Books

The Only Game in Town: Baseball Stars of the 1930s and 1940s Talk About the Game They Loved (Baseball Oral History Project)

Average customer rating:

For the serious fan
For all baseball fans
Not the "the glory of their times".
Interesting memories by old-time players
Revealing

The Only Game in Town: Baseball Stars of the 1930s and 1940s Talk About the Game They Loved (Baseball Oral History Project)
Fay Vincent
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

History | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Sports Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero
The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth
Tris Speaker: The Rough-and-Tumble Life of a Baseball Legend
Red Legs and Black Sox: Edd Roush and the Untold Story of the 1919 World Series
Black and Blue: The Golden Arm, the Robinson Boys, and the 1966 World Series That Stunned America

ASIN: 0743273176

Book Description

But this was also the era of great Negro Leagues stars who never had the opportunity to play in the major leagues. Buck O'Neil remembers the outstanding players of his day who never got their chance or whose turn came too late -- Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige among them.

Two great events happened in the 1940s, and one of them would change the game forever. World War II took some of these great players off the diamond and put them into a different kind of uniform. Warren Spahn pitched his first game in 1942 and didn't pitch again until the war ended, getting his first victory in 1946 (nonetheless he won more games than any other left-hander in history). As he recalls here, he served his country memorably in the war. Then in 1947 Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, followed only a few months later by Larry Doby, the first African-American in the American League, who vividly describes what it felt like to be the only black ballplayer in the clubhouse -- and the league. The game began to change after integration, and home run king Ralph Kiner remembers how some clubs were quick to sign African-American players and thrive. Meanwhile, some Negro Leagues stars, such as Monte Irvin, itched for the opportunity to face the major leaguers and prove that, like Robinson and Doby, they could compete with the best.

All of these ballplayers recall their favorite memories: the games that mattered most, the players they all admired, the childhood experiences that shaped their lives, and the deep affection for the game that has always remained with them.

Illustrated throughout, The Only Game in Town is a fascinating trip through two decades when baseball changed profoundly. Like The Glory of Their Times, it is a book that will find a permanent place on every fan's bookshelf.

Download Description

In this delightful book that every baseball fan will cherish, ten outstanding ballplayers remember the heyday of the game in the 1930s and 1940s. It was the era of Gehrig and DiMaggio; of Foxx, Greenberg, and Williams; of Grove and Feller. Elden Auker, Tommy Henrich, Dom DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky, and Bob Feller recall some great rivalries: Auker pitched to Ruth and Gehrig, then faced Dizzy Dean in an unforgettable World Series; Henrich was a clutch player for the Yankees who alertly turned a passed-ball third strike into a World Series victory; Dom DiMaggio was a superb center fielder who batted .298 lifetime and nearly ended his brother Joe's hitting streak; Pesky, a Red Sox mainstay, was blamed for Enos Slaughter's dash home that was the most memorable play of the 1946 Red Sox-Cardinals World Series; and Feller was a teenager when he faced -- among others -- Foxx, Greenberg, and Joe DiMaggio. But this was also the era of great Negro Leagues stars who never had the opportunity to play in the major leagues. Buck O'Neil remembers the outstanding players of his day who never got their chance or whose turn came too late -- Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige among them. Two great events happened in the 1940s, and one of them would change the game forever. World War II took some of these great players off the diamond and put them into a different kind of uniform. Warren Spahn pitched his first game in 1942 and didn't pitch again until the war ended, getting his first victory in 1946 (nonetheless he won more games than any other left-hander in history). As he recalls here, he served his country memorably in the war. Then in 1947 Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, followed only a few months later by Larry Doby, the first African-American in the American League, who vividly describes what it felt like to be the only black ballplayer in the clubhouse -- and the league. The game began to change after integration, and home run king Ralph Kiner remembers how some clubs were quick to sign African-American players and thrive. Meanwhile, some Negro Leagues stars, such as Monte Irvin, itched for the opportunity to face the major leaguers and prove that, like Robinson and Doby, they could compete with the best. All of these ballplayers recall their favorite memories: the games that mattered most, the players they all admired, the childhood experiences that shaped their lives, and the deep affection for the game that has always remained with them. Illustrated throughout, The Only Game in Town is a fascinating trip through two decades when baseball changed profoundly. Like The Glory of Their Times, it is a book that will find a permanent place on every fan's bookshelf.

