Amazon.com
"Explain this to me: One minute there is a boy, a life thrumming with possibilities, and the next there are marked cars and strangers in uniform and the fractured whirling lights. And that, suddenly, is all the world has to offer." This is the voice of Ethan Learner, a college professor who has just watched his 10-year-old son, Josh, die in a hit-and-run accident on a silent Connecticut road.
John Burnham Schwartz's Bicycle Days (1989) received favorable reviews but seemed very much an autobiographical first novel. His second fiction, Reservation Road, however, is a book that resists genres: a tragedy where all the characters are flawed and none are entirely guilty; a thriller where the killer, Dwight, wants to be caught but is too laden with self-loathing to turn himself in; and an experimental novel where the narrative jumps gracefully among three perspectives.
In the opening pages Schwartz establishes strong connections between fathers and sons. Moments before the accident Ethan watches his son standing precariously close to the curb; he sees possibilities in Josh, a shy boy whose musical gifts indicate a sensitivity that is no less present, though more mature, in his father. At the same time, Dwight and his son, Sam (also 10), are rushing home from an extra-innings Red Sox game where Dwight tries to rebuild the fragments of attachment left after a bitter divorce. Schwartz reveals depth in simple gestures--a hand, for example, placed in a hand, only to be self-consciously pulled away. Dwight drives on after hitting Josh, though he slows in a moment of hesitation in which Ethan hears him calling "Sam" or "Sham"--he's not sure which. Out of grief, and with only scattered clues, Ethan begins his quiet pursuit of the killer, a pursuit that fuels the novel to its poetic conclusion. In Reservation Road, John Burnham Schwartz has crafted a lasting work of literature, a page-turner that's also a rich character study. --Patrick O'Kelley
Amazon.com Audiobook Review
Reservation Road is a chilling tale of the emotional fallout that follows the hit-and-run murder of a 10-year-old boy. Each chapter of this abridged version is read by one of three different narrators. Actor John Shea plays the part of Ethan Learner, a college professor who witnesses his son's death. Shea's methodical, melancholy tones accurately portray a man desperately searching for the unknown killer. Stanley Tucci (Deconstructing Harry) reads for Dwight Arno, a deeply damaged man who's torn between turning himself in for the crime and saving his own hide. Tucci's raspy and forthright delivery fits Arno's self-loathing nature. Despite his animated interactions with the other actors, Tucci's character is quite believable. Meanwhile, TV actress Anne Twomey reads the part of Grace, Ethan's wife. Her soft-spoken, deeply pained monologues give balance to a story that focuses primary on the emotions of two men. These distinct, varied tones swiftly carry the listener through this harrowing tale of murder, lies, and revenge. (Running time: three hours, two cassettes) --Gina Kaysen
Book Description
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
"A dark and irresistible miracle: a heartbreaking thriller."--Los Angeles Times
"Haunting. . . . A powerful and affecting novel."--The New York Times
A tragic accident sets in motion a cycle of violence and retribution in John Burnham Schwartz's riveting novel
Reservation Road. Two haunted men and their families are engulfed by the emotions surrounding an unexpected and horrendous death. Ethan, a respected professor of literature at a small New England college, is wracked by an obsession with revenge that threatens to tear his family apart. Dwight, a man at once fleeing his crime and hoping to get caught, wrestles with overwhelming guilt and his sense of obligation to his son. As these two men's lives unravel,
Reservation Road moves to its startling conclusion. This is an astonishing tale of love and loss, rage and redemption, that is as suspenseful as it is emotionally compelling.
"Thrums with suspense and moral ambiguity. . . . This is one of those rare--very rare--novels that you don't so much read as inhabit and that makes everyday life seem altogether mysterious." --Entertainment Weekly
"A triumph . . . character-driven as it is, it reads like a thriller, swift and complete."--The New York Times Book Review
Customer Reviews:
"I want to tell this right.....the car came from nowhere" .......2007-07-09
At the heart of this book, are two families, their children, their specific situation. For me, however, the part that held the deepest impact featured the two flawed fathers and their sons. Each father carries a load of guilt and shame, for varying reasons.
Their lives intersect one night, the night the car comes out of nowhere and something happens that no one expects. I KNOW this all sounds vague but I don't want to give much away about the plot but I DO want to say that the characters are so very, very believable that you simply have to know what happens next in the wake of tragedy, how their lives will be affected and what choices they make.
