Book Description
Every family has its catastrophes . . .
Julieanne Gillis's family collects them. An advice columnist for a local newspaper, Julie dispenses wisdom to her readers, but somehow missed the signs that something was wrong in her own home. Devoted to being a good mother and keeping her twenty-year marriage fresh and exciting, she is shocked by her husband's surprise announcement that he needs a "sabbatical" from their life together -- and devastated when he disappears, leaving Julie with no funds to raise two teenagers and a small daughter alone. But it is the discovery that Julieanne suffers from a serious illness that truly crumbles her family's foundation -- setting her children on a dangerous, quixotic journey to locate their missing father . . . before it's too late.
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Where can a woman turn when her own life threatens to overwhelm her ability to keep her children safe?
New York Times bestselling author
Jacquelyn Mitchard takes the readers of her newest novel on a wry and moving journey of loss and healing.
Giving advice is what Julieanne does for a living -- every Sunday she doles it out to clueless people she doesn't know, in a column in her local Wisconsin paper. But when it comes to her personal life, Julie herself seems to have missed some clues. Having worked creatively to keep her twenty-year marriage to Leo fresh and exciting, she is completely caught off guard when he tells her he needs to go on a ""sabbatical"" from their life together, leaving Julie and their three children -- Gabe, Caroline, and Aury -- behind. But it soon becomes clear that his leave of absence is meant to be permanent. The succeeding months are filled with a confusion and sadness that shake the core of the entire family. Things take a turn for the worse when Julie is diagnosed with a serious illness and the children undertake a dangerous journey to find Leo -- before it's too late. As the known world sinks precariously from view, the clan must navigate its way through the shoals of love, guilt, and betrayal. Together, with the help of Leo's parents and Julie's best friend, Cathy, they work their way back to solid ground and a new definition of family.
No one illuminates modern love, marriage, and parenting better than Jacquelyn Mitchard. Written with her trademark poignancy, humor, and insight,
The Breakdown Lane is her most moving, eloquent, and life-affirming work yet.
"
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Women's Fiction.......2007-05-14
I actually picked up this book on the recommendation of--don't laugh!--Stephen King. As one of the ten books he recommended for late summer reads in an issue of Entertainment Weekly Magazine, the premise hooked me.
The book centers around a woman who not only loses her husband to a wacky desire to live a simpler and more-fulfilling life, but has to single-handedly raise two teenagers and a young daughter by herself, all while dealing with her diagnosis of MS.
THE BREAKDOWN LANE is women's fiction at its best. I actually enjoyed the two first-person accounts that make up the book (it's in the form of a journal belonging to the mother and one written by the son). Although it does end up with a rather happily-ever-after ending, this book details life in all its ups and downs--and you'll appreciate being along for the ride.
entertaining.......2007-04-02
I wasn't thrilled with the end but it was an entertaining book. It was a little like being a fly on the wall while someone's life was falling apart. One of those irresistable, slow down and look at the wreck, kind of things. I loved the irony of the job of the main character as a Dear Abby type columnist, giving advice to the world while hers disintigrated.
Great Weekend Read.......2007-02-23
This turned out to be one heck of a deal. I got it for less than four bucks off of Amazon and it was worth every penny and more! The plot was pretty juicy, with a lot of melodrama, perfect for that week when you want to eat a lot of pizza and chocolate-ladies you know what I'm talking about. What's more is the characters are very real, you will easily find yourself relating and asking, "could that ever be me?" Needless to say, it's fiction and Mitchard provides what I like- the fairy tale happy ending. Well as close to fairy tale as this story will allow. Because of this, the book's believability(is that even a word?) rate drops a bit, but hey, it's fiction! A good solid read, perfect for the beach, a rainy weekend, or...that time of the month.
Wonderful insight at living with a chronic illness..........2007-02-22
Just as Julieanne Gillis and her three children are beginning to adjust to her husband's sudden departure, things get even worse...Julie's been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Julie's health quickly deteriorates, and there are days on end when she can't muster the strength to get out of bed, let alone attend to her children, home or newspaper job. Fifteen-year-old Gabe quickly takes on the role of surrogate father, taking care of two-year-old Aury and actually writing Julie's advice column responses for her. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Caro begins to act out, taking advantage of the fact that her mother is in no condition to control her.
As the months pass and the family is unable to contact Leo, the two older siblings decide they've got to find him. Surely, they think, their father could not be so unsympathetic as to ignore their ailing mother! So they dig through his old computer, searching for emails that might hint at where Leo has gone.
Hiding their adventure from their mother, Gabe and Caro set off halfway across America. While they succeed in locating Leo rather quickly, they aren't the least bit prepared for what he's been doing since he left the family...
Having a chronic illness myself, I could easily relate to Julieanne's struggles. Mitchard has done an excellent job, depicting the see-saw of illness -- one day where you feel like you can do just about anything, followed by others where you wish you were dead. Julie's moods are also striking in their realism, as she lashes out in fury at her children -- the very people upon whom she depends. It's enough to make you want to cry for a fictitious character, and hope against hope that this family will be able to pull itself together for the future.