Customer Reviews:

For the serious fan.......2007-03-24

An oral history that catches the ethos of an earlier time in a most wonderful and unspoiled manner. Vincent's editing never disrupts the beauty or the simplicity of memories that flow from the passions of the men who played in the 30's and 40's. This is a work that ranks with those of Honig and Ritter. Easy read. An essential for the baseball library. An absolute delight.

For all baseball fans.......2006-10-20

This is a book that any baseball fan needs to read. It makes us appreciate the game back when it was pure. When the game was truly the national pasttime, and the players such as Monte Irvin, Ralph Kiner, and so many others played a game they loved. Yes, it was a business, but it was also a game, which it's not anymore. It's a sport, no more, no less.

The stories of Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Satchel Paige, Jimmie Foxx, Casey Stengel, and the ones we love reading about are there, along with Warren Spahn and Tommy Heinrich, Bob Feller, and Larry Doby. The discuss their lives, teammates, and what made baseball great.

I wish I could give this more than five stars.

Not the "the glory of their times"........2006-07-19

Interesting players in an interesting era, but not very tightly edited.

Interesting memories by old-time players.......2006-05-01

Former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent provides an interesting oral history of baseball by recording the words of ten of the game's top players. The players include stars of the big leagues (Dom DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky, Bob Feller, etc) one Negro Leaguer (Buck O'Neill), and two that played in both venues (Larry Doby, Monte Irvin). Each player spoke into a tape recorder, and their words are printed here, apparently verbatim. I liked the memories and insights from this diverse group of stars, not all of whom were educated or articulate. One wonders how many of today's pitchers follow Warren Spahn's method of stretching his arm between starts. I'm glad these interviews were conducted; Doby and Spahn both passed away in 2003, while at this writing the others range in age from 83 (Ralph Kiner) to 95 (Eldon Auker).

Some note that Lawrence Ritter (GLORY OF THEIR TIMES) and Donald Honig (IMAGE OF THEIR GREATNESS) wrote similar books about baseball's past, and perhaps in better fashion. Still, this version is a readable and interesting first-person look at baseball.

Revealing.......2006-04-24

I loved this book. The players seemed more self-revealing, more confessional than usual. Maybe there's something about sitting in front of a former Commissioner that encourages full disclosure. Some examples: Bob Feller:"Josh Gibson couldn't hit a curve ball if he had an ironing board"; "Tommy Henrich could hit me if he had his eyes closed." Warren Spahn: "(Teammate Sam Jethroe) couldn't see, ran on his heels. He'd run by fly balls so hard it took him ten minutes to retrieve the ball..." Dom DiMaggio speaks of his dread of making eye contact with his brother right after he robbed Joe of a hit to put The Clipper's historic streak in jeopardy. And Larry Doby movingly tells of his gratitude to Joe Gordon for inviting him, a rookie and the AL's first black, to a pre-game catch. It was a public show of acceptance and Doby never forgot the kindness. Vincent has a knack for poking around in crannies that others ignore and that's why I gave the book four stars.

Ed Vane, Los Angeles, CA.

Lily Dale: The True Story of the Town that Talks to the Dead

Average customer rating:

A White Crow In A New Age Hamlet
An Interesting Book
Good, but perhaps mis-titled.
I liked this book
Odd omission

Lily Dale: The True Story of the Town that Talks to the Dead
Christine Wicker
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spiritualism | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Not In Kansas Anymore : A Curious Tale of How Magic Is Transforming America
Cassadaga: The South's Oldest Spiritualist Community (The Florida History and Culture Series)
The Abduction Enigma: The Truth Behind the Mass Alien Abductions of the Late Twentieth Century
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife
The Other Side of Salvation: Spiritualism and the Nineteenth-Century Religious Experience

ASIN: 006008667X
Release Date: 2004-04-13

Book Description

In Lily Dale, New York, the dead don't die. Instead, they flit among the elms and stroll along the streets. According to Spiritualists who have ruled this community for five generations, the spirits never go away -- and they stay anything but quiet. Every summer twenty-thousand guests come to consult the town's mediums in hopes of communicating with their dead relatives or catching a glimpse of the future. Weaving past and present, the living and the dead, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Christine Wicker investigates a religion that attracted millions of Americans since the 1800s. She reveals the longings for love and connection that draw the people to "the Dale," introducing us to a colorful cast of characters along the way -- including famous visitors such as Susan B. Anthony, Harry Houdini, and Mae West. Laugh out loud funny at times, this honest portrayal shows us that it ultimately doesn't matter what we believe; it is belief itself that can transform us all.

