MR

As a Peter Lorre fan who was very disappointed with Leslie Epstein's offensively inaccurate portrayal of my favorite actor in his novel "Pandaemonium," I was delighted when a friend tipped me off to this little-known mystery novel belonging to the "Hollywood movie star helps solve a crime" subgenre. Kaminsky cleverly uses the conceit of a Peter Lorre impersonator (at a time when Hollywood was swarming with them) as a device to draw both the real Lorre and series sleuth Toby Peters into a Macguffin chase that provides an excuse for an entertaining excursion into wartime Los Angeles society, in and out of the movie industry. The mystery angle doesn't really amount to much, but for a movie buff it's a pleasurable ride.

This is a well written book that just won't stop. You see the end from about page 20, but it keeps on with the story anyway. It's romance pure and simple. No complicated subplots. By about page 50, you feel like yelling "What are you, blind" to the two major characters. Alas they are. Read it if you like a good love affair. I don't.

I have always liked Charles Grodin as a film performer but remained unaware of his reputation and political views. After seeing a rather fun television interview promoting his newest book, I searched this out. The book style is established in the first 100 pages: a fun book of Hollywood and Theatrical anecdotes. But, then something terrible happens. Grodin begins to tell that some people find him difficult and then he graciously explains why they were the ones who were wrong. It was actually them who were difficult. The middle of the book is devoid of the humor so apparent at the start, much of it does return after the political material is exhausted. To the slightly informed, the book shines no new light on Hollywood but rather focuses light on human facets so often missing from industry stories. In the final analysis, I'll put on MIDNIGHT RUN when I'm in the mood for Grodin, the book is not worth a revisit.

As a rule, I usually like Regency novels by Patricia Bray because of the care she takes to develop the both the primary and secondary characters in her novels, the budding romance/relationship between the hero and the heroine, and because she almost never reverts to 21st century language colloquialisms. True, her plots are usually a rather straightforward read, with very few twists in plot-lines. However, her books are also so well written, that this small lack is seldom really felt by the reader. "The Wrong Mr. Wright" falls into the usual mold of a Patricia Bray Regency romance; and it is a well written, engrossing (when it deals with the relationship between Diana and Stephen) and enjoyable read. However, I was surprised to find that Bray had Diana behaving in a manner, in the latter half of the book anyway, that was not at all consistent with her character!

Stephen Wright, Viscount of Endicott, is beginning to enjoy the peace and quiet of life without his troublesome younger half-brother, George, when he receives some rather unwelcome news. It seems that just before George left England, he had found time to seriously compromise a young lady, who has since left London in disgrace. Stephen is appalled. He has spent much of his adulthood pulling George out of scrapes and paying his bills and debts. But this latest stunt beats all. Being an honourable man, Stephen immediately makes for the young lady's home in Kent in order to offer her his hand in marriage. He is quite surprised then when Diana Somerville (the young lady in question) refuses his offer of marriage. Diana has no desire to be married at this point, and certainly not to the brother of the man who had so seriously compromised her reputation. However, both Stephen and her parents convince her to agree to a sham engagement, if only to restore her reputation (and that of her family's), with the stipulation that Diana be allowed to cry off the engagement after a suitable period of time. And so in no time at all, Diana finds herself back in London, this time as the fiance of the Viscount of Endicott. And while she never expected to find herself engaged to so cautious and reserved a gentleman as Stephen Wright, Diana begins to appreciate his many sterling qualities -- his dependability and his honour in particular. And then George returns to London. Will George's return mean trouble for Stephen and Diana? Stephen cannot help but worry about what George's next move will be even as he faces the fact that he has fallen in love with the spirited Diana and would like very much to make their sham betrothal real.

And all in all, "The Wrong Mr. Wright" was a really enjoyable read -- especially when it the novel was dwelling on the developing relationship between Stephen and Diana. Bray does a really good job of allowing us to see that these two are meant for each other, and bringing their 'real' characters to the fore. The thing I didn't get however, was why after having presented Diana as an extremely intelligent and astute young woman, Patricia Bray would make her heroine suddenly susceptible to George's machinations? It is difficult to be more explicit in my criticism without giving too much of the plot away. However, take my word for it, Diana's decision to listen to George would not at all be keeping with her character, esp given what she had previously suffered at his hands earlier in the book. And this incongruity niggled at me so much that it quite distracted me from totally enjoying the novel. Which was a shame, because incongruity aside, this was an enjoyable read.

The jokes in this book are not only unfunny, they are not worthy of actually being called jokes. I have flipped through many of the pages in search of a good laugh and haven't found anything remotely close. I rarely post reviews. Out of curiosity I looked up this book on Amazon and saw someone posted 5 stars.

This person is clinically insane.

I am _that_ driven to post just to bring the average rating down. You will get more laughs with your seven dollars by renting Les Miserables.

