Book Description
The more than 600 stories written by O. Henry provided an embarrassment of riches for the compilers of this volume. The final selection of the thirty-eight stories in this collection offers for the reader's delight those tales honored almost unanimously by anthologists and those that represent, in variety and balance, the best work of America's favorite storyteller. They are tales in his most mellow, humorous, and ironic moods. They give the full range and flavor of the man born William Sydney Porter but known throughout the world as O. Henry, one of the great masters of the short story.
Customer Reviews:
The best short story writer in American history.......2007-08-18
O. Henry wrote delightful short stories, always with surprising and often humorous endings. He is a great American literary treasure.
Stories with a Twist.......2006-11-15
My father recently sent me some of his books after my parents moved to a smaller home in Oregon. Included in the mostly newer books were a few old ones from his college days. Among them was the original 1945 version of "Best Stories of O. Henry". Anyone familiar with American Literature knows of William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry. He is famous for his short stories that lead you down a path which swerves, at the end, in a direction you hadn't anticipated. Along the way are many colorful characters out of American life around the Turn of the Century (That's the Turn of the Century BEFORE this latest one). Not only are his characters a worthwhile part of every story, his settings often give another interesting view of life 100 years ago. All this evolves in stories that often are no more than 4-5 pages in length. These snapshots almost always conclude with an ironic and/or surprise ending. His best known story, which is the opening selection in this collection, is "The Gift of the Magi". The other story of his that I always recalled, "The Ransom of Red Chief", is also in this book. It's one of the handful of longer stories and runs a whole 12 pages. Among my favorites "discoveries" in this collection are "The Cop and the Anthem", "A Blackjack Bargainer", "Squaring the Circle", "The Pendulum", "The Last Leaf", and "The Count and the Wedding Guest". There are 30 other stories in addition to the ones I've cited. Some went a bit long which sounds strange to say about a short story. However, one gets used to the rhythim of O. Henry and certain stories take you out of that rhythim. Some stories may not conclude in as surprising a manner as others but they are still worth a look at life and customs a century ago.
According to the Editorial Review shown above, O. Henry wrote over 600 stories in his life. I'm not interested in reading that much of his work. However, I'm glad I read these 38.
A wonderfully funny group of stories.......2006-03-22
I couldn't find the edition that I read, so will review here. I read O'Henry's "heart of the West", his group of stories about Texas. O. Henry (or William Porter) actually lived in Texas just before the turn of the century, and these stories therefore reflect what life was actually like for the rough and ready cowboys and their women. His characters are real, and his stories are true little gems. O. Henry's love for this place (Texas) at this time comes through over and over. O. Henry wrote for the common people, and because of that they loved him. They could see themselves in each one of these stories. These stories are all wonderful, but my personal favourite was "The Handbook of Hymen". It is so wryly funny, that I laugh about it still when I think of Sanderson Pratt and his little book of facts and how that book helped him successfully court a rich widow lady. Idaho Green's little book of poetry written by "Homer K.M." did not stand him in good stead with the good widow lady. Hilarious!
Life's ups and downs.......2006-03-15
These are clever stories that don't skip over the blue side of life.
Good Collection.......2003-12-31
This is a very good collection of my favorite short story author.
It's hard to imagine anyone who hasn't read and loved O. Henry, but if for some reason you have discovered this work yet, this collection is a great place to begin.
Average customer rating:
- next stop hollywood
- About short stories that become movies
- Digging Dirk!
- Glasser is a master at his craft
- Perry Glasser -- rising star in the literary firmament
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Next Stop Hollywood: Short Stories Bound for the Screen
Steve Cohen
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0312357893
Release Date: 2007-05-29 |
Book Description
For much of Hollywoods history, short stories have been a major source of ideas for successful and significant films. Today, however, not as many short stories are being used as muses for major motion pictures. The reason is simple: the vast majority of magazines that published popular short storiesThe Saturday Evening Post, Look, Mademoiselleare gone. The outlets for commercial short fiction have evaporated and with them a wealth of inspiring movie material. This book picks up where those magazines left off: these terrific, thought-provoking short stories have been selected from more than 600 entries by an editorial board of authors, screenwriters, directors, and producers. These very same stories may be at a theater near you in the near future.
Customer Reviews:
next stop hollywood.......2007-09-14
an excellent collection of short stories that will make wonderful movies. standouts :gone to mum's
dirk snigby
some pig
waltzing matilda.
sit back with a long cool drink and enjoy.
About short stories that become movies.......2007-07-13
_The Hustler, It Happened One Night, High Noon, Minority Report_ and _All About Eve._ Quite an impressive list, but what do these movies all have in common? Give up? They all started as a short story.
Next Stop Hollywood is the brainchild of Steve Cohen and Jonathan Davis. Each year they partner with St. Martin's Press to publish original short stories that are judged by a panel of Hollywood insiders via an international contest, with winning entries compiled into the anthology. Their criteria? Finding stories that would make a great movie or TV project. More than 600 entries were submitted and narrowed down to a mere 15.