It will be interesting to see what they do with the movie version of this book (reputed to star Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning's siter) because the subject matter is often dark and painful. It is, of course, in the deep, tragic and unexpected challenges and losses in life where we are forced to question everything we believed we knew about the world - and what to expect.
At the heart of the book is the loss of a child and mostly how his father deals with that fact (he is divorced). Each character in this book has flaws but also heart, soul and substance (at least, I saw them this way).
If you want a cheerful, light read, you won't want pick up this book. If you are a parent (as I am) you may find it painful to get through. But I loved Blue Water (see link below), a book with a similar theme, and each book centers on issues of pain and forgiveness (or lack of it). It cuts to the core. If you are a parent or have lost a child and wonder about the nuances of grief and anger, redemption, forgiveness, etc...then this is a must read!
Also see:
Blue Water: A Novel
At the heart of this heartbreaking story lies one of the finest character studies I've read..........2007-05-26
When reading John Burnham Schwartz' novel `Reservation Road' I am brought to tears, to fears and to stark realizations about the lives we lead and the effect we have on the ones closest to us. Here Schwartz examines the aftereffects of a horrific accident and the subtle tears in the fabric of the lives involved. When Dwight Arno came speeding around a sharp turn on Reservation Road, all in an attempt to get his son back to his ex-wives house before she sent to police after him, he never could have imagined what lie in store for him. With a sudden scream emulating from the lungs of a father, much like himself, Dwight slammed into Josh Learner, a young boy of only ten. Panic stricken, Dwight leaves the scene.
From this point on (these are the first harrowing scenes in this novel) Schwartz takes us on a heartbreaking journey through the lives of the two families involved. The Learner household, husband Ethan, wife Grace and daughter Emma all deal with the death of Josh similarly, each of them blaming themselves and then each other as a way of coping. But cope is not something they may ever embrace. Dwight battles his conscience almost as much as he battles his ex-wife Ruth and her husband Norris, the two people who control his son and refuse to let go of a scarring incident, yet another accident, that rattled their lives in years past.
As the days, weeks and even months slip away the Learner family must come to grips with the idea that maybe they will never know the man responsible for the murder of their son, but as Dwight's world continues to unravel and his deep-rooted desire to be outed, to be punished builds stronger and stronger, almost uncontrollable, the end is inevitable and the reader is well aware that in moments everything is going to come crumbling to the ground.
What makes this a powerful and moving piece of literature is the fact that with each character, with each narrative, Schwartz delves into the mind and soul of these people, into their hearts and their motives and their being and creates characters that we can all relate to and pity. As the death of a son destroys a family, a marriage and a life no less ordinary than our own we can put ourselves in their shoes and understand their anger, frustration and dire straights. As the guilt of mistake after mistake haunt a man responsible for others pain we can understand why he's running, why he's afraid of losing everything he feels he's still working so hard to regain.
Ethan Learner, Dwight Arno & Grace Learner are just like you and me, and that is a feat in itself for the author to flesh out characters that feel so real. In fact, the only character I constantly felt distant from and detached was that of Ruth Wheldon, Dwight's ex. She appeared heartless and domineering when; to me at least, her husband's troubles are a direct result of her actions. My heart crushed for Dwight, as much as what he had done was a terrible crime and a travesty at that. That is why this is a mush read. It makes you think and the ending, as nerve racking and bone chilling as its anticipation becomes, will leave you breathless.
Worst book I have read in a year.......2007-05-13
I read this book because they were shooting the movie version across the street from my work in Stamford CT...After reading the book,I cannot believe they are making a movie. Basically, the parents of the boy who were killed let their kid stand in the street at night and a guy coming around the bend ran him over...the parents blame everyone except themselves for their kids death...If you get this book check it out at the library DO NOT WASTE your cash.
How does one get through it, survive?.......2006-09-30
John Burnham Schwartz's amazing novel "Reservation Road" is about survival. But, above all, it is about being alive when you really don't know the reason to keep up. His trio of main characters set adrift through the book's pages wondering why they are not dead when they can't find any good reason to be alive.
To go deep in really important issues, the writer blends a regular drama with a regular page-turner. The result is a devastating story about lost souls. And the fact that the book never fits the regular genre, makes the reading experience even more rewarding. Schwartz works with three different narrators (two of them are characters). The best quality of his prose is that each narrator has his own voice. Readers are able to find two fathers speaking for themselves - and that is convincing.