Not the best way to learn about MS............2007-01-16
As a person with MS, I just want to caution that reading this book would NOT be the best way to become educated about typical MS symptoms, medication or side effects. To give an example, people with MS do not give themselves injections once a month. And the injectable medications are not "cancer meds." If you want to get accurate information, look at the National MS Society or another of the excellent groups online or at your library or bookstore. Of course I realize that this is a novel, and not a reference book, but I am disappointed that Ms. Mitchard did not do better research for this book.
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Breakdown Lane (Johns Hopkins: Poetry and Fiction)
Robert Phillips
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 20th Century
| Poetry
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General
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Contemporary
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United States
| Single Authors
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Similar Items:
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Spinach Days (Johns Hopkins: Poetry and Fiction)
ASIN: 0801848555 |
Customer Reviews:
good collection of poems.......2001-04-10
Breakdown Lane is one of the latest collections of poems by Robert Phillips (as far as i know, only the awesome _Spinach Days_ has followed). While not as good as spinach days, breakdown lane is a worthy collection. It starts with "Face to Face" which is what i feel is Phillips' best poem. The collection is divided into four sections, and only section 2, full of those poems about lost love, is weak.
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Notes from the Nervous Breakdown Lane
Ken Brown
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Drawing
| Arts & Photography
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General
| Arts & Photography
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General
| Humor
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ASIN: 0060960140 |
Customer Reviews:
Quirky, memorable humor.......2006-11-13
Ken Brown's bizarre humor comes through in this book, which reproduces postcards he created from 1979 to 1985 (one per page, illustrated in a retro pen and ink style reminiscent of 1950s newspaper advertisements). I have enjoyed this book since it appeared and have regretfully never found more of Mr. Brown bizarre creations. Many people are selling this book for one red American cent and you know what? Risk that cent. There's something here for everyone (at least, everyone who appreciates surrealistic commentary on modern life). My favorite is "Bernie and Bob Enter the Torrid Zone."
Customer Reviews:
Senses at attention..........2000-07-28
Mr. Shapiro is a storyteller. The journey runner Bob Dylan. Slick Rick. Johnny Cash. His words captivate and affect. Brush strokes drawn from the experiencial pallete of a colorful character, they allow others to accompany him on a journey of self-exploration and realization. Having had the good fortune of knowing Mr. Shapiro - he was my grade school teacher, cross-country and track coach and remains my friend and mentor - I expected something deep and real from the record of his transcon run. As usual the modest poet and philosopher left me marveling at his feats of body and mind, inspired to rise to my own. Beauty at its essence, Meditations is like a clear pool on an overcast day. If you look at it long enough you will see not only the surface but what lies beneath. Look again and you may find that you too are dancing with the soft water. I highly recommend Meditations From the Breakdown Lane to any and all.
Excellent account of a transcon run.......1999-03-17
I have read Shapiro's book several times. It details the very dispute that goes through his head as he runs 40+ miles per day from Coast to Coast. His book helped inspire me to run across the country as well and his words were with me each day. An excellent book well worth finding.
Average customer rating:
- Raw Emotions, Eternal Hope
- AN AFFECTING STORY ELOQUENTLY READ
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The Breakdown Lane CD
Jacquelyn Mitchard
Manufacturer: HarperAudio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
Contemporary
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| Literature & Fiction
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General
| Literature & Fiction
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Unabridged
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ASIN: 0060759275
Release Date: 2005-04-05 |
Book Description
Where can a woman turn when her own life threatens to overwhelm her ability to keep her children safe?
New York Times bestselling author
Jacquelyn Mitchard takes the readers of her newest novel on a wry and moving journey of loss and healing.
Giving advice is what Julieanne does for a living -- every Sunday she doles it out in a column in her local Wisconsin paper. But when it comes to her personal life, Julie herself seems to have missed some clues. Having worked creatively to keep her twenty-year marriage to Leo fresh and exciting and to be a good mother, she is completely caught off guard when he tells her he needs to go on a "sabbatical" from their life together, leaving Julie and their three children behind. But it soon becomes clear that his leave of absence is meant to be permanent. Things take a turn for the worse when Julie is diagnosed with a serious illness and the children undertake a dangerous journey to find Leo -- before it's too late. As the known world sinks precariously from view, the clan must navigate their way through the shoals of love, guilt, and betrayal. Together, with the help of Leo's parents and Julie's best friend, they work their way back to solid ground and a new definition of family.
No one illuminates modern love, marriage, and parenting better than Jacquelyn Mitchard. Written with her trademark poignancy, humor, and insight,
The Breakdown Lane is her most moving, eloquent, and life-affirming work yet.
Customer Reviews:
Raw Emotions, Eternal Hope.......2006-06-01
Great portrayal of a family which suddenly falls apart without warning. The denial, guilt and depth of emotion found in these characters brings one face to face with modern reality. Finding their way through betrayal, hurt and love, becomes a struggle for emotional survival. Once again the human spirit is able to overcome despair and allow for the creation of a better life. Well written and very touching.