Customer Reviews:

A White Crow In A New Age Hamlet .......2006-01-13

Christine Wicker's Lily Dale: The True Story of the Town That Talks to the Dead (2003) is a breezy but somewhat misguided and misleading book about the famous spiritualist community located in western New York State. The cover photo and all those included inside suggest that 'Lily Dale' is a historical overview of the town, which has existed since the 1800s. But the book, which is identified as "history" on the back flap, is largely about the author's experiences there over a period of three years, with only glancing references to the town's past. Though the community's resident professional mediums, psychics, and channelers are prominently featured in the text, no photographs of them are included; no present-day photographs are included at all.

Wicker, a "religion reporter for the Dallas Morning News," is a likeable and often engaging writer, but, as she acknowledges several times, she is ambivalent about exactly what kind of book she wants to produce, and thus the entertaining early chapters promise far more than the book eventually delivers. The last third is particularly unfocused and meandering, as Wicker struggles with the clash of belief and skepticism that arises from her occasionally unsettling experiences. As a result, 'Lily Dale' sinks into a muddy subjectivity that seems unfair to both her audience and her subject.

However, Wicker excels at depicting the uncritical New Age atmosphere that dominates the community, which includes an official policy that no "bad news" derived from 'spirit sources' be passed on to its paying customers, and where "let's love each other" and "we ought to try to be nice" are current examples of the depth of Lily Dale's enlightening philosophy.

"Evil spirits, possessions, and hauntings" are also taboo, which suggests that some of the community's residents may be familiar with the late Joe Fisher's The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts (2001), a book certainly relevent to Wicker's subject as well as the ostensible activities of the town's professional community. Wicker herself seems to be unfamiliar Fisher's grim memoir, since she neither discusses it nor lists it in the bibliography. Elsewhere, one the resident spiritualist acknowledges that "mountains of fraud have been committed" by the community's mediums over the course of the last century, even while reports are reaching Wicker's ears that people are "morphing into animals" and "fairies...with wings beating" are appearing in the nearby woods.

Wicker follows the lives of several women looking for supernatural answers to a variety of problems in their lives, but she is far from uniformly sympathetic to those seeking messages, affection, and wisdom from the departed. "How nice it must be to believe that you're the little darling of the universe," she comments privately about one woman whose faith in the paranormal seems to come a little too easily.

Wicker can be quite astute, as when she writes, "It's as though we live inside a big egg, whose shell is made up of a million perceptions, comments, and occurrences that have hardened around us and blocked our view of anything else. All we see are the calcified remains of our experience, and every day the shell gets thicker. Lily Dale's spirits tap, tap, tap away until they break a tiny pinhole in the shell. A strange light comes through. And some of us start to kick our way out. That might be true."

Since Wicker is clearly very intelligent, it's unfortunate that she didn't make the objective history of the community her primary focus, especially since, unsurprisingly, no hard answers about the nature of the phenomena at the center of her book resulted from her experience.

An Interesting Book.......2005-08-31

I picked up "Lily Dale" thinking it would be about the history of this small spiritualist town, but although a few pieces of history are scattered throughout, this was definately not the major theme. Instead, this book is about the writer's journey from full-fledged skeptic to someone who at least wonders "what if...", and the cast of "regulars" in this town.

Lily Dale is a spiritualist community/summer camp that has been running since the 1800's. Once summer hits, this town is filled to the brim with those looking for help, answers, and some rest & relaxation. There are generally around 30 mediums/psychics/healers open for business during this busy time, and they hold many different classes having to do with various spiritual topics.

Althoug much of "Lily Dale" deals with the author's own transformation, several interesting stories re: the help received through various medium's messages are included. It is also shown that even the best psychics/mediums aren't right all the time - but then again, one really needs to question who is? I have yet to know anyone who is ever 100% correct in their work & family lives!

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to those interested in spiritualism & the paranormal - it's a real eye-opener.

Good, but perhaps mis-titled........2005-06-19

A more accurate title for the book might be "A True Story of the Town That Talks to the Dead" instead of "THE True Story". I think many readers go into the book assuming they're about to be told the entire history of this little town, and some are disappointed when they find only Ms. Wicker's experiences instead. I didn't really go into the book with any expectations, so I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I think a book on the history of Lily Dale, while interesting, would have to be incredibly long and could probably never be written by an outsider.

That said, I think Christine Wicker did an excellent job telling the story of her experiences in Lily Dale. Some readers seem to be put off by the fact that she is skeptical, but I think it's the job of any good journalist to be skeptical about their subject matter and to attempt to examine every piece of information given to them to ascertain (if they can) what is fact, what is opinion, and what is pure fiction.

