Paper Trails: True Stories of Confusion, Mindless Violence, and Forbidden Desires, a Surprising Number of Which Are Not About Marriage

Book Description

In the 1970s and 1980s, before he earned national acclaim for his award-winning novels, Pete Dexter was a newspaper columnist. Every week, in a few hundred words, Dexter cut directly to the heart of the American character at a time of national turmoil and crucial change. With haunting urgency, his columns laid bare the violence, hypocrisy, and desperation he saw on the streets of Philadelphia and in the places he visited across the country. But he reveled, too, in the lighter side of his own life, sharing scenes with the indefatigable Mrs. Dexter, their young daughter, and a series of unforgettable creatures who strayed into their lives. No matter what caught Dexter's eye, it was illuminated by his dark, brilliant humor.

Collected here for the first time are eighty-two of the best of those spellbinding, finely wrought pieces—with a new introduction by the author—assembled by Rob Fleder, editor of the bestselling Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary Book. Paper Trails is searing, heart-breaking, and irresistibly funny, sometimes all at once. As Pete Hamill says in his foreword, these essays "are as good as it ever gets."

Customer Reviews:

Pete Dexter can WRITE!.......2007-04-06

Boy is Pete Dexter a good writer. This collection of his columns from, among others, the Sacramento Bee and the Philadelphia Inquirer are occasionally a little dark, but never boring, and cover a wide array of subjects. If you've never read Pete Dexter, you should, and this is a good way to get your feet wet; that being said, his novels are not to be missed.

Biting.......2007-04-05

Dexter's stories about life in America may be the most inciteful observations being written today. Spellbinding prose.

Brilliant, fun, sad, poignant ..........2007-03-15

Dexter is truly one of America's greatest writers ... this collection is impossible to put down. If the first piece doesn't grab your heart, you don't have one. This is every bit as good as his novels ... and those are masterpieces.

PETE DEXTER'S UNIQUE STORIES OF LIFE.......2007-02-13

Four FASCINATING Stars! National Book Award-winning writer Pete Dexter wrote kaleidoscopic newspaper columns and magazine articles on his observations of life, love, marriage, death, and everything in between in preceding decades. These 82 vignettes are unique and engrossing, coming from multiple sources Iike Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Redbook, Inside Sports, Philadelphia Daily News, and the Sacramento Bee, focusing on many locations around the country. Although somewhat dated, this book proves the timeless phrase "The more things change, the more they remain the same": case in point, Dexter's 'O. J. Simpson vs the press' viewpoint is right on the money, as O. J. once again regretably rises to the attention of the world.

In the great tradition of writers like Jimmy Breslin, Mr Dexter writes with a keen eye, sardonic wit, and a gift for detail and opinion in rough-edged, highly-descriptive, and presumptive prose. The stories keep coming, letting the reader sometimes read between the lines and fill in missing details: here's how he describes how he rushed from Florida to Philadelphia in mid-winter to accept a much-needed new job: "I arrived three days later with one pair of boots, no coat, running as close to empty as I've ever been", a whale of a winter image in 21 words. You fill in the rest; unshaven, dirty laundry in the back seat? The book is loaded with these.

The specific stories are varied: a salute to a TV newsman murdered on his knees in a foreign country (no, not that newsman and not that country!), the escapades of two friends nicknamed Low Gear and Minus (no kidding!), a mother cat in a dangerous world, a beer throwing contest (seriously!), police stories, courtroom stories, stereotypical views on race but with an underlying fairness and fondness for all men, a paper bag that should have been left alone, murders that could and should have been avoided, an old boxer one should stay away from, and the Brian Spencer-involved murder case that he peels back like an onion. The stories run from the truly interesting to the mundane, but things are never boring based on the grittiness and uniqueness of Mr Dexter's vignettes of life. It may take a couple of stories to get your bearings, but by then he's pulled you into his world. Definitely Recommended!! Four INCISIVE Stars!

(Note: this review is based on an eBook digital download in secure eReader format.)

