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Author: Bill Geist
ASIN : 0767922727
Sales Rank : 3265
Studio : Broadway
Binding : Hardcover
EAN : 9780767922722
ISBN : 0767922727
Number Of Pages : 240
Publication Date : December 15, 2007
Release Date : December 15, 2007
Publisher : Broadway
Manufacturer : Broadway
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : Broadway
| “To say it very simply, freezer burn may very well have set in.” —neighbor on the frozen dead guy kept on ice in a backyard shed in Nederland, Colorado.
“Everybody loves a parade; we were just geographically challenged.” —David Harrenstein, organizer of a parade in tiny Whalan, Minnesota, where viewers are in motion and the “marchers” stand still.
“We haven’t lost anyone off these switchbacks in at least ten days” —Mailman Charlie Chamberlain, leading us on horseback 2,500 feet down the sheer walls of the Grand Canyon.
“Ours are the finest cow chips in the world today,” —Kirk Fisher, enthusiast, in Beaver, Oklahoma, world cow-chip capital and cow- chip exporter.
“We live out in the middle of the corn and bean fields, and there’s not a whole lot to get excited about, you know?” —Dan Moretz, on celebrating the day the sun sets in the middle of the railroad tracks in Hanlontown, Iowa.
“It’s like drilling for oil; sometimes you come up dry.” —Gay Balfour, who sucks problematic prairie dogs out of the ground with a sewer vacuum in Cortez, Colorado.
“All you have to do is beat the flies to it,” —Michael “Roadkill” Coffman on the secrets of cooking with roadkill outside Lawrence, Kansas.
“I ain’t gonna brake ´til I see God!” —driver named “Red Dog,” taking the track at a figure-eight school bus race in Bithlo, Florida.
“It’s a gift; you either got it or you don’t.” —Lee Wheelis, world watermelon-seed-spitting champion, Luling, Texas.
“I am the mayor, the board, the secretary-treasurer, the librarian, the bartender —that’s my most important title —the cook, the floor sweeper, the police chief, and I have the books for the cemetery, if someone wants to buy a plot.” —Elsie Eiler, the sole citizen of Monowi, Nebraska. Celebrated roving correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning and bestselling author Bill Geist serves up a rollicking look at some small-town Americans and their offbeat ways of life.
“In rural Kansas, I asked our motel desk clerk for the name of the best restaurant in the area. After mulling it over, he answered: ‘I'd have to say the Texaco, 'cuz the Shell don't have no microwave.’”
Throughout his career, Bill Geist’s most popular stories have been about slightly odd but loveable individuals. Coming on the heels of his 5,600-mile RV trip across our fair land is Way Off the Road, a hilarious and compelling mix of stories about the folks featured in Geist’s segments, along with observations on his twenty years of life on the road. Written in the deadpan style that has endeared him to millions, Geist shares tales of eccentric individuals, such as the ninety-three-year-old pilot-paperboy who delivers to his far-flung subscribers by plane; the Arizona mailman who delivers mail via horseback down the walls of the Grand Canyon; the Muleshoe, Texas, anchorwoman who delivers the news from her bedroom (occasionally wearing her bathrobe); and the struggling Colorado entrepreneur who finds success employing a sewer vacuum to rid Western ranchers of problematic prairie dogs. Geist also takes us to events such as the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival (celebrating an inspiring bird that survived decapitation, hired an agent, and went on the road for eighteen months) and Sundown Days in Hanlontown, Iowa, where the town marks the one day a year when the sun sets directly between the railroad tracks
Along the wacky and wonderful way, Geist shows us firsthand how life in fly-over America can be odd, strangely fascinating, hysterical, and anything but boring.
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December 02, 2007.
Hilarious.
Rating: 4
I'm a big fan of Chuck Klosterman's writing, and he did not disappoint with this book! It wasn't quite "Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs" but I like it better than "Fargo Rock City". The last section of the book was my favorite.
December 14, 2007.
Little disappointing.
Rating: 3
Had just finished killing myself to live and was really looking forward to reading this book. Was disappointed to see it was essentially a collection of articles he wrote for esquire etc, most of which I had read already.