If you want to be put in a bad mood, then read this book. I've had the book for a few weeks now and I still haven't found one funny joke. The author of this book must be the guy at the party that drives you crazy with tons of jokes that are not funny. I highly recommend that this book be destroyed.(...)

This book is about what else, dirty jokes. I am not saying the people who have written a review for this book already are wrong, but this probably was not their kind of book. It is the funniest Dirty Jokes book I have ever read and it has hundreds of jokes.

These kind of jokes are NOT for everyone! Maybe the previous people are too young or immature, too understand the subject matter{No offense}.

I suggest it too anyone with a sence of humor

Have A Good LiFE

If you wish to waste your time, read this book. This is just another liberal who wishes he had the following that Rush has. Rush's logic is in fact quite good and there are a number of other books that give you the other side. Marxism is dead around the world except in the USA. Its these type of liberals that keep it alive.

I found these reviews to be the most even handed.

The Truth hurts!, August 13, 2001
and
Repeatedly Distorts What Limbaugh Says, January 4, 2000

Reviewers appear not to understand that the book is tongue in cheek. Dr. Perkins realizes that Limbaugh is a talk show host of the Donahue school, providing entertainment but not argument or logical persuasion.

Lancek is right to point out that Rush is only an entertainer, and "a reader" is correct that passages from Rush that Perkins presents as containing arguments often were not intended as arguments.

As far as being an introductory text in logic the book is good. It combined successfully clear instruction with the popular culture of its day. I wish Perkins had been able to find more examples of unequivocal fallacies. So many of his examples could be resolved as the fallacy of "evading the issue" rather than some other fallacy.

This book should be required reading for all students at some point in their education. Perkins, a Professor of Logic, provided an excellent and concise explanation of logical thinking by using examples of illogical statements drawn from several books by Rush Limbaugh.

Honest, logical, clear thinking is the only sure antidote I can think of to the distorted, hateful, polarizing rantings of people like Limbaugh.

Congratulations, Dr. Perkins!

This book should be renamed "DON'T Marry Me!" or "Why you DON'T (ever) want to marry (or meet) a professional man". I think that authors mistakengly assumed that they represent all professional men. We can only hope they were wrong! If they aren't, we must steer clear off all "professionals" for our own sake. There's no place for Love in the authors' world. I don't think authors will ever be satisfied by the woman whom they find using their own guidelines, a woman who can fit them or can sucessfully pretend that she can. The next step, after a few years, would be cheating with your wife's best friend, I'm afraid.. So, ladies: do you want to be enslaved to desires, needs and likes of a man who entirely doesn't care about you or cares if you're healthy and alive only as much as he'd care about his any other property, like a car? Do you want to serve HIS CAREER with YOUR LIFE? Buy this book..

I perused this book recently, and I have to agree with most of the other reviewers here. To quote Lisa Simpson, "I can't believe they expect us to swallow that tripe!" First of all, the book is full of contradictions. The authors tell the reader that she shouldn't expect her relationship to follow any kind of time table, and to let it proceed at its natural pace, but a few pages later mention that if you aren't married to your man within five years of your first date you *must* leave him, because he obviously isn't interested. This book is full of similar "orders" to the reader (based on his reaction to the mention of marriage, you may be ordered by the authors to leave your man.). Also, the writers' assurance that a man's career will always come first and is the sole reason for his existence is a bunch of baloney (as is the suggestion that a man will only be faithful if you remove "distractions" from his life; or, he doesn't ever go out to anywhere where there will be attractive single ladies again, since they will obviously lure him away from you.) Ladies, there are men--successful, wonderful, caring men--out there who realize that money is not everything in life. I know this because I've been dating one for the past seven months.

As for the authors, 1) their perspective is relatively narrow despite the "range" of careers they have since it comes out of New York City. Enough said. 2) I feel sorry for Brad and Rich's wives. The book treats them like they were prizes to be won, and the authors were successful! Yessssssss! 3) Is it any wonder that Chris is still single?

If you think this book is a load of ..., then you ought to read the title story in "The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing" by Melissa Bank, which parodies this kind of junk.

Happy fishing.

You don't want to wind up with one of these guys! It's better to find yourself a drug dealer.. The book is a display of inhumanity and chauvinism. Authors insist of creating a little world where everything revolves around the Sun--his Professional Grace. The authors seem unaware of the word "love". Try to write to prison penpals or something like that: you'll find more love from convicted killers then from these guys!

Although this book does have some practical advice that ANY half consciuous husband/boyfriend should know, it's mostly an egotistical expose into the life and times and a former party boy now turned Christian do-gooder! If you have to read a book like this to LEARN to treat the woman you married with the respect and love and romance she DESERVES and has deserved since you married her - then you have bigger problems than this! It should come naturally if you have a good and decent heart! IF YOU'RE REALLY A MAN, then you should KNOW in the very CORE of your being WITHOUT having to be told by someone like this. It's always the MEN who FINALLY WAKE UP from 'boyhood' and now are going to change or save the world (in this case other ASLEEP men) - meanwhile the WOMEN have ALWAYS been awake!!! Good luck, now you're wife has to put up with YOU BEING THE NEW REFORMED HUSBAND! Frankly, i'm sure she could care less, JUST DO IT and shut up! You're LONG overdue!! How about this for ROMANCE! Stay home and take care of the kids for a week and pay for a vacation for her at a health spa!!