Which Paper?: A Guide to Choosing and Using Fine Papers for Artists, Craftspeople and Designers

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Which Paper?: A Guide to Choosing and Using Fine Papers for Artists, Craftspeople and Designers
Silvie Turner
Manufacturer: Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1558213120

Fahrenheit 451: Fahrenheit 451--The Temperature at Which Book Paper Catches Fire, and Burns

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Never Gets Old!
Not Free SF Reader
fantastic but realistic images of censorship and happiness
John Welte's Review
Pretentious, self-absorbed, and dull

Fahrenheit 451: Fahrenheit 451--The Temperature at Which Book Paper Catches Fire, and Burns
Ray Bradbury
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0881030198

Amazon.com

In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's classic, frightening vision of the future, firemen don't put out fires--they start them in order to burn books. Bradbury's vividly painted society holds up the appearance of happiness as the highest goal--a place where trivial information is good, and knowledge and ideas are bad. Fire Captain Beatty explains it this way, "Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs.... Don't give them slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy."

Guy Montag is a book-burning fireman undergoing a crisis of faith. His wife spends all day with her television "family," imploring Montag to work harder so that they can afford a fourth TV wall. Their dull, empty life sharply contrasts with that of his next-door neighbor Clarisse, a young girl thrilled by the ideas in books, and more interested in what she can see in the world around her than in the mindless chatter of the tube. When Clarisse disappears mysteriously, Montag is moved to make some changes, and starts hiding books in his home. Eventually, his wife turns him in, and he must answer the call to burn his secret cache of books. After fleeing to avoid arrest, Montag winds up joining an outlaw band of scholars who keep the contents of books in their heads, waiting for the time society will once again need the wisdom of literature.

Bradbury--the author of more than 500 short stories, novels, plays, and poems, including The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man--is the winner of many awards, including the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America. Readers ages 13 to 93 will be swept up in the harrowing suspense of Fahrenheit 451, and no doubt will join the hordes of Bradbury fans worldwide. --Neil Roseman

Book Description

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of this timeless classic with a special edition featuring a new foreword by the author and a message that is as relevant today as when it was first published.

Since the late 1940s, Ray Bradbury has been revered for his works of science fiction and fantasy. With more than 4 million copies in print, Fahrenheit 451 -- originally published in 1953 -- remains his most acclaimed work:

"One of the most brilliant overall jobs of social satire."
The Nation

"Frightening in its implications...Mr. Bradbury's account of this insane world, which bears many alarming resemblances to our own, is fascinating."
The New York Times

Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which book paper burns. Fahrenheit 451 is a short novel set in the (perhaps near) future when "firemen" burn books forbidden by the totalitarian "brave new world" regime. The hero, according to Mr. Bradbury, is "a book burner who suddenly discovers that books are flesh and blood ideas and cry out silently when put to the torch."

Today, when libraries and schools are still "burning" certain books, Fahrenheit 451 is a work of even greater impact and timeliness.

Download Description

This is Bradbury's best-known novel. The science fiction tale concerns censorship and anti-intellectualism, carried on in an alternate society that conducts huge book burnings as part of the social agenda. It is a spooky and yet uplifting book.

Customer Reviews:

Never Gets Old!.......2007-09-20

With what is going on in Venezuela and the Government takeover of education this book rings true today! In fact, the Firemen would be burning this book too! A great read!

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Watch tv, sheeple.

In the future, books are banned, and drugs and the good old electronic screen are used to keep the population docile and uninformed. Firemen don't put out fires here, they burn books when they are found, in a big macho showy way. One such bloke begins to have doubts about his occupation and society, and breaks away.

fantastic but realistic images of censorship and happiness.......2007-08-21

If you are interested at all in literature, I think this is a must-read. To me, it centers around the notion of censorship and how culture can seemingly determine the sense of happiness which can only really be derived from within. The characters and events seem futuristic in a sense but completely current. The writing style is not 'heavy', but the content certainly is. I believe this book is extremely well written and organized, and very applicable in a time when few people examine the substance underlying the superficial perceptions that are shaped by external forces.

John Welte's Review.......2007-08-19

I started reading Fahrenheit 451 for a summer reading assignment. As I kept reading I really got in to the book. Ray Bradbury did a great job describing the characters. The book is about a future world that gives you a glimpse of what our world would be like without books. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a book with some action and a great story.