December 10, 2007.
Not his best, but definitely worth the money.
Rating: 5
I bought this one based mostly on the strength of Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. While this one wasn't quite as strong as the last one, there were still plenty of thought provoking and laugh out loud passages. You definitely need to have a good understanding of pop culture to understand most of the references or even to know why he's asking Britney Spears questions about her iconic status. For those of us who don't have subscriptions to all of the magazines where these pieces originally ran, this is a good collection and well worth your time.
December 09, 2007.
the best.
Rating: 5
Although I have not read Fargo Rock City i have read the other two Books Chuck Klosterman wrote: Sex Drugs, and Cocoapuffs and Killing Yourself to Live, this one is by far the best. i enjoyed every page of Klostermans latest book. i would recomend it to anyone who enjoys reading about pop culture.
December 21, 2007.
Klassik Klosterman.
Rating: 4
My take on Klosterman is this: if you absolutely must get a pop culture fix by reading about inane movie stars or overrated bands, you might as well read someone who is smart and funny about them, and that person is Klosterman. Although not a metal fan, I loved Fargo Rock City, and found his essays in Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs exceedingly funny. Killing Yourself To Live didn't work as well for me, and I was glad to get another dose of his shorter works here ( all of which were previous published). The book (whose title is a reference/homage to albums by both Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath) is divided into three parts.
"Things That Are True" contains about twenty profiles and pieces of reportage. Included are the best Britney Spears profile ever ("Britney Spears is the most famous person I've ever interviewed. She is also the weirdest. I assume this is not a coincidence."), a very good U2 piece ("U2 is the most self-aware rock band in history. This generally works to their advantage."), and solid profiles of musicians The White Stripes, Radiohead, The Streets, Billy Joel, Jeff Tweedy, and metal tribute bands. There are also profiles of actor Val Kilmer, basketball superstar Steve Nash, a Q&A with Robert Plant, experiential pieces on Latino Morissey fanatics, the unofficial "Goth Day" at Disneyland, Akron-area clairvoyants, and a "Rock Cruise" (featuring Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Journey), and contrarian review essays on the documentaries "Super Size Me" and "Some Kind of Monster."
The somewhat briefer "Things That Might Be True" section contains about fifteen more personal opinion pieces written in recent years for Esquire (these are available at Esquire.com) and Spin magazines. Topics include how to recognize your personal nemesis and archenemy, the Olympics, guilty pleasures, monogamy, the ten most accurately rated artists in rock history, pirate vogue, robots, genetics, watching VH1 for 24 hours, etc. The final section, "Something That Isn't True At All," is a 35-page "not-so-loosely autobiographical" short story written back in 1999.
The style throughout is pure Klosterman, although there is a certain sympathy or quasi-compassion in some of the pieces that plays a nice counterbalance to his natural snarkiness. One rather refreshing element is the newly written introductions to each item in the first section. These provide an interesting context and are a peek into how a magazine writer might come to regret elements of their work. The pieces in the second section are introduced by the kind of pithy hypotheticals he unveiled in Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. Ultimately, the best way to read the book is leave it lying around the house and anytime you're tempted to pick up Entertainment Weekly or US or flip on MTV, pick it up and read something far funnier, smarter, and more insightful. Sure, it's just pop culture, but that doesn't mean it has to be idiotic.
December 27, 2007.
if there were more stars in your ratings.....
Rating: 5
mccarthy's astounding writing set my love and appreciation for the language on fire. his unique usages called up images of my father's writing, and set me to thinking about getting his nytimes best seller,'give us this valley', reissued.
who but mccarthy could turn a beheading into poetry?
December 26, 2007.
Thanks to reviewers....
Rating: 3
I appreciate your warnings. I just got this book (on CD) and was thrilled because it's been hard to find in audio form. I've read and appreciated everything by McCarthy, and couldn't wait for what I'd heard was his "piece de resistance." Now I think I'll skip it. I need roaring horror (as a friend of mine says) "like another neurosis." Maybe I'll change my mind; I've always been fairly impervious to violence. I loved The Road, and Deadwood is my favorite TV series. But this sounds over-the-top, 'Blood' curdling. I think I'll leave my blood uncurdled for the moment. If I change my mind, I'll write a review. Again, thank you for your, ahem, candor.