I think that the book was a little hard to follow in some parts. She perhaps jumped a little too often from person to person, but other than that, the book was excellent. I think it takes a lot of courage for a serious journalist to put her neck on the line by examining something which mainstream society may very well scoff at, and to risk being labeled a "loony" by delving into things which are different and outside of the accepted norm.

Christine Wicker's skepticism and little self-mocking internal dialogue segments, reminded me of me and reassured me that she was really taking a hard outsider's look at this strange world and that there were some things she could believe and some things she couldn't. If she had written anything else, or written some sappy book about how everything was true and amazing and perfect, I probably wouldn't have made it past chapter one.

Anyway, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an open mind and has wondered whether or not our brains may be capable of more than we've imagined in the past.

I liked this book.......2005-01-15

Though I read reviews here avidly, I haven't written one myself before--I guess I'm a review lurker. I just want to say that I found this book to be a strangely accurate accounting of my own thinking and experience in becoming a Spiritualist and serving as a medium. I was raised in a religion similar to Southern Baptist, and, like the author, I wandered away from it and looked for other avenues of spirituality. The difference between the author and me is that I'm not a journalist, and I didn't come to Spiritualism demanding facts and evidence. I simply found it curious. I was more willing to trust, and, most importantly to me, it just felt right in a way I cannot explain.

Yet, strangely, here is a book that explains it. Sort of! There's no way to fully describe anyone's spiritual explorations in language, but in reading Ms. Wicker's encounters and observations in Lily Dale (humorous and otherwise), I found my own diary. I've never been to Lily Dale, so I cannot speak to the accuracy of her portrayal of the community specifically, but, based on my own experiences in Spiritualist churches, I'm betting she comes pretty close. Most of the elements of Spiritualism as it's practiced today, quirky and amazing alike, are present in the book. I liked the author's sense of humor about it. I also liked that the book ends in tone with Spiritualism's philosophy. I love the philosophy of Spiritualism, which, even in Spiritualist churches, is often upstaged by focus on messages.

A good read, I enjoyed it.

p.s. 1/18/06 update: When I wrote this review a year ago, I said I hadn't written a review here before, but I see that I had--five years before. That's still a lot of lurking!

Odd omission.......2005-01-15

I found it strange that there was no reference in this book whatsoever to the Natalie Merchant-penned song titled "Lilydale", from the 10,000 Maniacs' CD _The Wishing Chair_. Perhaps there was a copyright issue, but I would have thought that the author would have at least made mention of such a thing. That song was my first reference to Lily Dale, and made me interested in this book.

Average customer rating:

Tracie and Danita does it again?
Won't be talking in my town
Typical
Nope, sorry...
READY FOR THIS

Talk of the Town
Tracie Howard , and Danita Carter
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Friendship | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

Multicultural | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Revenge is Best Served Cold
Why Sleeping Dogs Lie
Success is the Best Revenge
Never Kiss and Tell
Friends With Benefits

ASIN: 0451207033

Book Description

Morgan Nelson and Dakota Cantrell are back, turning heads and turning up the heat as they take New York by storm. In this new novel, an unexpected pregnancy, a possibly cheating husband, and a secret between best friends are about to cause the professional success of these sexy, savvy heroines to take a very personal turn.

Tracie Howard and Danita Carter's sizzling debut, Revenge Is Best Served Cold, broke "exciting new ground in African-American fiction" (Kimberla Lawson Roby). Now they're back-and so are their invincible heroines-in a sexy new novel of romance and wealth...Manhattan style.

Customer Reviews:

Tracie and Danita does it again? .......2005-03-22

They sure do!!!!! They throw a novel together outlining everything BUT a good story. Once again, these authors make every designer in the fashion industry RICH, RICH, RICH! I hope all the designers you mention are kicking you two ladies down because that's all you seem to know how to write about. You would think you would learn from the reviews of Revenge Best Served Cold. STOP TALKING ABOUT GUCCI AND TELL US A STORY. and by the way Tracie, I have on a pair of Payless shoes! How about that, Ms. Howard?
As you Amazonee's can see, I'm so disappointed with this novel, and would only recommend it if you care about nothing but fashion! Take it from me. Save your money. Talk of the Town lacks everything from a plot to character development, and instead focuses on what the characters were wearing. Just like Revenge Best Served cold, Talk of the Town should also be served cold.