Using the same judging criteria, I chose three stories from Next Stop Hollywood to highlight.
Perry Glasser's "An Age of Marvels and Wonders," tells the story of a lonely old man slowly going blind and the young woman who comes into his life. Raylene is a walking hard luck story--with two kids, no money and an abusive ex-husband. Is it any wonder she's skeptical of an offer of help? Bob may slowly be going blind, but he sees far more than mere eyesight allows.
"Gone to Mum's" by Barry Simiana is a richly detailed and poignant story of missed chances, stolen moments, heartbreak and redemption. Simiana's narrator takes readers along on his journey of self-discovery amid the rugged backdrop of Australia. The author paints emotion on his canvas, stunning the reader with the simplicity and honesty of his prose.
"The Good Kid" by Brian Richmond, is a clever tale of deception. Marty is a bank robber on the run with nowhere to go. The kid is more than willing to help. But is he helping himself or Marty? O. Henry would have approved.
With Hollywood scrambling for fresh ideas, it's nice to know that the art of the short story is not completely forgotten.
Armchair Interviews says: Kudos to Cohen and Davis for their part in reviving an endangered genre.
Digging Dirk!.......2007-06-23
I thoroughly enjoyed these short stories, especially "Dirk Snigby's Guide to the Afterlife". Dirk and the devil would be a hit on the silver screen!
Glasser is a master at his craft.......2007-06-17
Perry Glasser is a wonderful writer and an inspiration in my own writing. His forthright yet crafty style will leave you complete. You won't be disappointed!
Perry Glasser -- rising star in the literary firmament.......2007-06-12
So far, I've read only the novella-length "An Age of Marvels and Wonders" and "Mexico," both by Perry Glasser. These two stories alone would justify the purchase of the anthology.
Perry has a narrative style and mastery of dialogue as smooth as the best of 'em. His characters come right off the page and into the reader's mind within a matter of paragraphs, and words (as challenge rather than as facilitator to the sheer enjoyment of the story) disappear within seconds. Higher praise I couldn't pay to any writer worth his nom or his plume.
If Perry's stories are any indication of the general tenor of the book, I very much look forward to reading the rest of it.
Book Description
1899. Selected and with an introduction by Bennett Cerf and Van H. Cartmell. William Sydney Porter (O. Henry) was the most popular short story writer of his time. His stories typically revolved around two of his favorite themes, the situation of the impostor and fate as the one unavoidable reality of life. Another device he used was the surprise ending, usually coming about through coincidence. He was the founder of the humorous weekly The Rolling Stone. When the weekly failed, he joined the Houston Post as a reporter and columnist. He was convicted of embezzling money, although there's much debate over his actual guilt, and while in prison he started to write short stories. His first work, Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking appeared in McClure's Magazine. After emerging from prison Porter changed his name to O. Henry. He then moved to New York and wrote a story a week for the New York World, while also publishing in other magazines. This volume contains 38 of the best works of O. Henry including: The Gift of the Magi, The Ransom of Red Chief; Mammon and the Archer; and others. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.
Customer Reviews:
The Ransom of Red Chief.......2005-10-03
O.Henry writes with humor and a touch of irony. The students found the work enjoyable and were able to easily identify character aspects(protaganist, written in first person etc.) A great story to begin unit on short stories. Easy to read.
Book Description
William Sydney Porter (1862–1910), better known as O. Henry, led a life similar to those of his own fictional characters. Convicted of embezzlement, he drew inspiration from his prison experiences. This volume includes "The Ransom of Red Chief," "The Last Leaf," the classic, "The Gift of the Magi" and 13 more.
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The Best of O. Henry (Humor)
O. Henry
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Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection
ASIN: 1584722134 |
Book Description
The best of O. Henry's stories: "The Gift of the Magi," "The Voice of the City," "The Ransom of Red Chief," and more.
Customer Reviews:
O, Henry's story telling.......2006-08-02
Having gone through about 161 completed works of O. Henry in his "Complete Works" and having recently learned about the man and his background, I had to obtain an audiocassette of some of his works to hear how they were presented. After having seen the televised portion of "Red Cloud and Yellow Chief" (right title?)and having read the short story and listened to the audio version, a totally different viewpoint of that particular work is achieved. His use of the language and his method of describing things cause one to listen or read more closely at what he says or writes.
I must apologize for not having the source material at hand while writing this review.
Product Description
38 short stories selected by Bennett Cerf.
Average customer rating:
- A Great Collection from a Great Author
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The Best of O'Henry: Over 100 Stories Including the Gift of the Magi and the Furnished Room
O. Henry , and
Ohenry
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0792450086 |
Customer Reviews:
A Great Collection from a Great Author.......2003-03-14
With over 100 short stories from America's most popular short story writer, this is ideal for an O'Henry fan, a fan of excellently crafted short stories, a person who appreciates fine writing or just someone who wants a great read.