Pretentious, self-absorbed, and dull.......2007-08-13

I have infinite patience when I am personally pretentious, self-absorbed, and dull. I don't have the same patience when I read books that are that way, though.

The story is about a futuristic world where knowledge, thought, and argument have been banished in favor of momentary happiness, thrill, and pleasure. The protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman. In the future, instead of fighting fires, they are in charge of lighting them. They are the front line defense for society against the societal decay caused by books, so their job is to go around burning down the houses of those who own and read books. Montag, at some point, realizes the importance of books and instantly becomes an enemy of the state, a target of the same department that he worked for.

One problem with this book is in the fact that Bradbury can't create a realistic world in which these events could become a reality. Granted, he was writing 50 years ago, so he wouldn't have had knowledge of the type of entertainment which exists today, but all he seems able to conjure up is the concept of immediate, personalized entertainment as if that is the only type of entertainment that would remain. He creates a world (or just a city, because this type of environment only seems to exist in the city) where people are zombies sitting in their homes surrounded by television screens that are running all the time telling the people what they should think and feel. Conceptually he wasn't wrong, it's just his clumsy handling of the telling. He can't create a solid series of steps that lead from the present day to that future (though he tries). He can't recreate the sort of television show that these people would watch, and he can't explain clearly why anyone would want to watch it.

Beyond the setting, the characters themselves are one-dimensional. They are all archetypes, and none have the spark of life which would make them interesting. Clarisse, the dangerous intellectual adolescent; Montag, the newborn Man whose eyes have recently been open; Faber, the reluctant wise man; Beatty, the hardened symbol of the State, who is a very capable parry to the thrusts of Faber; none of the characters have any depth whatsoever.

The writing itself was a pain to read. Bradbury can't seem to figure out which word he needs to use, so he opens a thesaurus and dumps as many words as he can onto the page. In addition, he wanders off on tangents without bringing those tangents back to the main storyline. Furthermore, his dire need to make his point (a panoply of ideas is good, not bad) by either having the characters themselves soliloquize it, or by doing it himself in wandering, dull monologues. This is the sort of self-absorption I allude to in the title to this review.

To drive home the fact that Bradbury thinks he's God's gift to knowledge, the afterword and coda and interview with the author leave nothing to the imagination. According to Bradbury himself, he's got tons of ideas of how to make the story better. None of those ideas have to do with improving the writing, just making each character's monologue longer. He claims to refrain from adding those updates to this edition of the book (50th anniversary edition) because he feels the original text, as the author wrote it, is pristine and perfect. His contempt for editors is plainly spelled out at various places in the tacked-on content.

I really can't recommend this book to anyone who has already graduated from high school. The story is poor. The writing is poor. The author's point is all it's got of value, and even that is nothing special. It may be helpful to know the character of Guy Montag in case it ever comes up in conversation, but other than that, I can't think of any reason to spend time with this book. 2 stars

Leibniz and Clarke: A Study of Their Correspondence

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Leibniz and Clarke: A Study of Their Correspondence
Ezio Vailati
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History & Surveys | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History, 17th & 18th Century | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Metaphysics | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Modern | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0195113993

Book Description

The correspondence between Leibniz and Samuel Clarke was the most influential philosophical exchange of the eighteenth century, and indeed one of the most significant such exchanges in the history of philosophy. Carried out in 1715 and 1716, the debate focused on the clash between Newtonian and Leibnizian world systems, involving disputes in physics, theology, and metaphysics. The letters ranged over an extraordinary array of topics, including divine immensity and eternity, the relation of God to the world, free will, gravitation, the existence of atoms and the void, and the size of the universe. This penetrating book is the first to offer a comprehensive overview and commentary on the Leibniz-Clarke correspondence. Building his narrative around general subjects covered in the exchange--God, the soul, space and time, miracles and nature, matter and force--Ezio Vailati devotes special attention to a question crucial for Leibniz and Clarke alike. Both philosophers, worried by the advance of naturalism and its consequences for morality, devised complex systems to counter naturalism and reinforce natural religion. However, they not only deeply disagreed on how to answer the naturalist threat, but they ended up seeing in each other's views the germs of naturalism itself. Vailati rigorously tracks the twists and turns of this argument, shedding important new light on a critical moment in modern philosophy. Lucid, taut, and energetically written, this book not only examines the Leibniz-Clarke debate in unprecedented depth but also situates the views advanced by the two men in the context of their principal writings. An invaluable reference to a fascinating exchange of ideas, Leibniz and Clarke makes vital reading for philosophers and historians of science and theology.