These two men are fathers who will be linked forever. Dwight killed Ethan's son in a hit and run accident. But, since he is so filled with self loath he isn't capable of turning in. On the other side we have the other father whose child is lost forever and he wants to know, at least who killed the boy. Revenge is not the point - nor is justice, as a matter of fact.
What "Reservation Road" does is to investigate the soul of these men and the women who are around them - specially Grace, Ethans's wife. For that, the writer avoids heavy metaphors and big literary tools. For him, less is more. For us it is more than a question of survival. As one character once asks herself, `How does one get through it, survive?'
WHAT GIVES WITH THE ENDING?.......2004-12-03
I really liked this book until the end when it all fell apart. It's as if the author didn't have any idea how to conclude what was an interesting read. The ending seems like it was written by someone other than the author. I still give it three stars for the originality of having different narrators tell their story.
Amazon.com
Some Arizona books have these large sections dotted off--the Indian reservations the authors think you needn't know about--but this book takes you there. It's informed, pragmatic, and refreshingly free of hype. The "Important Things to Know" chapter includes Navajo creation stories along with health precautions and how to buy a Navajo rug. From Four Corners National Monument to the Grand Canyon, Fran Kosik gives needed survival advice on motels, camping, restaurants (and gas stations, which aren't as plentiful as you may think), interspersed with scholarly archeological, geographical anthropological information, and sensitive attention to the people who still live there.
Book Description
This newly revised and updated guide provides all the essential information travelers need to explore the spectacular buttes and secret canyons of the Navajo and Hopi Nations (together they cover an area bigger that Maine). Native Roads is packed with detailed maps, points of interest, landmarks, and even tips on culturally sensitive etiquette. Here's where to find Navajo and Hopi hospitality in fine restaurants and lodgings, and also where to witness ancient cultures vibrantly alive in the modern world. 100 b/w photographs and illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Native Roads: The Complete Motoring Guide to the Navajo and Hopi Nations.......2007-05-15
If you are going to travel in this area, and DON'T want to get lost. Buy this book
NATIVE ROADS.......2006-11-02
THIS BOOK WAS VERY EASY TO USE AND SO VALUABLE IN "FINDING" PLACES TO VISIT. WE TRAVELED IN THE HOPI RESERVATION RECENTLY AND USED THIS BOOK. WE TOOK THE BOOK'S SUGGESTIONS ON TWO SPECIAL PLACES TO DRIVE OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND FOUND SPECTACULAR VIEWS. ONE SUGGESTION WAS TO DRIVE TOWARDS THE WINDMILL, WHICH WE DID AND WHAT WE SAW WAS UNBELIEVABLE. COAL MINE CANYON OPENED UP BEFORE OUR EYES - SURPRISING BEAUTY FOUND IN A SPECIAL RED AND WHITE CANYON. YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS THERE EXCEPT FOR THIS BOOK. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING AREAS LESS "TOURISTY".
An emphatic "must-have" for any tourist interested in visiting the Navajo and Hopi nations.......2005-08-05
Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, Native Roads: The Complete Motoring Guide To The Navajo And Hopi Nations by Fran Kosik continues to be the definitive travel planning guide for anyone seeking to visit and explore the reservations and hospitality of the Navajo and Hopi peoples. Maps, black-and-white photographs, cultural etiquette tips (for example, Hopis do not allow any photography), self-guided road tours, in-depth descriptions of various locations, and tips on everything from how to discern a well-woven rug to avoiding or dealing with common environmental hazards fill this extremely practical guide cover to cover. An emphatic "must-have" for any tourist interested in visiting the Navajo and Hopi nations for business or pleasure.
An absolute must for traveling the Navajo/Hopi reservations.......2004-06-18
A great book for the roads in the area, and best if you buy it beforehand for planning your trip, rather than buying it in a gift shop. It is divided up into sections of the major highways, and is easy to follow. The bits of historical information are interesting, and it will lead you to things you might not otherwise take a look at (or know to look for), including geological formations along the road. It also shows where services are available, including gas -- and in that big open country, that's a nice thing to know. The only downside is that it hasn't been updated since the mid-90's, but the only real changes are a few of the prices and hours of operation, along with the addition of a few hotels and amenities. Overall, a fantastic guide.