Won't be talking in my town.......2004-09-10

I was really hoping the writers would redeem themselves with this book. Unfortunately not. All the name dropping and descriptions of who had on what and making sure nearly every designer was mentioned grew old fast. The characters were all selfish, insecure and conceited in their own way. Dakota's reference to Lisa's Payless shoes was just nasty. When I read a novel, be it fiction or non, I look to be educated or learn something that can be used to educate someone else. Looking over my shoulder seductively in a thong isn't exactly what I had in mind. The writers made sure to mention the use of condoms, but only after they had "nibbled" on their partner's goods, first. Call me crazy, but what's the use? Believe me, I wasn't talking about this book in my town, and San Francisco may not be the New York metropolis, but we still know how to do it, whether we have, or have not. My advice, borrow the book from the library.

Typical.......2004-09-09

Pretty crappy book. Too much designer name-dropping for my taste. The writers seemed to happy to make sure they advertised expensive designers than writing an interesting story. Also the storyline was bogus, weak, predictable yet unbelievable.

Nope, sorry..........2004-05-11

This one was just as pitiful as their first. Characters were ridiculous, shallow, racist, materialistic and just plain stupid. To call this book garbage would be insulting to garbage.
One reviewer called this book "Glitz & glamour of the Rich and Famous." I don't know what substance she's abusing, but she's apparently abusing it a lot. The only glitz and glamour is in the minds of the two people responsible for the book (I cannot, in all good faith and fairness, bring myself to call them authors, or even writers), and while some of the people in the book are apparently rich, nobody is famous, except in their imagination. And for every dollar the supposedly rich folks in the book have, they also possess a ton or two of conceit, idiocy and selfishness. A comic book is deeper than this nonsense. WAY deeper. Save your mind; read a real book with a real plot.

READY FOR THIS.......2004-02-01

Great book with an entertaining plot and great characters. Read this on the recommendation of a friend.(Also read "Why Sleeping Dogs Lie" by Tracie and loved it). Normally rely on my instincts--been burned by advice on which books to buy before. Glad that I listened in this case. Can't wait for a followup

Average customer rating:

Very Good Sequel
Not as advertised

Talk of the Town Too
Saxon Bennett
Manufacturer: Bella Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Talk of the Town
Higher Ground
Sweet Fire
Behind the Pine Curtain
Both Sides

ASIN: 1931513775

Book Description

Welcome back to the world of Gigi, Mallory and the rest of the sun-baked gang from "Talk of the Town."

In this sequel to the wildly popular "Talk of the Town" readers are reintroduced to the characters in this ongoing contemporary saga.

Has Dr. Kohlrabi helped Gigi learn her lesson?

Has Alex really let go of her love for Gigi and is she really ready to move on to a life with Taylor?

Has Mallory finally given up her pajamas for good and has she found satisfaction in the loving arms of Del?

"Talk of the Town Too" answers these and many more questions.

"Talk of the Town Too" is the second in a series of books about the contemporary lives of this wild and fun-loving group of friends.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Sequel.......2005-04-11

Saxon Bennett brings back four of the main characters from "Talk of the Town" in this great sequel. (The back cover was wrong to mention Alex and Taylor because they don't make an appearance.) It was hard to get to know the characters in the first book, but the effort was worth it and made book 2 much better. Gigi is back dealing with her tenuous relationship with Caroline by participating in therapy with Dr. Kohlrabi. Caroline is still in love and living with Gigi. Gigi and Mallory learn how to be friends, and Del learns to accept that friendship.

Dr. Helen Kohlrabi has a much bigger part in this sequel. Her "straight," engaged, lawyer daughter falls in love with a female associate - Rafferty. Rafferty's mother, Bel, finds out, meets Helen, and those two women also fall in love. Like mother, like daughter. In the meantime, Gigi is writing a book for God. I'm still not sure why the author chose that device (i.e., bringing in a female version of God to interact with some of the characters) for the story. It seemed a little out of place, but didn't detract from the quality of the book.

Overall, I was happy to have spent a few hours of my down time to enjoy this book.

Not as advertised.......2005-01-07

The book jacket leads one to belive that Alex and Taylor show up. No such luck. Dr.Kohlrabi is different, and so is her daughter. Hair color, size, car, etc. are all wrong. They are now main charaters so some consistancy from book to book would be nice. A better blurb for the story line would be "Gigi writes book for God. All hell breaks loose."