December 20, 2007.
This novel is experienced rather than read.
Rating: 5
This novel is an experience. I am not sure where to begin. It is not bound by proper character development or narrative trajectory. The most important event of the novel is never revealed--the reader is left to imagine that event, or at least sit uncomfortably with the implication of that event. And I suppose that is the most remarkable thing about the novel, the way the reader is implicated. But there is also the language, the imagery, the iconoclasm.
McCormac drives the narrative forward in unconventional ways. There is the sheer spectacle of violence and all the qualities of great writing. There are the questions raised in the reader's mind: How far will these men go? What events will force them to greater extremes? What kind of ugliness resides in the landscape ahead?
There is little question as to brutality of these men. I was never waiting for any sort of redemption or failure or revelation. There is no evidence in the text that such things are available in the world of this novel.
It is a novel of hyper-reality, of haunting images, of brilliant monologues. It is the sort of novel that makes me want to stop writing.
There are similarities between "Blood Meridian" and "All the Pretty Horses." The protagonists of both novels are 14-16 year old males. There are similar themes: an inability to deal justly with the world at hand, a longing for a world that is gone, transformative power of violence, loyalty, landscape, animals.
And not that this should be any measure, but I also noticed that "Blood Meridian" was not a best seller like the border trilogy. And that perhaps highlights one of the defining features of this book, it demands a lot of the reader.
December 13, 2007.
too violent.
Rating: 1
all about violence and no plot what so ever. guess people think he is cool because he writes so violent. I find him boring.
December 10, 2007.
Brutal yet beautiful. . ..
Rating: 5
I had never read McCarthy but picked up this book along with "The Road" due to all the Hype from the Oprah book club selection. While the "The Road" is a very good book it is not the masterpiece of "Blood Meridian." This is the most powerful Books I have ever read. McCarthy's style is highlighted here: sharp, dry, brittle, and panoramic. I was enraptured by how McCarthy was able to capture the imagery of the southwest landscape with his words. The story itself is horrific, epic, and yet commonplace, the conquering of the west and its people by the whiteman has been better illustrated. On top of all this McCarthy is a grand story teller, who can stretch the limits of imagination without losing the common touch-in other words he keeps it REAL. This is a challenge, but worthy one! On a lighter note I also recommend "Across the high Lonesome," a book set in the modern American west I picked up after seeing Larry McMurtry give it props.Across the High Lonesome
December 21, 2007.
near perfect.
Rating: 4
If you could just add a touch of the metaphysical a la Moby Dick to this novel, you would have, in my opinion, a perfect novel. But alas, mere greatness will have to do. Part mystery, psychological portrait, crime story, social commentary, this novel has so much to offer. One of the few classics I found truly enthralling.
Perhaps Dostoevsky is not so radical today as he was in his own time. His rather "crazy" characters are now more common in literature, but thanks in large part to him. Would we have Beckett without Dostoevsky? I think not.
I've read the criticisms here. Too many digressions -- perhaps, so skim through them, you as reader have that right. Anti-semitism, troubling. Now for the philosophy -- it's not great philosophy, nor was it intended to be, Dostoevsky is on record saying as much. Besides, the philosophy is that of the protagonist (not Dostoevsky's)and is meant to add to the richness of his character. Dostoevsky is writing to explore the character of someone who might hold these ideas. In fact, the starting point for the novel was a similar real event.
Perhaps I'm so satisfied because it's one of the only mystery novels I've read where the characters are explored to their fullest, and illuminate human nature so well. And think about it -- a murder mystery where you know who murdered who, and roughly why, and yet it still manages to build suspense! All based on psychological exploration, and the question of if or how the murderer will be caught. I think his psychological observations and insights are why he's considred so great. He and Nietzsche paved the way for Freud, and voila, 20th century man.
December 06, 2007.