A great "Road" Book!.......1999-04-27
If you're going to travel in "Indian country" you need to keep this one in the front seat. Your companion can read while you drive. This book is recommended in the conclusion of The Native American Indian Artist Directory. Along with The Field Guide to Southwest Indian Arts and Crafts you can have a great adventure in the Southwest. Read Kosik and Hardeen's book first. Then read the Field Guide to learn about the art along the "Native Roads." Then open up The Native American Indian Artist Directory and find an address or phone number for the artist that interests you most and have a memorable experience!!
Product Description
Reposrt filed by s.W. Lamoreux, Commissioner. Hon. Hoke Smith, Secretary of the Interior. Some of the topics that are listed in the Index which is in the back of the book: Abandoned military reserations, Alaska surveys, Bounty-land business, California pirvate land claims., Cherokee Outlet, Decisions and rulings under the coal and mineral land laws, Decress of the Mexican Government to modify legislation in respect to the public lands received at the State Department. Forest Pries notices posted in regard to Michigan,Minnesorta andWisconsin. Florida-Secretary's decisions relatin to adjustment of swamp-land claims. . Mexican public lands, a decree by the Mexican Governemnt providing for the classification, grant and occupancy of. Mineral land laws,. the Las Vegas grant in New Mexico. Indian and miscellaneous Patents. Railroads right of way. reports of Surveyor-general of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada and more. and lots, lots more.
Average customer rating:
- A Look Back Into The Life of America's Largest Indian Tribe
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Before the Roads Were Paved Living with the Navajos at Canyon de Chelly (1950-1952)
Dorothy Cumming
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1552126625
Release Date: 2006-07-06 |
Book Description
It was on Columbus Day, October 12, 1950, that my husband and I joined the United States Indian Service and went to live with the Navajos in northern Arizona at Chinle, near the entrance to the famous Canyon de Chelly. We were just out of the University of Arizona, my husband with a degree in Range Ecology and I with a degree in Anthropology. And like Columbus, we sailed forth on uncharted seas to a new frontier and we arrived just in time because, although we didn't realize it, an era was dying. The last real American frontier, the frontier of cowboys and Indians, was passing, but we didn't stop to think about it as we were too busy living it. Every day was an adventure and life was good.
Yah te hey as the Navajos say, it was good.
In 1950 there were no paved roads on the twenty-four thousand square mile reservation. There were no motels, no restaurants, no movie theaters, and no supermarkets. In short, there were none of the so-called necessities of our civilization. But there were 24,000 square miles of open country of stark, rugged beauty, and here and there a hogan, a flock of sheep and goats, and once in a while, a trading post. Wagons and horses were the common method of transportation. It was three or four months sometimes before we got into a town and then we went only out of necessity. I didn't want to leave the reservation for too long as I was afraid that I might miss something while I was gone. We purchased our daily supplies at the local trading post and hoped we would not get sick as it was 40 miles to a mission doctor, if the road was open.
Now all that has changed. We left the reservation in 1962, after having spent ten years in three agencies with the Navajos and two years with the Hopis, whose reservation is surrounded by the larger Navajo reservation.
This book is dedicated to the Indians and to the personnel of the United States Indian Service, and it is told with the spirit of sharing - sharing an adventure with others who were not so fortunate as to have been there with us at the time.
Customer Reviews:
A Look Back Into The Life of America's Largest Indian Tribe.......2002-04-10
A rare glimpse of life among the Navajo Indians of fifty two years ago as seen by a young government wife who is also an anthropologist.
It is a delightful account of the Navajos she met, the school children she taught, the medicine men and the traders she encountered. And of the events she and her husband, a government range ecologist and cowboy participated in. Rodeos, voter registrations, cattle brandings and Navajo ceremonies and rides up Canyon de Chelly on horseback or in a government jeep.
Often she and her husband were the only white people present at these ocassions.
The book also has a favoraable review by Tony Hillerman on the publisher's website...
