Away

Jeff's review may be self serving, but so is mine - my dad, the late Bill Alton, is interviewed in the book. This is probably one of the best books about Second City because it is written in the words of those who created Second City. Don't get me wrong, Sheldon's new book is O.K. but this book is better. Bless Jeff for getting these interviews before we lost too many of the original performers. If you can only get one book about Second City - buy this one.

For those not familiar with the Second City, it is basically the granddaddy of all comedy troupes. Started in the mid-'50s as the Compass Players, it transformed into Second City in 1959 and has been going strong ever since, even opening sister theatres in Toronto & Detroit. So many of our current and past comedy stars have started here, it's mindboggling. The Belushi brothers, Bill Murray, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, Chris Farley, Bonnie Hunt, Ryan Stiles, Richard Kind, David Steinberg, Alan Alda, Peter Boyle, the entire cast of "SCTV Network," Philip Baker Hall, Mike Myers, Bob Odenkirk, Tim Meadows, Dan Aykroyd... the list goes on and on. This book was written in the '70s and is a collection of interviews w/ several of the company's key writer/performer/directors, among them Gilda Radner, Avery Schreiber, & Mina Kolb. A must-read for anyone who loves improv, sketch comedy, theatre technique, and, specifically, the Second City!

I read this book when I was first starting out in improv about 12 years ago. It features interviews with many of my heros and is still inspiring to me. I went on to work at Second City years later and found this book essential to my understanding of that place's traditions as well as the fact that traditions are made to be broken--with respect, of course.

Suzanne Marshall takes you along on her journey through quiltmaking as though you are sitting down and listening to her in person. She graciously shares with us her first efforts at creating quilts,(her REAL "first" quilts). She reveals the judges remarks which are very helpful and revealing to those curious as to what judges are looking for in high caliber competitions. I especially enjoyed her husband Garland's remarks scattered throughout the book. This is an applique book that covers all the bases, instruction, "eye candy", and encouragement. I can't imagine anyone who would find this book a disappointment.

Suzanne Marshall's book is a delight. Even for those of us who have never considered tackling a quilting project, this is a wonderful read. The lovely photographs and Ms. Marshall's informal style make this a winner!

Anyone who has ever shyed away from applique should look closely at Suzanne Marshall's book Take Away Applique. Suzanne's clear step-by-step explanations could unlock the mysteries of this art form for you as it did for me. Her lovely naturalistic patterns, which include flowers, butterflies, caterpillars, hummingbirds, and many many other charming creatures, make practice a pure joy. Suzanne is an award winning quiltmaker who shares with us the judge's comments about her quilts. We get a close-up look at what judges look for and how "subjective" judging can be. I LOVE this book, the format is so friendly, honest, open and encouraging. With this book anyone can master applique adn learn to make beautiful quilts that will please and bring joy to the harshest of all quilt judges....yourself. Michelle Sargent

I found Stavrou's travel guide to be full of Information on partying in Europe and very funny

I was looking for a budget guide to Europe and this was it.so funny. Everywhere to go to drink and party, especially drink.I reccomend this book if you are looking for action in your travel. Inside information on Europe. I am going to the Greek Isles and want to go to the places that this guy had so much fun at. So Myknosos will be my first stop, after than the Pink Palace Hotel. That is, if i survive Myknosos

If you're traveling to Europe looking to party, party, party go to the Pink Palace which is like a summer camp in the Greek Isles, When you've had enough to drink to get your courage up, Run With The Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. These things and more I have done and reading about them in Stavrou's travel guide to partying around the globe made me laugh. I love this book. Gave me more information on where to go to drink and party for next year's trip.!!Great Read.

Larry Snider's book is filled with beautiful, sensitive photographs. I have seen Snider's works before, and it is a great pleasure to be able to "visit" them as often as I like by simply owning this volume.

For anyone who loves the art of photography and portraiture, adventure travel, or remote and ancient cultures, this book is a treasure. It contains haunting, sublime portraits of people of China, Tibet, Bhutan, and Ladakh: laughing children, wise elders, rakish young men, monks, families, laborers, and women, old and young, at work or dressed in ceremonial finery. The portraits were not taken in a studio, and the architecture of their settings -- monasteries, villages, shops, and streets -- are as intriguing as the subjects themselves.

The poignancy and beauty of these portraits lies not only in their technical and artistic excellence, but also in their deft blending of contrasts: the exotic and the familiar, the ancient and the modern, the distinctly Asian, and the rare Western or perhaps global artifacts of our modern culture.