Another Philosophical Classic from the D-Man.
Rating: 5
This is a most excellent work of fiction, though it can not hold a candle to, say, The Idiot or The Brothers Karamazov. As a Dostoyevsky fan, I rank this book as number three in his best works (out of the ones I've read so far). It's amazing, but I always manage to find myself in one of his characters. I think everyone can, and perhaps that's why Dostoyevsky is considered such a great writer!
Rodion "Rodya" Raskolnikov is a Russian college student who (to put it in his best friend's words) is "morose, gloomy, proud and haughty, and of late has been suspcious and fanciful. He has a noble nature and a kind heart. He does not like showing his feelings and would rather do a cruel thing than open his heart freely. Sometimes, though, he is not morbid, but simply cold and inhumanly callous; it's as though he were alternating between two characters. He never listens to what is said to him. He is never interested in what interests other people at any given moment. He thinks very highly of himself and perhaps he is right . . ."
This last part is probably the most true. Rodya thinks so highly about himself that he has written an article titled "Crime" in which a theory on the Extraordinary Man claims The Extraordinary Man, according to Rodya, has the full right to commit any crime he wishes and get away with it granted, of course, that the crime is aimed at improving the human race and society at large.
Rodya is so convinced that he's an Extraordinary Man that he sets out to prove it by commiting a murder. He so happens to know a cruel old woman who gives loans in exchange for collateral. She is very smart but unkind and abuses her younger sister constantly. Rodya sees the world as a much better place without her and sets out to "cross the boundaries that the Ordianry Man will not cross."
December 21, 2007.
dark and beautiful .
Rating: 5
what can be said this is a very dark story full of pain and sorrow. But it is a beautifully written story of Russia and its common people. A must read for all lovers of great lititure.
December 10, 2007.
Pleasing suspense and great literature.
Rating: 5
In this most excellent work, Dostoyevsky handily delivers us into a fascinating period of enclave urban Russian culture. I've read everything I can find in terms of Russian literature (and all other literature too!) and the writing and story in this one is just tops.
Of course, it's a story of crime but, maybe more importantly, it's an account of how human rebellion against the unjust facets of flawed leadership can culminate in tragedy for the masses and for individuals. We also get an historic peep at how anarchist and like philosophies of the period all over Europe may have been sparked.
As far as gratification for the reader goes, thanks to a shrewdly-placed epilogue, most of us are sated with an ending which we can all live with. The book is not entirely about human misery, though -- there are long moments of hope and even some intermittent humor. My favorite character of the entire work is the loveable scoundrel, Marmeladov.
So, what is the story about? The principal character, a dour, poor, off-and-on scholarly student by the dubious name of Raskalnikov (in English, it's wonderfully ironic that this name closely resembles the word "rascal"!), perhaps as a result of an entire life of pure misery, mentally evolves two demented ideas: the first is that, for certain "great leaders" (e.g., Napoleon), it's really a matter of destiny that they might, along their rise to power, kill off some of the insignificants of the world, and this is acceptable if it ultimately leads to a positive, (or even negative), notable conclusion. Raskalnikov's second idea is that he might just BE one of these fated Napoleons and, in his own rise to right all the injustices around his poverty-stricken environment, he is faced with killing a very nasty old woman whose primary offense against her peers is unscrupulous "usury" -- she's the local pawnbroker. The old woman also grossly mistreats her half-witted half sister who is clearly a decent person, and so Dostoyevsky makes it easy for all of us to hate her adequately to be coshed in the forehead with the back of a shrewdly-wielded hatchet. And it's no spoiler to say that Raskalnikov DOES murder the old woman in just that manner. BUT, an UNFORTUNATE CAVEAT immediately follows this case of "somewhat-justified homicide" in Raskalnikov's not-so-well-thought-out plan and THAT is what really gives rise to, and further fuels, the main story. The ensueing pages detail Raskalnikov's mental wrestlings with himself, his family, his friends, his enemies, and with one very shrewd "homicide detective" (examining magistrate) who is clearly and quite literally a "proto-Columbo," and notably hilarious in his own mild-mannered way.