Average customer rating:
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Reservation Road
Schwartz
Manufacturer: Alfred A Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JFA98E |
Average customer rating:
|
Reservation Road
John Burnham Schwartz
Manufacturer: Books on Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: B000P07K6M |
Product Description
Two men and their families are engulfed by a horrendous death. Set in a small New England college, an obsession with revenge tears a family apart.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from American Antiquity, published by Society for American Archaeology on January 1, 1993. The length of the article is 469 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Excavations at Three Prehistoric Sites Along Pia Mesa Road, Zuni Indian Reservation, McKinley County, New Mexico.(Brief Article)
Author: Barbara J. Mills
Publication:
American Antiquity (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 1993
Publisher: Society for American Archaeology
Volume: v58
Issue: n1
Page: p181(2)
Article Type: Book Review, Brief Article
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
Extraordinary new talent Madeline Howard begins an epic trilogy of magic and power, hidden birthrights and prophecies, with The Hidden Stars, the first book of The Rune of Unmaking.
In a world devastated by a cataclysmic war between the wizards and mages, the Empress Ouri#225;na has seized the throne, proclaiming herself the Divine Incarnation of the Devouring Moon. Appointing twelve priests to perform her rites, she rules with a tight rein of evil sorcery. The priests, once men, have become twisted with magic, making them monstrous -- mutated. They bring destruction wherever they ride, and one kingdom after another falls, enslaved into darkness.
Yet signs and portents appear, puzzling the seers, and a tale begins to grow. A rumor of a young girl, talented and hidden, who is destined to end Ouri#225;na's tyrannous reign ... if she can survive long enough to do so. And so a brave band of wizards and heroes ride out in search of the hidden princess, pursued by the fury of the dark goddess herself.
Customer Reviews:
Hidden Stars.......2007-09-01
If one is looking to read a book and have the story come to some sort of closure by its end then this is not the book to read. It is however well written and the characters are well developed. I am very happy to say that it stays away from a rehash of the generic Tolkien story as so many fantasy novels tend to do. Still I think the cards are too stacked in the antagonists favor and one wonders how a conflict could last so long when the heroes opposition to said tyranny appears so weak in its magical form. Nice read when one was time to kill. I look forward to the next installment.
Pretty good for a start.......2007-01-24
I just finished reading this book a few days ago. Unfortunately when I started reading fantasy novels a few years ago, I started out with in my opinion is the best-written, most stylish, and most thought provoking (Goodkind, Tolkien of course, JK Rowling, and another new-comer Mitchell Graham.)
These writers not only created great stories, but also had style, and made you care about about the characters, made you feel what they were feeling. Lately I have had a difficult time finding a good fantasy story that I like, let alone one that I can even finish. I have tried getting into both Robert Jordan, and Terry Brooks starting with their first ever novels, but they both lacked the style and emotionally expressive writing that enthralls me and keeps me turning the pages. No matter how decent, original, or fast-paced a story is, it is nothing without style.
Meredith Howard has style, and she writes with emotion. In certain parts of her story, you could tell when she was very passionate about what was happening in her world she had created. Although the story may have been told hundreds, perhaps even thousands of times through other writer's voices, she definitely has great potential to be a solid fantasy writer. The Hidden Stars was not the best book I have ever read, (of course she's got some stiff competition), but it was still a fast-paced and entertaining read. The fact that I was able to easily finish this book, and not get past one hundred pages of some of the most notable writers' first novels really says something to me about her first attempt. I do hope she continues writing, as I think with a little more imagination, she definitely has the right voice to put out some outstanding work.
an excellent novel.......2006-05-27
a book steeped in the mythology of an invented world that is one of the best high fantasy book that I have read this year. Too many writers of fantasy maeke the fatal mistake of inventing a threadbare world that has little or no history ofits own and in such cases it becomes impossible for the reader to sufficiently believe in the imagined world. Fortunately this author manages to avoid this problem by creating a mythology and a history for her world that she reveals in tantalising bits that makes the reader feel like as if he or she is actually reading two stories simultaneously, the former being the strory blurbed in the back cover and the latter being the fascinating invented history of her fantasy universe.
An exquisite novel that in no way feels like a debut.
Very highly recommended
The Hidden Stars.......2006-04-04
I feel I should start this review by stating that I'm not as a rule a fan of this genre. This book however is quite an exception and has caused me to rethink my overall opinion. Perhaps, as a few others have stated many of the themes and the style aren't entirely original, but isn't that what makes a 'genre'?