Average customer rating:

Typical (Wonderful) Bennett
Amusing, light-hearted goodness
Light a candle for Saint Vulva and join in the fun!
Quirky Love Tale

Talk of the Town
Saxon Bennett , and Saxon Bennett
Manufacturer: Bella Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Talk of the Town Too
Higher Ground
Sweet Fire
Both Sides
Back Talk

ASIN: 193151318X

Book Description

Gigi and Mallory have been friends forever and while Gigi continues to flit from one risky, albeit usually humorous, caper to another, Mallory struggles to grow up and understand her life (and her love for Gigi). And even though their circle of friends can always keep things light and interesting, they can't shield Mallory from the betrayal that could destroy her newfound happiness. Of course, with enough beer, barbecue and B.S., anything is possible with these gals in this comic tale of contemporary lesbian life.

Customer Reviews:

Typical (Wonderful) Bennett.......2005-04-11

This is a great book with a cast of complicated characters. Gigi is a party girl who can't figure out who she really loves. Mallory wears pajamas -- all the time -- but appears normal otherwise. Caroline unknowingly stirs the pot by getting between them. Del saves the day.

It's a little difficult to get your mind around the varied characters and their intertwined relationships, so I suggest you read this one when you can concentrate on it fully. Once you've got everyone straight in your head, this is a very enjoyable book.

Amusing, light-hearted goodness.......2004-05-04

Now that I look back at the two other reviews of this book, I can't remember what prompted me to buy it. However, I am glad that I did. This was a very delightful book with very colorful characters and some downright funny scenes. I got a little confused in the beginning since there were so many characters, but soon straightened that all out. It's a page-turner, believe me. I finished it in two days since I couldn't wait to find out what was happening next.

The downside is that since there were so many female characters, I felt like some of them weren't given enough development. I could not put a face to any of the girls. Describing someone as having blonde hair and blue eyes does not give enough information. I have no idea how old any of these characters were. How tall were they? What kind of clothes did they wear (Mallory, we knew)? Did any of them have parents other than Mallory, Gigi and Taylor? At times since there was so much going on, it seems like the little details were ignored.

Overall, a good book. Would I recommend? Yes. Will I buy the sequel? Yes.

Light a candle for Saint Vulva and join in the fun!.......2004-04-07

"Lesbians need a patron saint. We could call her Saint Vulva." (p100.) This musing from one of the women in Saxon Bennett's novel, Talk of the Town sets the tone for much of the humor and antics.

Mallory, an attractive, intelligent lesbian who runs the successful Kokopelli-was-an-Alien vending machine company in Phoenix, Arizona is seeing a psychotherapist to deal with the trauma of her broken heart. Three years ago Caroline left. Since then, Mallory has worn nothing but pajamas and spends a great deal of time lost in her imaginary world aka the "Republic of Mallory." That is until she meets a new physician in town, a woman named Del.

Mallory's best friend Gigi is an artist who struggles with her ambivalence over artistic success while she works at the local sex toy shop. Although in a relationship with Alex, Gigi loves to flirt and she has flirted with Mallory for years. Still she has been true to Alex. Or has she? Kim is a nurse who works with Del and is getting over her relationship with Ollie. Meanwhile, Alex realizes that her happenstance relationship with Gigi might not equal love.

If you're starting to feel like you'd like to have a score card to keep track of some of the antics of these women, you're not alone. Bennett's cast of characters is sometimes confusing to the reader. This is particularly true in the book's early pages. However, this weakness is mild in comparison to the story's pleasure factor. There are lots of witty and touching moments in Talk of the Town as well as a few surprises.

Bennett's women are intelligent, delightful entertainment that is reminiscent of early Rita Mae Brown novels, including her use of fiction to depict and detail contemporary political issues. A favorite example for this reader are the antics of Gigi's Aunt Lil with her partner and other crones who live in a trailer park in the desert. These women have been known to receive a misdemeanor or two for their political actions. "They sent Anita Bryant a rainbow colored set of dildoes, the President a box of cigars with pubic hair attached, [and] Jerry Falwell a leatherman Billy doll" in their mailing campaign alone. (p101)

Bennett's clear affection and appreciation of lesbians allows for her to poke fun at some of the community's foibles without becoming pedantic. As with life, not everyone is wonderful but most have redeeming qualities. And Bennett's optimistic approach to life makes for amusing, often charming moments. A fast paced, entertaining read, Bennett has introduced an interesting ensemble cast of lesbians. Apparently the first of several books featuring these women, Talk of the Town is primarily Mallory's story. There are clearly threads left to explore in this crowd. This reviewer will be looking forward to future installments.

Quirky Love Tale.......2003-11-14

What a quirky, humorous and engaging tale Talk of the Town is. When you first begin the novel, it proceeds slowly and then it grabs your attention, making you sit up and take notice - and you definitely will need to focus to keep with the lives and loves of the many characters that make up Talk of the Town.