Which Paper?: A Guide to Choosing Fine Papers for Artists, Craftspeople, and Designers

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Which Paper?: A Guide to Choosing Fine Papers for Artists, Craftspeople, and Designers
Silvie Turner
Manufacturer: Design Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0830639675

Delivering the Monterrey Consensus: Which Consensus?: Economic Paper No. 48 (Economic Paper Series)

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Delivering the Monterrey Consensus: Which Consensus?: Economic Paper No. 48 (Economic Paper Series)
Amartya Sen
Manufacturer: Commonwealth Secretariat
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Policy & Current Events | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Development & Growth | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Economic Policy & Development | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Sustainable Development | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0850927374

Book Description

This publication is a follow-on from the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development. The conference achieved a significant breakthrough in respect of mobilizing commitment on the part of key donors and developing countries to advance the development agenda. These commitments have been, at least partially, built upon at the recent G8 Summit and the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Monterrey Consensus requires effective follow-up on the part of donors, developing countries and international financial institutions.

It is of interest to policy-makers; aid agencies, international financial institutions and civil society bodies at all levels, and also to academics as the attainment of the Monterrey goals continues to be at the forefront of the development agenda.

Delivering the Monterrey Consensus is based on the Special theme of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting "Delivering the Millenium Development Goals" (London, September 2002).

The Money of Puerto Rico An Illustrated History and Price List of the Coins, Tokens and Paper Money Which Were Once Issued for Use in the Commonwealth That May Someday Become Our 51st State

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The Money of Puerto Rico An Illustrated History and Price List of the Coins, Tokens and Paper Money Which Were Once Issued for Use in the Commonwealth That May Someday Become Our 51st State
Maurice M. and Higgie, Lincoln W. Gould
Manufacturer: Whitman Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J40YV2

An Account of the Earl of Peterborow's Conduct in Spain, Chiefly Since the Raising the Siege of Barcelona, 1706; To Which is Added the Campagne of Valencia; With Original Papers, First Edition

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An Account of the Earl of Peterborow's Conduct in Spain, Chiefly Since the Raising the Siege of Barcelona, 1706; To Which is Added the Campagne of Valencia; With Original Papers, First Edition
John Freind
Manufacturer: JONAH BOWYER
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TST5T0

AN ADDRESS TO PERSONS OF QUALITY AND ESTATE. To Which is Added, and Appendix of some Original and Valuable Papers. [Together with] A POEM IN MEMORY OF ROBERT NELSON ESQUIRE

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AN ADDRESS TO PERSONS OF QUALITY AND ESTATE. To Which is Added, and Appendix of some Original and Valuable Papers. [Together with] A POEM IN MEMORY OF ROBERT NELSON ESQUIRE

Manufacturer: Printed by G. James, for Richard Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I718BK

AIDS And Adaptations: A Study of the Administrative Processes by Which Social Services Departments Help Clients to Receive AIDS And Adaptations (Occasional Papers on Social Administration, No. 62)

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AIDS And Adaptations: A Study of the Administrative Processes by Which Social Services Departments Help Clients to Receive AIDS And Adaptations (Occasional Papers on Social Administration, No. 62)
Ursula Keeble
Manufacturer: Bedford Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Product Description

Contains over 80 primary source patterns with drafting instructions from The American Garment Cutter for Women (1913) including nearly all the patterns from a two year run (1915 & 1916) of the West End Gazette - London Fashions. Garments cover all types of clothing for men and women, plus British military uniforms and civilian uniforms such as Red Cross, policemen, chauffeurs, etc. Many clothing related articles have been included from the West End Gazette, shedding light on the views and controversies surrounding fashion during WWI. Additional illustrations are from a number of middle class American women's magazines and a department store catalog from 1915.