The Hidden Stars by my estimation is an excellent novel, the writing is fluid, the scenes engrossing, the characters well established and constantly growing and evolving as they confront new obstacles. The writer draws you into this world with subtlety, piquing ones curiosity and causing one to linger over passages in an attempt to grasp the vivid imagery that she has spun. The depth and true individuality of each character inspires empathy and desire to see them through their quest.
Upon finishing this book, I briefly entertained the idea of hunting Madeline Howard down and 'persuading' her to relinquish the second installment of this trilogy in what ever state it might be to satiate my curiosity as to what happens next!
All in all, a very enjoyable read, with just the right amount of magic and otherworldly appeal. I look forward to her future works.
The Hidden Stars.......2006-04-02
Madeline Howard's debut fantasy novel is very impressive. She manages, within only about 400 pages (very short for a fantasy novel!) to create a foreign world, populate it with convincingly three-dimensional characters, and create the framework for a trilogy that promises to be the traditional epic fantasy we all know and love, with a twist of something indefinably new and clever to make it stand out.
Howard's characters are her greatest asset- here, her story-telling really shines. Her heroes are not always heroes, but often walk around with chips on their shoulders. Her villain is terrifying in the extreme, but has a truly sympathetic and honorable son. Her female characters are strong without being brats, and hold their own firmly in a cast of brilliant men.
Howard creates a world already steeped with hundreds, even thousands of years of history- all of it fascinating. She creates languages and cultures and gives all of these a sense of history, too. One can only imagine the amount of effort and work that went into making the background for this story, before delving into the plot itself.
The Hidden Stars is a book that would appeal to any fantasy lover- young adult or old adult :-) It promises a strong trilogy of books that are set in an engrossing world.
Average customer rating:
- Pro Wrestling: Manga Style!
- I am cooler than that loser who gave Whistle 3 stars! I rule
|
Ultimate Muscle, Volume 6 (Ultimate Muscle)
Manufacturer: VIZ Media LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1591166675 |
Book Description
Kid Muscle isn't anybody's idea of a hero. Lazy and cowardly, he's more interested in snacking than fighting. But he's also the son of legendary intergalactic wrestler King Muscle - and when evil threatens the galaxy, the Kid's true muscles bulge through! An gang of evil wrestlers called the DMP is trashing the Earth, squashing innocent citizens and laughing at all efforts to stop their reign of terror. Obviously, Kid Muscle has only one choice: organize a wrestling gang of his own to destroy the DMP and set things right. But before they can take on the DMP, Kid Muscle and his new partners must prove their mettle by defeating the most renowned fighters in the known universe. For Kid Muscle, that means taking down the one wrestler he never wanted to face in the ring: dear old Dad!
Customer Reviews:
Pro Wrestling: Manga Style!.......2005-05-04
If you were a kid in the mid 1980's, you might remember a series of small, rubber wrestling figures called M.U.S.C.L.E. What you might not konw, is those figures were inspired by a Japanese comic series called Kinnikuman ("Muscle Man"). The comic followed the life of Kinniku Suguru, as he went from a clumsy, inept super-hero to eventually becoming king of his home planet.
Now it's years later. The heroes of the old Kinnikuman have all become older and weaker. Now it is time for the second generation to step up. The (reluctant) leader of this new generation is Suguru's son, Montaro. Though Montaro hates fighting, he has inherited his father's "fire" and can call upon great power when he truly needs it. This power has earned Montaro the nickname of Kinnkuman Nisei ("Muscle Man the Second"; Kid Muscle in the US). Along with Terry the Kid (Terry "The Grand" Kenyon), Gazelleman (Dik Dik Van Dik), Seiuchin (Wally Tusket), and many more wacky wrestlers, Montaro must grow up and take on his father's role of protecting the earth.
Ultimate Muscle is filled with humor, many of it toilet related. One of the biggest running gags is Montaro's tendancy to wet himself when he gets scared! The wrestling itself is downright wacky as the wrestlers are able to pull off moves that are downright impossible in reality.
If you've ever been a wrestling fan and you love wacky humor, you'll love Ultimate Muscle.