A World Away merits one's attention again and again, as the portraits yield evocative details and depth of meaning with each viewing. This collection is a compassionate and eloquent account of the people encountered during the artist's Asian travels. It would make an elegant gift, and, since the book's impact is visual rather than verbal, the recipient need not speak English to enjoy it.

A thoughtfully engaging and beautifully produced monograph which details the artist's travels thoughout Asia. It is no wonder the artist's work is in so many musuems and has been the subject of numerous exhibits.

Full disclosure: Elizabeth George is one of my all-time favorite mystery writers --- actually, George, like the others on that shortlist (including P.D. James and Ruth Rendell), writes in a more specific arm of the genre, known as the "literary mystery." What this means to readers is that the books these authors produce have complex characters, beautifully constructed (sometimes intricate) plots and fine, subtle use of language that manages to simultaneously contribute to the mystery at hand and to delight on its own.

What this means to writers is that Elizabeth George knows her stuff. How well she knows it is readily apparent in WRITE AWAY: One Novelist's Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life, because she grounds most of her instructional examples in excerpts from great literature, including classics like TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and modern suspense/thriller novels such as MYSTIC RIVER. George taught English at El Toro High School in Huntington Beach, California for over a decade before turning her back away from the lectern and towards her computer screen in the mid-1980s, and she now frequently teaches creative writing. Her pedantry is of the pleasant variety, meant not to bury potential writers but to encourage them.

Still, this book does have its pedantic moments, especially as George elucidates her process. One of the most important parts of her process is creating a "character map" before she begins her first draft. As she explained why and how she does this, it made perfect sense --- for her. I love reading literary mysteries, but they are not a genre I'm likely to write myself. WRITE AWAY, at first, seemed to me to be an excellent way to learn about how to write an Elizabeth George novel. Indeed, it's not as if she's hiding what she's doing: her subtitle says it all. And she begins each chapter with a brief section from one of her own journals kept while writing in order to show that even published authors get the blues.

Yet, from the moment I began to read George's book, I was drawn in by her enthusiasm for writing. She may have been describing what works for her, but her energy and excitement made me want to discover what works best for me. George is quite right when she says that she is puzzled by those who believe writing can't be taught; it is, after all, at least halfways a craft. In the sections where she discusses different techniques as "tools" and says that using these well is part of a building process, she reminded me that artisanal skill can be just as important as artistic inspiration.

George also reminds would-be, struggling and working writers that all the art and craft in the world can't help if you don't have discipline; her chapter titled "The Value of Bum Glue" (that colorful noun taken from Australian bestselling author Bryce Courtenay) should be read by every writer and writing student in the country. But one of the last things she hits on, while not new under the sun, is made urgent again by her own thoughtful, elegant prose: "Lots of people want to have written; they don't want to write. In other words, they want to see their name on the front cover of a book and their grinning picture on the back. But this is what comes at the end of a job, not at the beginning. To reach that end you have to be willing just to set it aside, knowing that it may never happen at all but not much caring because it's the writing that matters to you; it's the mystery and the magic of putting words on paper that are truly important. If you don't feel this way, then you want to be an author, not a writer."

On one hand, I wonder why she didn't put that up front. On the other, I see exactly why she saved these words for last. Great mystery writer that she is, Elizabeth George has forced us to march through the forest tree by tree before revealing her secret.

--- Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick

WRITE AWAY is filled with the multi-layered adventures of this Writing Life, as well as instruction.

Each chapter starts with an excerpt from the author's Journal of a Novel, as she thinks of what reviewers are saying about her work, or when she evaluates her writing the day before, or queries what on earth she's thinking she's doing, or enthuses about the books she's currently reading.

Each journal excerpt introduces the lesson about such things as a story's Voice or its Scene or Dialogue. Elizabeth George spices the instruction with examples from many much-read authors such as Toni Morrison, E. M. Forster, Barbara Kingsolver, Stephen King, Alice Hoffman, John Irving, et al.

Elegant, informative & a charming journey, Rebeccasreads recommends WRITE AWAY as an inspiring companion for the writing life!

This is an excellent book for any aspiring novelist - from the practical advice using specific examples from real novels to the journal entries that reveal that even a best selling author struggles sometimes with writing. Elizabeth George takes us through every stage of writing the novel - with in-depth advice on basics like viewpoint and voice; dialogue, plot. She also goes through the craft, technique and the process. Principles are easy to understand because they are followed immediately by examples.

I have read many books of this type and this is at the top of the heap. The book succeeds in both being inspirational and instructional. I recommend it highly.