There are multiple sub-plots as well, all of which yield ethical "flavours" and elements. In the end, the reader is rewarded with much more than s/he pays for to say the least, and will find this master-work of literature to be just a darn good read, albeit just a little depressing at particular moments. I say it's a "Must-Read."
Acquire it, read it, and keep it in the bookcase for a re-read!
December 09, 2007.
russian writer.
Rating: 5
grandson has an interest in Russia and introducing him to one of its authors.
December 20, 2007.
great character development.
Rating: 5
I liked this novel far better than the others in the series, partly because of the character development and for the lyrical writing (observations of nature especially). And though some might disagree, there's a lot to like about the way Gabaldon is handling Jamie and Claire's older selves. (Maybe you have to be middle-aged to get it?)
As for Brianna being "whiny," that's never been my impression - she's living in the "wrong" time and is, like all the other characters, facing very real hardships. (Though if the novel were more realistic, at least one of the characters from the 20th century should have died by now....) As for what Roger goes through, I see a lot of reality there, in terms of people who've recovered from serious illnesses and the depression that often goes along with them.
I believe Gabaldon's style and technique grow by leaps and bounds in each of these novels. this is by far the best in terms of style alone, and stands on its own as a historical novel. (Which is what I like; the romance aspect isn't as interesting to me, though it is fun.) I also am enjoying the way Gabaldon is developing the relationships - mother-daughter, father-daughter, etc.
December 16, 2007.
The Fiery Cross (Outlander).
Rating: 5
Loved it!!! These characters reach out and invite you into their lives, loves, hurts. I can get enough of this series!!!
December 15, 2007.
I hate to be writing this.......................
Rating: 2
I love the Outlander series and I'm in love with the characters, but this book is so boring. I am having the hardest time getting through this. The first 4 were great. I couldn't get enough, until I started this one. I haven't even finished it yet. I've gotten to page 647 and still Jamie's aunt is not married yet! The reviews for A Breath of Snow and Ashes are much better, so I've got my fingers crossed.
December 13, 2007.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz.
Rating: 1
Wow, I don't know what to say, but that I am relieved that I am not the only one who felt this way with this book. I'm also encouraged that the next book got better reviews! I'm reading it now. I almost decided not to, this book was so bad. But I loved the ones prior, so I fought my way through...it only took me two or three months! What a chore. Fortunately, the sixth book is already proving to be more interesting.
December 08, 2007.
The Fiery Cross Continues the Saga.
Rating: 5
This is awesome, it continues the saga of Jamie and Claire, in such detail. What a wonderful author Diana Gabaldon is!
December 20, 2007.
Another great read from Beverley.
Rating: 4
Good characterization and fast-moving plot! Also, plenty of romance without being too graphic. I really enjoyed this one!
December 08, 2007.
Lady Beware.
Rating: 4
Horatio(Canem) Cave (pronouced Cah-vay) is one of Beverley's most fascinating heroes. Those of us who read "The Rogue's Return" knew there was a good story behind Viscount Darien, and here it is. The reviewer who gave the book 1 star because she didn't like the first chapter should have stuck with the book a little longer. I enjoyed the beginning, where bad boy Cave corners toffee-nosed Thea on a landing during a ball, but admit that it wasn't very original. The development of the situation and the characters, however, was. Very quickly, the plot is overshadowed by the development of the characters, where the standard "regency rake" and well-bred-but-shallow debutante become 3 dimensional people that grab the reader's interest and sympathy.