I am cooler than that loser who gave Whistle 3 stars! I rule.......2004-11-28
Ultimate Muscle is about this little whimp Mantaro,who soon becomes one hell of a wrestler!It is hella funny and has a bunch of wrestling action.The funniest part is when Mantaro tells his dad to give him playmuscle.If you dont buy it ill kick your sorry ass(that means you guy who gave Whistle! 3 stars)
Amazon.com
Susan Spungen, the founding food editor of Martha Stewart Living, knows her cooking. Recipes, her collection of 100-plus formulas for home cooking, is deceptively unassuming; cooks at all levels of skill and sophistication will find it a source of superior, easy dish making--and instruction. Arranged by cooking techniques, the recipes include basics and old favorites like Pan-Seared Striped Bass, Rosemary Focaccia, and Herb-Crusted Lamb, as well as reworkings and "newer" dishes like Peanut Noodles with Mango, Baby Back Ribs with Coffee BBQ Sauce, and Pancetta Chicken with Lemon Fries. A section on sweets offers the tempting likes of Saucepan Brownies, Caramel Apple Tart, and Lemon Curd Cheesecake. Spungen's accomplishment is to provide a well chosen collection that readers will turn to again and again. Her small volume is thus more useful than many of its larger cousins, which seem overdone by comparison. Spungen's stint at the magazine has also undoubtedly attuned her to the importance of the visual, and each recipe is accompanied by a color photo of the dish in all its simple glory. With a forward by the very Martha herself, the book deserves wide kitchen circulation. --Arthur Boehm
Book Description
Recipes. Cooking all comes down to the recipes -- those ingredient-by-ingredient, technique-by-technique, step-by-step instructions.
In
Recipes,
Susan Spungen, founding food editor and editorial director for food at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia for twelve years, presents her own easy, unfettered ideas for cooking simple food rich with freshness and flavors to share with family and friends.
Recipes is organized by technique, explaining why sautéing is great for two or four but when feeding a crowd braising is the better choice. "Prepare" focuses on the basics, from making a vinaigrette to roasting garlic and peppers. "Chop" includes not just salads, but gazpacho and a Provençal sandwich that requires knife skills. "Sauté" explains how to pan-sear fish and make a layered omelet. "Grill" shows proper techniques for cooking scallops, asparagus, and steak over an open fire. "Roast" offers the perfect roast chicken and a roasted squash salad. "Bake" features a variety of pizzas as well as mushrooms baked in parchment paper. "Simmer and Braise" coaxes the most flavors from soups and lamb shanks. Finally, there's "Indulge," a selection of desserts from simple brownies and peach melba to a fruit crisp and a rich chocolate cake.
Susan believes that one of the most pleasurable parts of a meal should be the making of it.
Recipes encourages home cooks to become confident cooks.
Customer Reviews:
Refresh Your Receipe Collection.......2006-07-03
Many flavorful and some simple to prepare meals for the new or bored cook who needs some fresh ideas. She includes excellent versions and variations on classics, The directions for food preparation are clear and complete.
Excellent Essays on Familiar Recipes, Beautifully Packaged.......2006-02-08
`RECIPES, a collection for the modern cook' by former `Martha Stewart Living' Editorial Director for food and entertaining, Susan Spungen is the answer to my question over what Miss Susan was doing with herself since her name disappeared from the `Martha Stewart Living' masthead. Miss Spungen was one of the very few `Martha Stewart' staffers who commonly appeared on `In Martha's Kitchen' when it ran on the Food Network before Ms. Martha went into the slammer. Since Ms. Spungen was obviously had talent in converting information about food into good magazine features, I expected her name to pop up somewheres. Well, here it is, as the author of a book with either the most unoriginal or the most clever of titles for a cookbook since Apicius.
Spungen was the very first person to hold the food / entertaining lead at `Martha Stewart Living', so it is reasonable to believe she had a lot to do in creating the style of the magazine article and book writing and design, especially as Ms. Spungen's first vocation was that of an artist and visual design student who was lured into the culinary world by part time jobs, leading to a pastry chef under Mark Strassman at Pino Luongo's `Coco Pazzo'.
Whenever I open a general `celebrity chef / author' cookbook with no more than about 120 recipes, I really expect something unique in order for me to distinguish it from the 100 or more other books I have reviewed with roughly the same description. What is it about these 120 recipes which make them better than all those other books' versions of many of the same dishes.