Kenneth Dodson poured a lifetime of seagoing experience into Away All Boats. I had the opportunity to get to know this remarkable man before his passing just a few years ago and heard some of the true-to-life experiences aboard U.S.S. Pierce that formed the basis of this book. Away All Boats is a story that will leave you feeling as tired as McDougal and the other men of the fictional U.S.S. Belinda. It's a strong story of teamwork, loyalty and people faced with challenges beyond human endurance. It's also a true picture of what life was like aboard a Navy attack transport. In fact, this book has long been required reading at the Naval Academy for it's accurate picture of amphibious warfare. Like McDougal, the protagonist in Away All Boats, Dodson skippered merchant ships in the 1930s. He got to know Charles Lindbergh while carrying him, Anne Morrow Lindbergh and their aircraft back from an Asian airline route scouting trip. Dodson spent the end of 1941 dodging Japanese forces in the Pacific before voluntarily leaving command of a merchant ship for a lieutenant's berth in the U.S. Navy. If you want a three dimensional look at a seldom covered aspect of WWII Navy operations, Away All Boats is a top pick.

Excellent military fiction! I picked up this book (1954 edition) at a public library free offering three years ago and just now starting reading it. Surprisingly well done, and reminiscent a bit of the Seafort saga and The Big 'E'

Dodson's 'Away All Boats' is a novel that is both a study of human nature and the art of command. The central theme is the ship and it's missions. The charecters of the crew bring this mass of steel to life and give it personality. There are strong charecters amongst the officers as well as the Sailors. Likewise there are officers and Sailors that one would cross the street to avoid. they are all thrust into the confines of theat attack transport Belinda and give the story so much of it's richness. The captain is a driven man and his goal is to make his ship the best attack transport in the Pacific Fleet. HIs drive whittles down the rough edges and shows up the weak leaders and followers. He makes few friends but ultimately gains the respect of many. This book is an excellent leadership text and would aid many, in the military as well as the civilian world, as they work with what they have been given and turn their people into a cohesive whole. This is a masculine book; women appear only in letters. It is a monastic existence as the men serve the Gods of War and now that the bulk of U. S. Naval ships are crewed by men and women, it is a reflection on an era that is rapidly slipping into the realm of memories.

Nelson Zink has put together a wonderfully winding roadmap for self discovery. I find myself returning to each one of the masterfully written stories at different times in my life to regain perspective. A perfect book for anyone who believes in defining themselves or gaining understanding of others without textbook labels.

I had the good fortune to hear some of Nelson's stories even before this fine little book was published the first time. With nary an explicit mention of "NLP" this book demonstrates many aspects of NLP in a particularly inviting way that lets folks experience positive change now. And besides that, there's lots of darn good stories!

Utilizing stories within stories, Zink spins an interesting (although at times hackneyed) tale of personal growth. A great way to package many different techniques in a lively format. Definitely a nice reprieve from "technique textbooks" and "seminar transcripts" that seem so common in the world of NLP. I found myself highlighting many useful quotes and stories, and have recommended the book to several close friends and associates. It's on my list of books to reread every so often.

CB has produced another fantastic read. Maybe the references are a little parochial, but so what - use your imagination. IMO dry humour works anywhere - if you've travelled beyond your state/country who can't relate to PJ O'Rourke's rantings. CB manages this with a little more subtlety which makes his reading well worth it. His books capture the reader from start to end - which is quite annoying, I've read the fecker dry and wait for his next.

'Big Boy' is fantastic - the losing virginity chapter is laugh out loud funny. Of course I relate to the Glasgow setting (being a glaswegian and ex-QM member), but the characters translate country/cultural divides. Read it for feck sake and kick yourself out of the 'King of The Hill' mentality.

DB

This is great! I never tought I'd read a novel with so many references to computer games, and to think that I even have played ALL of them is insane! (Yes even the most obscure game, I've played it!) The story is also a great read if you don't know about games (I asked my wife what she thought) even tough you might miss out...

Gaming rules, and C. Brookmyre, if you're ever on Rubi-Ka, come see me as Agna, Biola or Thesau ;)

I raced through the 500 pages of this book. It was really funny, witty, and quite a good look into current pop-culture in the UK. Brookmyre the author is able to make you laugh out loud. If you are looking for something that will tell you about life in the UK in an interesting and funny manner this is your book. Read it -- it's just good!

This is a terrific book. The author gives some great ideas on things to do before you leave, when you are gone and when you get home again. The ideas are simple and fun for the kids. If you can't be at home as often as you'd like, then The Business Traveling Parent really offers some simple solutions to staying close to your kids. This is also a great gift for any busy executive, salesperson, or anyone who travels more than they would like to.