Horatio is one of the 2 youngest children from an abusive family with several generations of brutes and sexual predators. He and his younger brother apparently escaped total corruption by being sent away from home at young ages, to school and then the army (and navy). While at Harrow, the troubled Horatio acted out by being aggressive and defensive. His attitude got him into a fight with Dare, one of the Company of Rogues (also Thea's brother) who dubbed him "Cave Canem" (beware the dog) as a play on his family name. This appellation made his life even more miserable at Harrow and left him with a grudge against the Rogues. He eventually adapted it later to "Canem" Cave. When the book begins, he has just left the army after distinguishing himself, and is now called Canem (Dog) by all. He has become Viscount Darien after his two older brothers (a drunken rapist and an insane syphalitic murderer) died as they lived. His family is universally feared and despised and he must somehow manage to salvage the family name so that his younger brother can marry the girl he loves, as well as to have any hope himself of a normal life. Thea is the woman he decides can help him accomplish this. She is willing to help him in exchange for his defense of her brother Dare who is suspected of cowardice under fire. Dare can't defend himself as he can't remember the battle in which he received serious injuries - especially since he became addicted to opium while recovering from them. He is now in the process of kicking his addiction and putting his life together (see "The Rogue's Return").
A very involving read, to the point where I was sorry when I finished it, and look forward to Beverley's next. My only quibbles are that the plot had too many unnecessary villains and Canem became a bit too noble at times to be consistent. I hope they tell the younger brother's story - I want to visit with these people again.
December 26, 2007.
Good writing, good characters...romantic but rather tame.
Rating: 4
Horatio Cave, Viscount Darien, is handsome and honorable and was an exemplary army officer during his ten years of service. However, he is treated as a dangerous pariah by the whole of London society because of his awful family history. He hails from a long line of murderers and debauchers, most recently his mad late older brother who raped and murdered a young lady. Having just come into the title, Darien is determined to repair the Cave (pronounced Cahvay) name. To this end, he cuts a deal with Lady Thea Debenham. Thea's brother Lord Darius, who was badly wounded at Waterloo, has been accused of cowardice, to wit, that he was injured fleeing the battlefield. Darien promises to vouch that he saw Darius injured in the heat of combat. In return, he asks that Thea betroth herself to him for six weeks. Thea is the well-respected daughter of a highly esteemed duke, and her stamp of approval will go a long way in redeeming Darien's reputation. Thea is desperate to help her brother, who is still recovering. So although Darien is a complete stranger to her, she agrees, and they seal their bargain - with a surprisingly mind-numbing kiss! Then Thea discovers Darien is one of the dreaded Caves and she immediately wants OUT...or does she?
Jo Beverley is a good writer whose Company of Rogue series I have much enjoyed, and this fine addition is no exception. I like both leads very much and feel their attraction is believable and their conversation natural and fun. I particularly like the way in which Thea's opinion of Darien is so charmingly transformed. And Darien's sad history and innate decency make for a most deserving hero. The book is light on erotic encounters, and the couple could spend a bit more time together, but the romance itself is quite satisfying and the story held my interest throughout. And a true romantic ending!
December 25, 2007.
Good in parts and slow in others.
Rating: 3
Lady Thea and Viscount Darien make for an interesting and exciting couple. He comes from a long line of bad blood, even murderers, and she is the darling sister of a wounded yet addicted war veteran, Dare (from a previous novel). Darien needs respectability and she needs to clear her brother's name of possible desertion. Darien holds the key. If she agrees to marry him, he will gladly swear that Thea's brother was, indeed, brave and noble and not a coward. After all, he says he was there to witness Dare's heroics. Lady Thea agress under great duress to this scheme. She and the ton are fully aware of Darien's family and she is determined to thwart this agreement.
This setup is original and I was prepared to put this book into the five star category, yet cannot. The writing was good and dialogue flowed nicely. However, for being a bad boy, Viscount Darien just didn't seem bad enough. I loved the verbal sparring that occurred early on with the two main characters. He was witty and the double entendres were delightful. He was tamed too quickly and I missed the early Darien
Lady Thea was thoughtful and loyal. Her actions usually conveyed both of these sentiments along with her words. She was likeable but the reader does not have a full picture of this woman. I believe she was in a previous novel. Presumably she helped her brother fight opium addiction. I think I would have known her much better if I had read the earlier Rogue book
The chemistry between these two started out sizzling hot but by the last third of the book was more of a simmer. The romantic interludes with these two are very few and far between. They also spend some time apart from each other. Absence makes the heart grow fonder but it can bore the reader. I skimmed these scenes quickly. The ending is tidy and well written but not terribly romantic. I give this one 3 ½ stars.
