Morning, Noon and Night (Paperback) Review

I stumbled upon a discount copy of Spalding Gray's Morning, Noon and Night and was morbidly compelled to read it. Basically, he recounts a day in his life when his youngest son was still an infant.
Other of his works are better written and with sharper wit and insight, and to plod through this one - to get it - you have to hear Spalding tell it in your head, see his expressions and mannerisms.
This memoir is something of a reflection on parenthood, and, well, everything, in true Spalding fashion. The book is full of sentiments that everyone confronting parenthood can relate to. I found myself angry at him for saying some of it though (OK, so I'm not finished with my anger just yet). Toward the end he writes:
"Here it is only ten-fifteen in the evening and I'm wasted, and I didn't even go to work. I don't know how people do it. I don't know how people raise families and work at the same time. What's more, why would they want to do it? With only one life to live, why bring more life into the world to be responsible for? It's absurd. It's ridiculous, I think. Why complicate your life with more life that you are ultimately responsible for? I love my children, but they could only be accidents born out of a kind of blind passion. I could never have had a child if I had to think about it."
Although he didn't go to work, he didn't do much parenting either. His girlfriend, working from a home office, also cooked, managed the household renovations, tended to the baby. He was selfish and spoiled - yoga, bike-ride, drinking.
But in the light of his death this work also sketches a portrait of a very sad, confused, scared - desperately scared - childish man. (Lots of inky water imagery too.) The humour and the wonder had already started leaving him.
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Never Come Morning [Paperback] Review

I noticed in another customer review of this book that two key pieces of plot information are provided in the review itself.That is something no reviewer should ever do.Don't let that blemish keep you from buying this remarkable book.Never Come Morning is one of the finest novels you will ever read.This is Catcher In The Rye for the rest of us, for everyone who grew up more worldy than Holden Caufield.
Algren opens a window on Chicago's ethnic, inner city streets.The sights, sounds, smells, words and music of Chicago in the late 1940's are right there in front of you.He then points his highly accurate lens on his character's hearts, minds, concerns, fears, worries, struggles, hopes & dreams.
Never Come Morning is a lyrical, poetic work of fiction that's nonetheless so realistic it could have been yanked straight from the headlines of any city's newspapers, in any era, from the 1940's straight through to 2004.The novel describes the lives of several teenagers living on Chicago's Near Northwest side, in the late 1940's.It is realistic yet never exploitive, heart-wrenching yet never heavy handed.
Those familar with Chicago neighborhoods will delight in seeing The Triangle, Riverview, Humboldt Park, Division Street, Chicago Avenue, Western Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue, Oak Street Beach and Logan Square referenced in print.As El trains fly overhead - some down tracks still with us and some down tracks long-gone - you will be astounded at how well this writer has captured the Chicago of your youth.
Those familar with Chicago characters like the ones in this novel (Bruno Bicek, Steffi Rostenkowski, Catfoot Nowagrodski, Fingers Idzikowski, Fireball Kodadek, Bibleback Watrobinski, Casey Benkowski, Momma Tomek and The Barber) will have to put the book down and take a walk outside.The memories that come flooding back will be too STRONG, and too REAL.
Anyone who's lived in a neighborhood where kids run the nighttime streets, anyone who's ever hung out on a corner, tossed dice against a warehouse wall, walked a freight yard, played ball for a Park District League, been to Riverview, swam at Oak Street or dated a girl from the neighborhood will be shocked from the sheer force of recognition this amazing novel provides.
Yet even those who've never set foot in Chicago will be spellbound by this remarkable, poetic novel about tough kids growing up under tough conditions in a tough town.A must read for anyone interested in American Realism, and/or fiction carved from real life.

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Product Description:
A reissue of a classic American novel, with an introduction by Kurt Vonnegut, Nelson Algren's second novel, originally published in 1942, tells the story of Bruno Bicek, a tough from Chicago's Northwest Side, and Steffi, the woman who shares his dream while living his nightmare. "An unusual book and a brilliant book." -- The New York Times

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A Long Way from Welcome (Morning Gate Bks) [Paperback] Review

Easy to read crime-solver story, and stays interesting throughout. Except for kids sneaking out in the middle of the night, the main characters are good kids. The story deals with loneliness, but there isn't anything dark in this novel, like so many others aimed at the pre-teen audience. No drugs, suicide, gangs, foul language, etc. Though it won't be a literary classic, it's good enough for pleasure reading outside of school.


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Son of the Morning [Audiobook, CD, Unabridged] [Audio CD] Review

This is one of Linda Howard's book that is a keeper.It has everything you could ask for.It's adventurous and sexy, there is mystery and excitement. If you haven't read it - you are in for a treat!