I really like the concept of parents staying in touch with kids when they have to travel. One idea from the book that I like is to take pictures to show or send to the child so they can see what it's like where you are. Better than postcards, and sweet, not necessarily a new idea, but a great reminder. Sending secret emails and faxes sounds fun too.Cooking together on the night you return and making something special from the place/country you've been is excellent. Such nice ideas, and not too much to handle for the traveler. These are lucky kids whose parents do these things with them ... and I bet they are the kind of parents who don't want to be away from their kids very often.

I happened to meet the author at a conference in Chicago recently, and what a great guy! His humor and smarts combine to be a sure-fire interesting book writer. So, I read the book, and it ! is! filled with really easy, fun ideas, tips, and tricks for staying involved with your kids when you're away. Nobody is saying it takes the place of being at home with them, but sometimes you just have to travel, and this makes it fun for the kids to keep in touch, as well as giving great ideas for what to before and after. This book is really interesting, and so is the author, Dan. I really enjoyed the fresh ideas in this book. Thanks, Robins Lane Press!

In "Swept Away", Jeanette Taylor and her two high-school friends, Neil Armstrong and Samma Glynnis, have made plans for a six-day hike in the mountains. When Jeanette and Neil's long-lost childhood friend (Bill Hicks) calls out of the blue, Jeanette automatically invites him along, despite her sudden uneasiness while talking with him. He just doesn't seem like his old self; he lies about his past and blatantly admits to dissecting the school's mascot. Although Jeanette seems like a level-headed girl, she should have made some excuse to uninvite the weirdo. But I suppose if she had, there wouldn't have been any real suspense later on.

So, besides the new addition, their week adventure seems to go as planned--until that night, when they're startled by someone lurking in the bushes outside their campsite. It turns out to be Dwayne Cors, the dumb jock who's in love with Jeanette and considers it his duty to protect her from Neil and Bill.

The next day, the group is faced with yet another obstacle; however, this one is much more serious. When they reroute their trip at the last minute, it leads them directly in the path of a flash flood which separates everyone and possibly kills Neil and Samma. (The two are never found.) Jeanette reunites with Bill, although she would rather be on her own. She can't help but suspect her old friend is a sociopath who killed his last girlfriend--and wants her to be the next victim. ...

"Swept Away" begins a little slow, but once Jeanette, Bill, Neil, and Samma start their hike around page 50, the book picks up the pace. Jeanette is a great leading character, with Neil as my second favorite. I was a little disappointed when he vanished in the flood, but, hopefully, he'll reappear in "Swept Away: The Mountain" or "Swept Away: The Pit", the two succeeding books in this series.

Two character complaints: Bill is a little too psychotic; it's almost unbelievable. I know he's supposed to be evil and all, but he switches between madness and coolness too often. Then there's Jeanette, who doesn't react as quickly as I thought she needed to. There were several times when she had the opportunity to flee or attack but did neither.

Overall, despite the grim atmosphere, the book is pretty funny, particularly at the beginning. I would recommend "Swept Away" ao anyone who likes Christopher Pike or R. L. Stine books or is a Dafydd ab Hugh fan.

Jeanette is a humorous character who has a pycho obsessed with her since age 5 and a hunky quarterback who loves her. The problem is, she doesn't like either of them (who WOULD like boy #1???) She goes on a hiking trip only to be stuck with the both of them and still she hasn't figured out Bill's true intent, but as the book goes along she starts noticing some strange stuff about him, things she never noticed as a child. Her two best friends are there, (whom she originally planned the trip with) but not anymore as the nearby dam caves in and they are all swept down the river. Jeanette is left alone, though feels someone is watching her. (Who COULD it be, who COULD it be???) If I told you more I would give the whole book away. Alone with a murderer, what will Jeanette do to survive? I truly liked this book. The main character was likeable with a sense of humor, despite the curcumstances. The book was totally unpredictable, and I am DYING to get the next two!!! Yes, I'm desperate!!!! Whatever copies you have (of the next two), I will buy them!!! Thanx in advance, generationgirl9009@hotmail.com

Swept Away is a captivating book that everyone should read.Jeanette and her buddies go on a hiking trip, when two of her guy friends invite themselves. One of her friends is a psychopathic person who has an obsession over Jeanette...can you guess who? I reccomend this book to teenagers. Read about how the two guys (Dwayne and Bill)fight over Jeanette throughout the whole trip. There is a second part and a third part to this book and I'm going crazy because I can't find any copies! Please, whoever knows where to buy a copy of this trilogy, email me! Thanks a bunch. Honestly, this book is the best!