December 22, 2007.
Typical fare from a well-established author.
Rating: 3
I picked up this book because I knew Jo Beverly was a prolific and prominent author in the field of romance. I must admit I'm somewhat disappointed -- I regret purchasing this book. Perhaps my opinion is somewhat skewed by the fact that I had just read another romance novel that was the most refreshing and enjoyable that I had read in months, so that the contrast between a book that I found thoroughly engrossing and one that is merely not-mediocre cast this book in a poorer light.
Certainly, if you're a fan of Ms. Beverly and like her formula, this would probably be a good purchase and enjoyable read (I often find myself snapping up Stephanie Laurens Books even though I'd long ago found that 9 out of 10 of her Books are the same story with different names, because sometimes you just want more of the same). This book can certainly be considered above par for the genre, as it is most definitely better written than many other works I've read. As with most works from industrial-strength authors churning out volume after volume to a well-established fanbase, this book shows the stylistic polish of an experienced writer, but lacks originality. You have your typical dark hero struggling to overcome shadows of the past, your average headstrong not-the-average-lady heroine, and the omnipresent love-hate relationship where the chemistry between the two can light a wet blanket on fire but oh-he's-such-a-rogue-her-pride-won't-stand-for-it kind of thing. Sometimes this formula works really well, but I think it falls a little flat in this case. The pacing seemed a little uneven, with a lot of set-up going on in the first 3/4 of the book, and not enough room given for what should have been dramatic denouements but ended up feeling almost anti-climactic. As for the romantic tension, a lot of it felt artificial and contrived to me. I understood what the author had intended to be the underlying conflict that stood in the way of their living happily ever after in sweet matrimony, but it never really felt like a genuine, integral part of the characters. And speaking of the characters, though I did like the hero and heroine, I never really cared too much about them. To be honest, the main motivation behind my finishing the book at all was this stubborn I-paid-for-this-book-and-I'm-damn-well-going-to-read-it-all feeling.
My overall experience of the book was also not helped by the clunky prose that cropped up every now and then. One element that I found very irritating was that the author never seemed to trust the reader to pick up on the literary allusions she was making, and so it felt like she belabored the point that they were allusions. For example, at one point she quotes Shakespeare's Julius Caesar -- "Let slip the dogs of war," but merely italicizing the font wasn't enough of a tipoff that it was an quote, so she had to follow it up with "she remembered" to emphasize that the character was recalling a quote in case the reader got the mistaken impression that it was an original phrase. While I can understand her sentiment that the quote isn't quite as widely-known as "To be or not to be," the addition of the little phrase at the end of the quote interrupted the flow of the narrative and detracted from the dramatic impact of the quote (which was, to her credit, extremely well-chosen). Though, I suspect that might well have been the intervention of a too-careful editor. I can just see the editor saying, "Ms. Beverly, I really like your usage of the quote from Shakespeare, but I don't think most of our readers are familiar with the work, so they probably won't realize it's a quote, so you should make it more obvious for them." I wouldn't have minded so much if it were just one isolated incidence, but the whole book seemed to be weighed-down with over-explanation, such as in the beginning when the narrative is put on pause for one entire page while the author retells the story of Rumplestiltskin so that she can be sure that the reader understands the exact parallel that she was drawing between the heroine of the novel and the heroine of the fairy tale. Again, I suspect an editor is culpable, as the majority of her writing does flow rather well.
The bottom line: I'm sure fans of Ms. Beverly will enjoy reading this work of hers, as it features many likeable characters and familiar acquaintances from the her other books. As a first-timer reader of her works, I was not entirely impressed, but a reader who has experienced her better-crafted works would probably be able to overlook the faults I've outlined, just as I'm able to overlook similar shortcomings in some works by my favorite authors that fall short of their usual abilities. Thus, I would not recommend this book to those who are not already fans of either Jo Beverly or the Rogues series. I give it 3 stars for it being professional and reasonably well-written, but lacking in the overall experience and enjoyment.
Note: I've tried to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible, so I'll mention my opinions on plot-related matters in the following comment.