Real Stories that I could relate to and apply.
Good stuff

Since I'm familiar with both British and Japanese cultures, I was really looking forward to reading this. I was horrified. The Japanese are portrayed as narrow-minded. He makes fun of their broken English. The Japanese girlfriend is the sterotypical submissive Asian woman. The plot is extremely far-fetched. The main character lacks sympathy. He's taking advantage of this girl and then has no backbone when standing up to her family. He hasn't even called his own parents in three years but the father is supposed to be a jerk even mentioning this fact. The most disturbing part of the book is a man named Samuel who's married to a Japanese woman. He's portrayed in a very unsympathetic light and I found the whole role he plays and thinly veiled anti-Semitism.

The main character is glib and self-serving. The book is very superficial. Wish I hadn't bought it.

Atmospheric and ominous, this short novel reads like a cross between a Raymond Chandler detective story and a Haruki Murakami romp. It also recalls elements from recent films "Lost in Translation" and "Shall We Dance?", though the book is much darker than either. The mood is lightened by the well-observed, broken-English dialogue spoken by the Japanese--truly a hoot--but it must be pointed out that the Japanese, or at least the ones depicted in this book, do not come off well at all.

After living as a foreigner in rural Japan (Shikoku) for over 2 years, I found this book hilarious. It is definitely satire and full of grotesques. However, the characterization of Daniel's Japanese girlfriend is SPOT ON. Not to say all young Japanese women are like this, but gaijin-o-philes ARE typically older women finally edging out of their cutesy adolescence (This usually lasts until about 27) when they are finally putting away their Mickey Mouse socks.

The subtle nuances, such as many Japanese furtively attempting to hide their surprise at seeing a foreigner in their midst is ingeniously correct. I jump at seeing other foreigners too and try to hide it. Everyone is usually so homogenic that it is surprising to see someone new and different. And many people often call me "Foreigner" and "Alien" to my face and suggest I go meet other foreigners like myself and do "foreigner things together."

It is one thing to read books about Japan and visit as a tourist. The experience is completely different living and working here. Foreign workers soon realize that the Japanese cannot be wacky and polite all the time, and that the enormous strain that the Japanese put themselves under for long hours and company loyalty, is demanded of foreign workers as well. Behaviors that are known as "cruel" are considered "acts of dedication" here.

The Japanese give many gifts and are gracious to tourists, and initially to foreign workers, but then demand to be paid in kind with much sacrifice in terms of family, salary, choice, independence, loyalty, etc.

The characterization of Daniel's ESL School boss had me and my friends in stitches. Her character is not grotesque. I have met several owners of small private English schools that are like her or worse. Whenever I interview with someone like Chiba-san, I quickly run for the hills and make sure I do not sign anything or leave any information about myself.

On the other hand, Daniel was in a terrible situation, did all the wrong things, and put himself in harm's way repeatedly in a very doltish manner. This was done, I believe, to maximize the comedic effect. Daniel knew very well about Japanese behavior as viewed from a very English perspective. Yet, he knew next to nothing about the culture, i.e. he had no idea who he was tangling with.

This is a good book, serving up a side of Japan that is rarely seen in novels or academic texts. It should be taken with a grain of salt, but it serves as a decent counterpoint to books on shrine-ettique and Ikibana.

Having just finished this book id say-dont bother.Pulp fiction at its dreary worst,definetly for those who enjoy gratuitous mindless trash.Characters so stereotyped or simply detestable,the whole thing leaves you cold.I read this as a 'rest' between books of quality but why do i bother with modern populist bilge.Try Umberto Eco if you want modern quality or even Patricia Cornwell:ill stick to my Dickens,Nabakov,Dostoevsky,Joyce thanks all the same-and to think that a awriter like this might make a living producing 'writing' like this.Wow.

Having just finished this book id say-dont bother.Pulp fiction at its dreary worst,definetly for those who enjoy gratuitous mindless trash.Characters so stereotyped or simply detestable,the whole thing leaves you cold.I read this as a 'rest' between books of quality but why do i bother with modern populist bilge.Try Umberto Eco if you want modern quality or even Patricia Cornwell:ill stick to my Dickens,Nabakov,Dostoevsky,Joyce thanks all the same-and to think that a awriter like this might make a living producing 'writing' like this.Wow.

Gaitano's skills as a writer are a level or two above most mystery authors. Great hard-boiled, fast-paced cop story. This author knows and writes about Chicago better than any other mystery/thriller writer.