Mallory and Gigi are childhood best friends who have been through numerous girlfriends, outrageous family members, and damaging insecurities. The latest rough patch hits Mallory at the start of the novel, who was dumped by her girlfriend and realizes that she's in love with Gigi. Gigi, other the other hand, can't seem to be faithful to her lover, Alex. Her last indiscretion, though unfound, scares her enough to go straight (no pun intended).

Book Description

poems "direct...adventuresome" (Gwendolyn Brooks)

Lily Dale: The Town That Talks to the Dead (Plus)

Average customer rating:

Lily Dale: The Town That Talks to the Dead (Plus)
Christine Wicker
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spiritualism | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Not In Kansas Anymore: Dark Arts, Sex Spells, Money Magic, and Other Things Your Neighbors Aren't Telling You (Plus)
Not In Kansas Anymore : A Curious Tale of How Magic Is Transforming America
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife
Life After Death: The Burden of Proof
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

ASIN: 0061153745
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Book Description

In Lily Dale, New York, the dead don't die. Instead, they flit among the elms and stroll along the streets. According to spiritualists who have ruled this community for five generations, the spirits never go away—and they stay anything but quiet. Every summer twenty thousand guests come to consult the town's mediums in hopes of communicating with dead relatives or catching a glimpse of the future. Weaving past with present, the living with the dead, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Christine Wicker investigates the longings for love and connection that draw visitors to "the Dale," introducing us to a colorful cast of characters along the way—including such famous visitors as Susan B. Anthony, Harry Houdini, and Mae West. Laugh-out-loud funny at times, this honest portrayal shows us that ultimately it doesn't matter what we believe; it is belief itself that can transform us all.

The Fun of It: Stories from The Talk of the Town (Modern Library Paperbacks)

Average customer rating:

Great Bathroom/Night-table Reading
Ego
Start Spreading the News
Made Me A Fan of The New Yorker After Many Failed Attempts
"Talk of the Town" at its best!

The Fun of It: Stories from The Talk of the Town (Modern Library Paperbacks)

Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Life Stories: Profiles from The New Yorker (Modern Library Paperbacks)
Letters from the Editor: The New Yorker's Harold Ross (Modern Library Paperbacks)
Fierce Pajamas: An Anthology of Humor Writing from The New Yorker (Modern Library Paperbacks)
Wonderful Town: New York Stories from The New Yorker
About Town: The New Yorker and the World It Made

ASIN: 0375756493
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Book Description

William Shawn once called The Talk of the Town the soul of the magazine. The section began in the first issue, in 1925. But it wasn't until a couple of years later, when E. B. White and James Thurber arrived, that the Talk of the Town story became what it is today: a precise piece of journalism that always gets the story and has a little fun along the way.

The Fun of It is the first anthology of Talk pieces that spans the magazine's life. Edited by Lillian Ross, the longtime Talk reporter and New Yorker staff writer, the book brings together pieces by the section's most original writers. Only in a collection of Talk stories will you find E. B. White visiting a potter's field; James Thurber following Gertrude Stein at Brentano's; Geoffrey Hellman with Cole Porter at the Waldorf Towers; A. J. Liebling on a book tour with Albert Camus; Maeve Brennan ventriloquizing the long-winded lady; John Updike navigating the passageways of midtown; Calvin Trillin marching on Washington in 1963; Jacqueline Onassis chatting with Cornell Capa; Ian Frazier at the Monster Truck and Mud Bog Fall Nationals; John McPhee in virgin forest; Mark Singer with sixth-graders adopting Hudson River striped bass; Adam Gopnik in Flatbush visiting the ìgrandest theatre devoted exclusively to the movies; Hendrik Hertzberg pinning down a Sulzberger on how the Times got colorized; George Plimpton on the tennis court with Boris Yeltsin; and Lillian Ross reporting good little stories for more than forty-five years. They and dozens of other Talk contributors provide an entertaining tour of the most famous section of the most famous magazine in the world.

Customer Reviews:

Great Bathroom/Night-table Reading.......2002-10-31

Or maybe airplane reading. For those not familiar with The Talk of the Town feature in the New Yorker, it is a short, 1000 word-or-so essay on some feature of the current NY scene. The writing is often clever(rarely, too clever eg Garrison Keillor, but this could be predicted) and many great writers have taken a turn at it.

Part of the charm of the volume are the older pieces where now-famous names and places are introduced as newcomers and one gets a real feel of Manhattan in the 20s and 30s.