It contains not only arguably his most well known works - "the Gift of the Magi" and "the Furnished Room" but tales from South of the Border, small town stories, shady business tales, stories of crooks and con artists, tales set in the Wild West and busy city streets. They can make you laugh, weep and feel the strings of romance sound in your heart.
Even if you've not read his work since high school, you will be enchanted by the way the stories have held up over the years - a work of a true master.
There are many collections of O'Henry on the market - this is one of, if not, the best I've seen. I recommend this book very highly.
Book Description
After his first grisly crime, Harvey Louis Carignan beat a death sentence and continued to manipulate, rape, and bludgeon women to death--using want ads to lure his young female victims.
And time after time, justice was thwarted by a killer whose twisted legal genius was matched only by his sick savagery.
Here, complete with the testimony of women who suffered his unspeakable sexual abuses and barely escaped with their lives, and of the police who at last put him behind bars, is one of the most shattering and thought-provoking true-crime stories of our time.
* Includes 8 pages of photographs
* From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Sacrifices, Lust Killer, The Stranger Beside Me, and The I-5 Killer
* "Rule has an instinct for suspense."--Washington Post Book World
* "Rule springs surprises and revelations with a novelist's skill."--Seattle Times
Customer Reviews:
Highly absorbing psychological thriller--a definite must!.......2007-07-06
I've read other books by Ann Rule, especially NO REGRETS and GREEN RIVER RUNNING RED, so I was intrigued by this title. I had previously heard about scams involving "help wanted" ads, where unwitting people are lured into danger by scam artists looking to take advantage of people who genuinely need work, so this book seemed worthwhile reading.
THE WANT-AD KILLER describes the disappearance and murder of Kathy Sue Miller, the victim who finally was responsible for bringing Harvey Carignan, a longtime "career criminal" to justice. Carignan had hit upon the idea of luring women to his gas station on the pretext of applying for a job. He placed ads in the local paper. When the job applicants refused his sexual advances, he killed them, usually with blows to the head, in a homicidal rage.
Kathy Sue Miller, aged 15, was one of those girls who applied for the job she saw in the paper. Despite her mother's warning that she should not go off in a car with an unknown man for a job interview, Kathy Sue Miller got into Harvey Carignan's car, ostensibly to go to his gas station to apply for the job, and was never seen again. She had originally called the number in the paper for a job for her boyfriend, Mark, but Carignan convinced her that she could get the job herself, and she was excited at the idea of having some money of her own. Rule points out that Carignan's idea of putting a "want ad" in the paper gave him a steady supply of victims who walked right into his hands.
Rule's book is skillfully written, with good insights not only into the emotional effects of this crime on the victim's family, but also on the detectives in charge of solving the crime. It serves as a well-written cautionary tale to anyone who is looking for a job, but also wants to make sure that he or she remains safe in the process.
Great.......2007-05-17
If you like true crime at it's best you have just met the master.
Poster Child for the Evils of the US Constitution.......2006-08-08
Harvey Carignan is a prime example of why the US Constitution so frequently works against victims while offering loopholes for perpetrators; often setting them free to repeat their crimes as is this case with Carignan. On the side of the fence, readers develop sympathy for Mary Miller, whose daughter was the first known victim of Carignan after most recent prison release.
Ann Rule, despite this being one of her early works, does an outstanding job of providing an in-depth look into the childhood, teenage years and adulthood of Carignan. Much of what we learn is based on Carignan's "accusations" and Rule does a superb job of noting that, most likely, this are just what they are...only accusations.
While the title is a bit deceptive (Carignan only murdered one young girl, that is known, from a classified ad), the overall content of the book is intense and intriguing; so much so that I completed the book within 24 hours.
This is the last of the Ann Rule books I had not read to date. This early work is proof that Rule has a natural talent for writing about America's worst citizens....rapist and/or murderers.
early ann rule.......2006-05-17
"The Want Ad Killer" is one on Ann Rule's older books. She used to write for true detective magazines, and her earlier works show a no-nonsense writing style which has evolved over the years. In her more recent stories, Ann Rule delves into the past of the killer, doing her best to answer the curious reader's question: WHY? The quality that makes Ann Rule the very best true crime writer is her in-depth research and psychological insight in exploring what makes the killer tick. I feel that she did this to a greater extent in "The Want Ad Killer" than she did in her other early books "Lust Killer" and "The I-5 Killer". Harvey Carignan was always the unwanted, troublesome child. Still, I think if Ann were writing this today, there would be more in-depth character development, and that is what I miss here. I love the detail present in Rule's more recent books. If you are interested in true crime, this is worthwhile reading. Even Ann Rule's earliest books are better than 99% of the true crime writing out there today.
Want Ad Killer.......2006-03-15
This is the usual Ann Rule thriller. It is fast reading and hard to put down. Rule's writing is gripping. I'm addicted to it.
Average customer rating:
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The Want-Ad Killer
Ann Rule
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000L30U38 |
Average customer rating:
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Want Ad Killer
Ann Rule
Manufacturer: N A L
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000OYN95U |
Average customer rating:
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Want-Ad Killer
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 1417650796 |
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