Book Description

America's favorite nuclear family returns in this latest installment in our bestselling Simpsons comic compilations. This time, Springfield is buzzing with excitement as Marge does battle with airwave sleaze, Bart steps in as an emergency bus driver, and Homer takes on his worst enemy—his brain.

In Simpsons Comic on Parade, campaign fever is heating things up in Springfield, and the Simpsons are embroiled in political mud-slinging, pandering, pundits, and opinion polls. Democracy was never this much fun. Then Marge Simpson is mad as heck, and she's not going to take it anymore! Fed up with tawdry talk shows, she sets out to clean up the airwaves by serving up her own show, baked fresh with wholesome goodness. Next you're on a bus packed with explosives and obnoxious kids. What to do?!? Bartholomew J. Simpson, that's what. And finally, after years of vicious name-calling, Homer Simpson has decided to reconcile with his nemesis—his brain. See Homer change from bovine to Einstein, while all of Springfield reels from the repercussions.

Packed with the insane wit that has earned the TV show the Peabody Award and 10 Emmy Awards, Simpsons Comic on Parade is the perfect gift for the legions of loyal fans who just can't get enough of Marge, Homer, Lisa, Bart, and little Maggie.

Customer Reviews:

Good, But Not Up To Simpsons Comics Standards.......2002-11-30

I have a dozen Simpsons comic books and read them all over and over again. On Parade, though, is my least favorite. Like all the books, the artwork is awesome and it has all the popular Simpsons characters, but, unlike the other books, most of the comics have very weak endings.

"Send in the Clowns": A "devastating mass of hot air" is headed towards Springfield. The Presidential campaign, that is. It even includes big-eared third party candidate L. Ron Percent. Nice idea, but the story doesn't really go anywhere.

"Homey Alone": Just when you thought every Simpsons character has been the subject of a comic strip, here's a strip starring Li'l Homey (Homer as a kid). Homey is left home alone and sets up a burglar trap. Who comes knocking but "eaglette" Li'l Mrs. Krabapal selling cookies. Again, a weak ending to a promising strip follows.

"Marge Attacks": Frustrated with the lack of quality programming on the tube, Marge writes a letter to Mayor Quimby. Quimby campaigners think riding on Marge's wholesome apron strings will be the way to get the morally challenged mayor re-elected. Again, the ending could have been better.

"Diner Violations": Funny short starring Springfield's finest, Lou and Eddie.

"Game Called Because of Pain": Itchy and Scratchy short with a baseball theme.

"Get Off the Bus": Sideshow Bob attends to his prison duty of cleaning the school buses and decides to fight for the cause of school bus safety (why Bob all of a sudden is concerned with the safety of children is unexplained). Ironically, Bob boobytraps Bart's seat so that, when Bart is hurled to a gruesome death, changes will be made to save the lives of others. It's up to Otto to save Bart and his classmates. This comic is one of the better ones in this books.

"They Fixed Homer's Brain": They saved the best for last. Homer needs money to buy Lisa a new saxophone after he broke her old one. In typical Homer fashion, he volunteers for Prof. Frink's intelligence experiment. Homer jumps from "Fat Albert" intelligence to "Albert Einstein" intelligence after a single pill. Looks like he won't be needing that copy of "Lying Around Eating and Burping for Dummies" he ordered from the library.

Not bad.......2000-06-30

The Simpsons Comics carry on in this edition, but it seems to be a slight sag here. The first edition, in which the political parties come to town seems to drag. But, we get some classics, like "They Saved Homer's Brain". It's not up to the classic that was Simpsons Comics Extravaganza, but it's better than some stuff from Simpsons Comics Spectacular.

Brilliant.......1999-07-18

Simpsons, Comics on Parade, is the second Simpsons comic book collection I've gotten so far. If you look on the page for the Simpsons Comics Spectacular you will find another one of my reviews. After reading both of them, I would definitely recommend the Simpsons, Comics on Parade, because of the variety of stories jam-packed in it. My favorite would have to be issue #25 because it seemed the most like a real Simpsons TV episode. I could imagine everybody saying everything, and it had a great plot as well. KEEP IT UP GROENING!

very funny.......1999-02-20

this is a good book because it will make you laug

This book was packed with excelent issues........1998-12-06

I ordered this booked a few months ago and now think that it has some of the best Simpsons books ever. My favourite issue was issue 27, it was about scientists fixings homers brain so he was a smart person and not a dumb one any more.