The tidbit I find here which sets it apart from many other books is the fact that many of the things I really respect about `Martha Stewart Living' cookbooks really come from Spungen's approach to culinary writing. Spungen says she likes to leave nothing to the imagination when it comes to describing a culinary technique in words and pictures. And, this approach is certainly one of the strongest aspects of the latest `Martha Stewart Handbook of Baking'. Every last little detail is conveyed in both words and pictures. But, does this little insight deserve laying out cash for this book?
Spungen's organizing concept for her `RECIPES' is much more than this simple title would let on. Her chapters are all organized around seven of the most basic kitchen techniques, which are `Prepare', `Chop', `Saute', `Grill', `Roast', `Bake' and `Simmer & Braise' plus a dessert chapter, `Indulge'. After this great notion, I think Ms. Spungen seems to loose her way a bit in saying these are recipes for the `modern cook'. For the `modern' cook, I would expect a heavy emphasis on either high nutrition and low weight gaining potential or quick recipes. But then, following one of these two strategies would lead her into competition with people who do this for a living. So, the modern concept is a rather weakly conceived `new comfort food' notion.
Looking at the recipes, one really gets the sense of Spungen's revisiting a lot of traditional and familiar recipes all done with a little twist, much the same way that a new artist may approach the `Lord of the Rings' characters in a new way on the yearly calendar inspired by Tolkien characters, which has been done regularly by many different artists over the last 40 or so years. We have, for example, a new take on string beans and tomatoes, which is a familiar recipe written up by Paula Wolfert, and which has been done over by everyone from Mark Bittman to Rachael Ray to Susan Spungen, and everyone in between. We also have a new version of the even more familiar Caprese salad of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, with the twist of making it with grilled tomatoes and warmed cheese.
Even the desserts all seem to have a familiar look about them. Peach Melba, cheesecake with lemon curd, and a rhubarb and strawberry crumble can be found in dozens of different books. In general, Ms. Spungen is not even overly fussy with her techniques. One great watershed in technique is whether or not you go for springform pans when you make cheesecake. My favorite culinary nerd, Alton Brown, and several very serious culinary writers warn against the springform pans, but many others use them with no excuses. Ms. Spungen uses the springform pan, but follows almost all the other cautions regarding cheesecake making, such as using a water bath and letting it rest in the fridge for several hours before attacking it with a knife.
While I found virtually all of Ms. Spungen's expositions on basics sound and fairly informative, they were mostly essays in the already known. The recipe for vinaigrette, for example, I think was done much better in a `Martha Stewart Living' Vinaigrettes 101 article, probably written by Ms. Spungen herself.
I rather like Susan's introduction on kitchen tools. There is nothing dramatic here, simply a fair amount of good advice on a nice, albeit not complete set of basics and gadgets. One of the book's strongest points is the fact that it is laid out very nicely.
This is the kind of book which is good for either people with very few cookbooks who need some good recipes by someone who explains things well, or people like me who happen to collect cookbooks and relish that one new idea or recipe which makes the whole book worthwhile.
This is a very good book. It has many nice twists, but they are mostly twists on familiar themes. I have already made several dishes from this book but I am most looking forward to the Provencal Layered Omelet on page 62!
It's a keeper, but ...get out your magnifying glass!.......2006-01-27
This book has received quite a bit of high praise (NY Times gave it a glowing review) and it's easy to understand why: the book itself is beautiful and the recipes are fresh, really delicious and not too complicated. It is readily apparent that Ms Spungen was once an employee of Martha Stewart, as aside from Martha penning the book's forward, you can see the "MS Esthetic" throughout the book. This unfortunately includes a typeface that is really too small and it makes the book a tough read. I assume that I'm like most people in that I read a recipe carefully (OK, sort of carefully) before cooking and then refer back to it a dozen times on the fly while in the kitchen. (And no, I'm not yet of an age where I need reading glasses!) But having to stop and fumble around until I can read detracts from all the book has to offer. That said, this is one of those cookbooks that makes a terrific wedding shower gift or housewarming gift to someone in their first apartment: the recipes will become workhorses in anyone's repertoire, but while you're at it buy them a magnifying glass too.
Simply Splendid.......2005-11-30
Susan Spungen has penned a wonderful and clever collection of recipes in her new solo book effort. Her inventive way of catagorizing the recipes along with the beautiful photography makes this a useful and very inspiring book.
Her professional pedigree is clearly excellent, but it is her creative and artistic eye, her user friendly directions and clear discriptions that make this one a keeper. I look forward to her next book!
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