December 12, 2007.
You'll read this book through a blur of tears....
Rating: 5
I have never laughed so hard in my life - Bill Geist is a genius. I used half a box of tissue because I was laughing so hard all afternoon as I read this book that tears were pouring down my face and the print was blurry. As wonderful as the entire book was, my very favorite chapter was the first, "Standstill Parade" - I wanted to share the humor and realized that I would be incapable of reading that chapter to anyone without bursting into gales of laughter which would have spoiled for them. It occurred to me that married couples would drive each other crazy first by cackling and roaring with laughter during the entire time they read the book and then by wanting to share the humor with each other and trying to read while being unable to control their laughter.
I've been going through a very grim period lately and friends recommended this book. I'm now going to read Bill's other Books - sure worked better than antidepressants. Wait until you read about the "road kill stew" - the watermelon champion, the ride in a vintage plane with a man who had had five heart attacks to deliver papers to outlying ranches.
You'll read about "Mike, the Headless Chicken" - reminded me of when my father decapitated a chicken destined for the stew pot and it flew over the roof of the house before expiring - well Mike took a lot longer to expire - long enough to become famous. I won't give any more away - you have to read it yourself.
I promise you "Way Off the Road" is good for whatever ails you.
December 08, 2007.
Way off and way out!.
Rating: 5
Just when millions of Americans are hitting the road in droves this summer, along comes Bill Geist's funky and funny new book, "Way Off the Road". After twenty years of travel, the ubiquitous author has uncovered some of the nation's real oddities and has captured them in this perfect light read. Witty to the core, Geist's contributions leave the reader thinking, "does this really exist in America?"
Yes it does, and while all of these vignettes are worthy entries, some stand out more than others. I particularly loved his trip down to the floor of the Grand Canyon to help deliver mail and supplies to the Havasupai Indian tribe... and the story of the woman who IS the population of Monowi, Nebraska.....just one resident, Elsie Eiler. Elsie is the mayor, police chief, the secretary-treasurer, the librarian and the bartender, just to name some of the hats she wears. When the town's water meter needs to be read, Elsie (aged seventy-three) climbs a ladder, reads the meter, then bills herself and then PAYS herself. Heartwarming stories like Elsie's just don't get much coverage these days!
Geist also relates some of his own history about getting to many of these places (by plane, by car) and what it's like to stay in some of the more remote hamlets. Like a Letterman "Top Ten List", Geist offers advice to the wary traveler. He says, for instance, one of the signs you're in a bad restaurant is if the menu has sections like 'From the Sea'; 'From the Land"; From the Asphalt". But it's many of the quirky characters that come attached geographically that make the book shine. They're not all nuts, but some of them are. Speaking of nuts, his favorite museum curator was the late Elizabeth Tashjian, who ran the nut museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Having seen her once on "The Tonight Show" I would have agreed with his assessment.
Bill Geist's "Way Off the Road" is a perfect beach book, even if you live on the plains of Kansas and don't have a beach near you. I hope it does encourage those readers who are traveling around the United States this summer to stop in and see a few of the places he describes and perhaps meet the people associated with the book's anecdotes. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
December 27, 2007.
Gentle humor.
Rating: 5
Bill Geist travels the US and writes about small town America with gentle humor and fascinating facts. Some of his chapters are hilarious, some more gentle but all present a facet of the US most of us never see and might want to after reading this wonderful book.
December 27, 2007.
Something To Relate To.
Rating: 5
Excellent book. Hard to put down once you get started. Small town folks can really relate to the stories.
December 14, 2007.
Outstanding summer reading!.
Rating: 5
This book may someday be the only record of a vanishing and unique part of small town America. A wonderful adventure written with Bill Geist's best tongue in cheek news style. Perfect for summer reading (you can read one story and put it down if you MUST...but believe me you will pick it up again at the first opportunity!) Even though I have never been to many of these towns, I recognized the personalities of neighbors and friends - laughed out loud at descriptions of food and accomodations, and in general just thoroughly enjoyed this on my own small town front porch. Highly recommended *****+++++
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