003-12-31
This was one of the first books that I read about Hinduism and feel that after reading it I understand more about the religion. It's organized, simple to understand, and key ideas are mentioned over and over again. There's sections devoted to Hindu rituals in the temple and at home, the religious texts, India's history, etc. The only problem I have with it is that in some chapters Indian culture seems to be confused with Hinduism itself. For example in one chapter it says that Hindus accept abortion, yet later on it says that traditionally abortion was one of the biggest sins in Hinduism. I understand that in many religions culture gets confused with what's actually in the religious texts. I think that the author could have done a better job clarifying that. Overall I found this book to be a very good introduction.
Excellent Guide to Hinduism !!.......2001-04-24
This book is simple and descriptive. I am a Hindu and I live in the United States. Several Americans have questioned me about my religion and sometimes I used to have a hard time explaining my answers. This book helped me to explain myself in a comprehensive way.
The book provides everday examples of rituals, traditions and ceremonies which are a day-to-day routine in an Hindu household.
In addition, the book describes the basic principles of Hinduism and the origin of these principles.
An added bonus is the role of society and the way relationships play an important role in a Hindu family.
An excellent read for Hindus and non-Hindus.
Books:
- Rabbit Novels Vol. 2
- River of Darkness: A Novel of Suspense
- Roald Dahl's Even More Revolting Recipes
- Salome of the Tenements (Radical Novel Reconsidered)
- Savage Run
- Schopenhauer's Telescope: A Novel
- Seeing Calvin Coolidge in a Dream: A Novel
- Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord
- Something Rising (Light and Swift): A Novel
- Somewhere a Song (Daughters of Fortune #2)
Books Index
Books Home
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- National Email and Fax Directory
The Early Stories: 1953-1975
Licks of Love: Short Stories and a Sequel, "Rabbit Remembered"
Self-Consciousness
Month of Sundays
Couples