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Product Description:
A scholar specializing in ancient manuscripts, Grace St. John never imagined that a cache of old documents she discovered was the missing link to a lost Celtic treasure. But as soon as she deciphers the legend of the Knights of the Templar - long fabled to hold the key to unlimited power - Grace becomes the target of a ruthless killer bent on abusing the coveted force. Determined to stop him, Grace needs the help of a warrior bound by duty to uphold the Templar's secret for all eternity. But to find him - and to save herself - she must go back in time . . . to fourteenth-century Scotland . . . and to Black Niall, a fierce man of dark fury and raw, unbridled desire. . . .

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Morning Wood (Paperback) Review

Excellent book if you are into street art/graffiti! Tons of today's best artists! Highly recommended.

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Product Description:
Compiled by Roger Gastman, art directed by John LaCroix, and written by IanSattler, Morning Wood features the work of 50 of the world's top alternativecreators. Morning Wood provides a long-awaited forum for well-knownvisionaries like billboard liberator Ron English; the creator of the GarbagePail Kids, John Pound; and Sex Pistols art director Jamie Reid.Togetherwith these living legends of the alternative art world, Morning Wood alsofeatures the latest generation's brightest artistic and photographic starssuch as ESPO, Cynthia Connolly, Dalek, Giant, WK Interact and Estevan Oriolto name just a few.Other artists included are Ricky Powel, CYCLE, ZEPHYER,GIANT, and Chris Yormick.
Morning Wood delivers an incredible amount original art to the reader, aseach artist was given complete freedom in their own section to present aselection of his or her best work in four full-bleed pages. The currentbiographies that are included assist in putting this remarkable 21st centuryart into context.

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Red Sky in the Morning [Paperback] Review

This was an awesome book.I couldn't put it down.It was a very intriguing story line that entangled me into the lives of the characters.

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Product Description:
The North Coast boating community of Vermilion seems an idyllic place to cast off the woes of the world. But for Captain Jack Grayson, the great inland sea called Lake Erie holds enough demons for a lifetime. As Jack struggles with the death of his wife during their anniversary sailing cruise, he discovers he is not the only one in town fighting back the past. A bizarre confluence of events embroils an eccentric circle of sea captains - The Captain's Quarters - in a complex scheme of organized crime, treachery, and murder at the hands of the infamous Paddy Delaney - Lorain, Ohio´s resident gangster. As Jack and his crew work to save his godson from Paddy´s grip, he finds himself struggling with life and death at the end of a lifeline attached to the same yacht that claimed his wife. In Jack Grayson's compelling fight to survive an unpredictable and treacherous lake, we discover the redeeming power of family and friends to heal the wounds of the past. Richly set in the nautical history of Lake Erie, this story changes course and complexion with each chapter. Through the exploits of complex and enigmatic characters we get a glimpse of life in a deceptively quaint boating community on America's North Coast. Red Sky in the Morning is an exciting read for anyone who has searched for redemption and a second chance at life.

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Magic Tree House Boxed Set, Books 1-4: Dinosaurs Before Dark, The Knight at Dawn, Mummies in the Morning, and Pirates Past Noon [Box set] (Paperback) Review

When My son was younger these were among his most favorite books.He made sure we saved these so he could pass them on to his little brother to read to him once he is old enough.These are simple chapter books.They range in page count from about 68 to 96 pages I believe so they are relatively quick reads that can be read in a few nights depending upon your child's reading level.This set contains the first four books in the series:

Book #1, DINOSAURS BEFORE DARK

Book #2, THE KNIGHT AT DAWN

Book #3, MUMMIES IN THE MORNING

Book #4, PIRATES PAST NOON

The First, Dinosaurs Before Dawn tells the story of how jack and Annie (the series stars) first find the Magic Tree House and learn how the books can transport them to magical lands and worlds.The first takes them to the Cretaceous period. Through clues and reading the book in hand they learn and discover things about dinosaurs.

In the "Knight at Dawn", jack and Annie are transported back to medieval times.They find a castle and go exploring and find themselves on the run from the castle guards and worry they will never get back to the magic tree house.

"mummies In the Morning" Jack has always been fascinated by and pick up a book that has them traveling back to ancient Egypt.Jack and Annie enter a pyramid and get lost inside.Inside they find the ghost of an Egyptian queen whose been trapped inside the pyramid for ages and Jack and Annie try to set her free.

"Pirates Past Noon"Jack and Annie picture a wonderful beach and are transported to the times of Pirates where they are capture by Captain Bones who is seeking the treasure of Captain Kidd.

These books are geared for kids from the 2nd to the 5th grade I would say.They are entertaining, imaginative reads that help teach kids about history while being fun to read as well.Some have commented that the writing, technically speaking is weak.That may be in some spots but I feel this is mostly intentional as they are writing for 6 - 10 year olds.

These books are really a joy to read and I loved reading them along with my son.I'm glad we saved them!

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Product Description:
Ten years ago, Jack and Annie found a Magic Tree House in the woods and the world of reading was changed forever. Millions of letters later (from children, parents, and teachers around the world!)the exciting and inspiring four books are available together in a keepsake-worthy boxed set. The perfect gift to encourage a struggling new reader or remind old fans of the way they first discovered the magic of books.

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