Ego.......2001-11-03

Ross, a capable but often pedestrian reporter and writer (her quirks and tics quickly grow tiresome), has overstuffed the book with specimens of her own "Talk" pieces. Much more talented "Talk" writers are woefully unrepresented here.

Start Spreading the News.......2001-10-25

This is a wonderful book. A compilation of pieces from The Talk of the Town section of The New Yorker spanning nine (!) decades, this is a social history of our nation and of New York. The Fun of It sat forgotten on my shelf for a few months, but I noticed it after the WTC disaster and began reading. What wonderful therapy. Some stories are poignant, others informative, still others laugh-out-loud hilarious. But all are elegant, first class writing. A great book for the bedside or bathroom, it can be dipped into at random and enjoyed for a few minutes or a few hours. Do yourself a favor: read it.

Made Me A Fan of The New Yorker After Many Failed Attempts.......2001-09-28

I'm not usually a fan of The New Yorker. I can never get through the whole thing and when trying, often feel bogged down. But, everyone says The New Yorker represents good writing, so I picked up For The Fun Of It to see if it would actually show me what "good writing" is. It did!

This book is filled with fun vignettes from The New Yorker starting in the 1920s and going through the year 2000. Each piece is a page or two and describes an interesting encounter with a New York personality.

You can read about the store that gave Mae West her corsets (1930), Gimbels' venture into live pony-selling (1947), what taxi drivers think is funny (1977) and about "a terrible new smell" that turned up in Tribeca (1992). Or read about "The Guy Who Makes President Clinton Funny"(2000.) And these examples barely scratch the surface. The pieces are written by such notables as James Thurber, Lillian Ross, Brendan Gill, Robert Benchley and even Johnny Carson ("Proverbs According to Dennis Miller"(2000)).

There are one or two clunkers, but they're in a definite minority. I really recommend this book to anyone who appreciates and likes to read about the quirky, creative and independent personalities that comprise New York City and, what the heck, America. The book's span of 70 years makes it even more fun and interesting. This book would be a great gift, too.

"Talk of the Town" at its best!.......2001-05-22

What a wonderful read! I am a huge fan of The New Yorker and especially "Talk of the Town" and this book captures the essence of both - as well as the very essence that is the extraordinarily unique New York culture - and brings it all together between two covers. An absolutely terrific gift for the literary fiction lover! And yourself!

Talk of the Town (Signet Regency Romance)

Average customer rating:

Talk of the Town (Signet Regency Romance)
Irene Saunders
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Signet Regency Romance | Series | Romance | Subjects | Books

Regency | Romance | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0451170172

Architecture, Town Planning and Community: Selected Writings and Public Talks by Cecil Burgess, 1909-1946 (University of Alberta Centennial Series)

Average customer rating:

An outstandingly collection of many speeches and documents germane to this dedicated architect's life work and accomplishments

Architecture, Town Planning and Community: Selected Writings and Public Talks by Cecil Burgess, 1909-1946 (University of Alberta Centennial Series)
Cecil Scott Burgess
Manufacturer: The University of Alberta Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Urban & Land Use Planning | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Artists, Architects & Photographers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Biographies | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0888644558

Book Description

This collection of Burgess's public talks and writings offers a unique insight into the social and intellectual dimensions of architecture and town planning during the first half of the twentieth century. Architectural history, the impact of the Arts and Crafts and Modernist movements, the meaning of domestic architecture, and the connection of architecture and town planning to everyday life figure prominently in this collection. A contemporary of Cecil Burgess said that no one in Canada was superior in architectural scholarship. Cecil Burgess was professor of architecture and resident architect at the University of Alberta between 1913 and 1940. A similar collection of writings and talks has not been published about Canadian architecture for this period.

Customer Reviews:

An outstandingly collection of many speeches and documents germane to this dedicated architect's life work and accomplishments.......2006-04-06

Expertly compiled and knowledgeably edited by Donald G. Wetherell, Architecture, Town Planning And Community: Selected Writings And Public Talks By Cecil Burgess, 1909-1946 is an outstandingly collection of many speeches and documents germane to this dedicated architect's life work and accomplishments. Exploring the understanding and insight of Cecil Scott Burgess' seminal observations and adaptive ideals, Architecture, Town Planning And Community is a work of impressive scholarship. Architecture, Town Planning And Community is very strongly recommended to all students of Cecil Scott Burgess' work, as well as to aspiring architects and practicing architectural historians.

Books:

Books