Average customer rating:

The Simpsons Comics on parade

Simpsons comics on parade

Manufacturer: Bongo Comics Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Books | The Simpsons | Amazon.com Stores | us-stores
ASIN: 0964299984

Customer Reviews:

The Simpsons Comics on parade.......2000-05-21

If you like Simpsons Comics, be sure to get this book. I personally think it is the best of the Simpsons comics. The storys are so funny and the book has so much to offer.

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Simpsons, Comics on Parade
Matt (Edt)/ Groening, Matt Groening
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Books | The Simpsons | Amazon.com Stores | us-stores
ASIN: B000OEVNKI

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A "Stitch" not quite in time

A Real Hoot--with Heart!

It only hurts when I laugh!

A brilliant book that makes me laugh

Life's a Stitch: The Best of Contemporary Women's Humor

Manufacturer: Random House Reference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Essays | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0375719709
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Book Description

The Best of Contemporary Women's Humor is an anthology with a twist: humorous short stories, poetry, songs, and cartoons--all from the pens of women, and all donated to benefit charities. It will entertain readers, sustain them, and provide hours of reading pleasure.

The gems here treat topics such as politics, relationships, parents, hair, dieting, and aging with wry irreverence. It features humor from some of the most well-known women writers today: Wendy Wasserstein, Delia Ephron, Anna Quindlen, Kathy Najimy, Gloria Steinem, Christine Lavin, and many others. Inside cover illustration and chapter openers by Flash Rosenberg.

And all this funny business is for three good causes: The royalties and a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to The American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR), the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO).

Customer Reviews:

A "Stitch" not quite in time.......2004-10-27

The "Contemporary" of the subtitle is a misnomer. This compendium is cited as being a 2002 update of 1997's "Creme de la Femme," but most of the humor here has a dated feel. My recall of '90s zeitgeist placed the general approach and style at 1994, and a glance at the back-of-the-book index of each article's original publication date confirmed that suspicion. Whether that's positive or negative is subjective. Personally, I only laughed aloud once, and that was at a sentence it turned out I'd misread to be funnier than it actually was.

A Real Hoot--with Heart!.......2002-06-01

Not many people sit in the oncologist's waiting room with a big grin on their faces, bursting repeatedly into laughter. But that's what I did yesterday, as I sat there with the companionship of "Life's a Stitch." What a gift! I'm about to order a bunch of copies to pass on to others--I know it will be as universally appreciated as "Creme de la Femme" was a few years ago.

Thanks to all who had a part in putting this collection together!

It only hurts when I laugh!.......2002-04-29

Hi Anne-I just had to let you know what a great/terrible couple of days I've had. Last friday I had to have some oral surgery done-a bone graft that is a huge pain right now. I haven't been able to do much-although we did go to a great Richard Shindell show last night here in town at William Paterson University. Anyway-I just finished reading "Life's A Stitch" and boy did it help get me through a couple of rough days! What a great book with laughs on just about every page. I guess I have to say that I did have the opportunity to laugh along with myself AND at myself in these observations of the male and female perspectives on life. Your book is not just a great idea, but it is one that you TOTALLY brought home! Congratulations on a job exquisitely done!

A brilliant book that makes me laugh.......2002-04-20

I came across "Life's a Stitch" while browsing through the humor section the other day, and saw so many names of writers and performers on the cover whom I already enjoy. So, how could I not buy a book that contained all of them together in one volume.
I have been enjoying each and every piece, and laughing out loud more than I thought possible. The variety in the book is wonderful. There are short stories, lyrics to very funny songs, and so many terrific cartoons. I even enjoyed reading the bios in the back of the book!!
This is a book that would make a perfect gift for friends and loved ones, and I plan to buy quite a few for mine. I also like knowing that the contributors are donating their royalties to charity. It's a great concept, and this is wonderful book.

Laura

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