MAD

The phrase "by distance enchanted, glorious, and romantical" used by the author (difficult to speak of since she has published as both M. J. Farrell and more famously as Molly Keane) captures the essence of this book. This novel is a lyrical account of a happy childhood, its tragic ending in the Irish war, and the recapturing of some of childhood's pleasures in young adulthood. It reminds me a little of Virginia Woolf's _To The Lighthouse_ in its ability to capture a moment in time and make it real and poignant. Like _To The Lighthouse_, _Mad Puppetstown_ is essentially elegiac, a tribute to a past time that is made more beautiful by its honesty in seeing the flaws that co-occur with life's joys. Another of Farrell's phrases in the book, "this web of littleness that was life day by day," captures the force that conflicts in the book with moments that are "enchanted, glorious, and romantical." Farrell's book is about the struggle to be happy, to rise above not only the pettiness of life, but also the tragic problems of Ireland. _Mad Puppetstown_ has a fairytale-like feeling, and some would argue its treatment of Irish politics and history is also romanticized and simplified. Readers of Farrell's _The Rising Tide_ might be startled by the contrast in the two books: _Mad Puppetstown_ is a hopeful novel in which the good can find happiness while _The Rising Tide_ depicts a more realistic, morally mixed, and much darker world: there is no "good" character or classic poetic justice.

Jan Beatty captures the beauty of Pittsburgh head-on in "Mad River." She also taps into the pain of growing- whether as a child or an adult- with real, raw emotion. There's a certain sadness that runs through this collection that is tinged with amusement, curiosity, and frankness. From "Not Thinking about Gardenias" to "Grabbing at Beauty," Beatty's voice continuously surprises and challenges the reader.

I got this book, a dime-a-dozen looking mass market thing, when I was about 11 (note the 1979 pub date) at the now-defunct G. Fox department store in Hartford, CT. They kept their little books area off to the side on one of the upper floors. You had to go through sporting goods and step down onto this sort of platform.
Anyway, this was around the time the ORIGINAL lord of the rings movie came out, I was blown away, and I regularly spent time looking for every bit of fantasy literature I could get. I've pretty much abandonded this genre nowadays, but over the years little bits and pieces of this book keep coming back to me, unlike many many others. It's a fish out of water story about a guy who's transported into a sort of alternate universe, but it appears to be populated by some of the people who he knew in his previous, conventional life. The villians are these weird, albino "Skalds", there's a lot of mental possession and stuff in it and as I write this I realize that to explain what's so cool about it is to give away some interesting plot points. Anyway, it appears to be available here at amazon for very little. I'd say, check it out. It's a hell of a lot more interesting than something like Lord Foul's Bane, which I thought was an ugly work.

As an opening, i just have to say i love this book, i searched for it on the site because i wanted a new copy because mine is very old, brown and in two peices. This book is great, i read it when i was little and i now found it again in my bookshelf and it's still funny. It touches EVERY aspect of advertisment in a funny sarcastic way. The book contains alot of fake adds that touch the different subjects the book speaks about. Even thou the book is very old, Some things never change. Too bad i can't get a new one.

A book as breathtakeing as the experience Byron Allen experienced. I was surprised to find so many of Byron Allen's books were no longer in print. I first heard of this modern day adventurer from a BBC report. Having the opportunity to visit England recently, I went to a popular bookstore and managed to find a copy or two of his various writings. Mr. Allen combines humor and a great intuitive knowledge to his writings and his travels. For anyone who loves a good story of adventure and daring-do, Mr. Allen's books are a must read. After finding so many out of print, I'm sorry I didn't buy more than just the two while I was able to. Although by no means a how-to book, it is absolutely the way things should be experienced.

I'm an Iddings, Jackie Iddings. Did a search on Iddings and your name appeared. We Iddings must keep track of one another - it's our duty. I will read your work - I promise.

More Mad's Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions by Al Jaffe is part of a series of books from Mad magazine. The book was originally published in 1972 when I was 7 years old and I found the book years later in a used book when I was a teenager and I found the book to be very entertaining and I kept it and I reread it a few months ago and I still find it to be a funny book. It is a series of humor books, I also have the first book in the series, Mad's Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions which is also very cute and funny and I recommend both of the books and I'm hoping to find the rest of the books in the series and I will really think about ordering some of the used ones for sale! This book was reprinted in the late 1980's but I think that it's now out of print. BTW: I only recommmend this book to people who like jokes that have snappy sarcastic comments because if you don't you will probably just find the snappy sarcastic comments rude.

I love don Martin. Unfortunatually my copy of this book is so worn that it is dangerious to read. It is saddening that his books are not more readily avialable.

"Don Martin Bounces Back", first published in 1963, continues the misadventures of Fester Bestertester and his hulking, pea-brained pal Karbunkle (created by Martin a year earlier in "Don Martin Steps Out"). All of their stories are funny, but "National Gorilla Suit Day" tops them all (and everything else the artist did for MAD from 1956 to 1987); it became the favorite of MAD publisher William M. Gaines.

Oh my god. This book is so hill-air-eus. Plus if you like Mad This is the best book for you. Also it will give you some thing to read in the car and to show to your friends.