AN AFFECTING STORY ELOQUENTLY READ.......2005-05-14
Few authors plumb the depths of human emotion as deftly as Jackie Mitchard (Was there a dry eye at the conclusion "The Deep End of the Ocean"?) Once again she explores the nooks and crannies of love, family and human relationships in the story of Julieanne Gillis.
Actress Anna Fields does a superb job of occupying two narrative voices, that of Julieanne and her learning disabled teenage son, Gabe. As Julieanne, she is torn, angry, brave and resilient. With Gabe she gives voice to a young man who is forced to learn very early what can happen when a marriage not only bends but breaks.
Married for 20 years to Leo, a not terribly successful lawyer, Julieanne has given birth to three children, two now in their early teens, the third just out of babyhood. She dispenses advice through a column in the local newspaper in their Wisconsin town. She's happy, devoted to her children, and her friends.
Sorry the same can't be said for Leo. Think selfish, inconsiderate, or to put it more bluntly "a real jerk" and you have a pretty good picture of him. Seems he's decided he wants to take a break from hearth and home to live in a commune. Off he goes leaving Julieanne and the children behind. He doesn't even leave a forwarding address.
When Julieanne is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she has no idea how she can continue being a single parent. Gabe, a son any mother would love, and his sister take off in search of their errant father.
"The Breakdown Lane" is both riveting drama and eloquent reminder of the mysteries of love.
- Gail Cooke
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Blue Laws, Brahmins and Breakdown Lanes
Karen Taylor
Manufacturer: Globe Pequot Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Humor
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Lawyers & Criminals
| Humor
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Northeast
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Boston
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ASIN: 0871066483 |
Customer Reviews:
Fun and Educational.......2001-08-17
A quick, fun and easy read through a short dictionary of the people, places and things that make Boston, Bostonians and Boston history unique. While it is more trivia than history, it explains the origin of each item. It gives the reader a "local's view" of the *real* Boston, rather than the "tourist's view" of the town the Chamber of Commerce wants you to see. The author's unconditional love of Beantown shows through her somtimes humorous, sometimes irrereverent, and sometimes critical glance at Boston people, places and things.
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- What she sees when she looks at herself
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Breakdown Lane, Traveled: An Anthology of Writings on Madness
Julie Greene
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Special Needs
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| Biographies & Memoirs
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General
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Clinical Psychology
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Mental Illness
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
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General
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ASIN: 1403307784 |
Customer Reviews:
What she sees when she looks at herself.......2004-08-23
It's a remarkable set of stories. The author is in remission after decades of severe illness, and looks back at her own past. The stories, individually, range from the comical and embarassing to dark and disturbing. As a collection, they seem to form a research notebook, trying all the different ways to make sense of the facts of her life. There seems to be a lot of truth in each story and a lot of fiction. It's not always clear how much of each, but I don't think that really matters. If you have any empathy at all, it's not an easy read. It may well be worthwhile, though.
//wiredweird
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The breakdown of the old politics
Thomas A Lane
Manufacturer: Arlington House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
State & Local Government
| Government
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
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General
| Political Science
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
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ASIN: 0870002171 |
Book Description
Small-time stoolie, Jake " The Spinner" Jablon, made a lot of new enemies when he switched careers, from informer to blackmailer. And the more "clients", he figured, the more money -- and more people eager to see him dead. So no one is surprised when the pigeon is found floating in the East River with his skull bashed in. And what's worse, no one cares -- except Matthew Scudder. The ex-cop-turned-private-eye is no conscientious avenging angel. But he's willing to risk his own life and limb to confront Spinner's most murderously aggressive marks. A job's a job after all -- and Scudder's been paid to find a killer -- by the victim...in advance.
Download Description
Small-time stoolie, Jake "The Spinner" Jablon, made a lot of new enemies when he switched careers, from informer to blackmailer. And the more "clients," he figured, the more money -- and more people eager to see him dead. So no one is surprised when the pigeon is found floating in the East River with his skull bashed in. And what's worse, no one cares -- except Matthew Scudder. The ex-cop-turned-private-eye is no conscientious avenging angel. But he's willing to risk his own life and limb to confront Spinner's most murderously aggressive marks. A job's a job after all -- and Scudder's been paid to find a killer - and the victim...in advance.
Customer Reviews:
Pick A Murderer.......2002-06-27
A small-time hood and grass who was an acquaintance of Matt Scudder's during his days as a cop comes calling when he fears for his life. The man, known as `The Spinner' was stringing along 3 different blackmail victims, but became aware that one of them was trying to kill him. Unfortunately, he doesn't know which one. He wants Scudder to hold onto a package for him that is to be opened in the event of his death, which is all too inevitable.
Naturally enough, Scudder accepts and then honours his agreement to find out who the murderer is. In order to flush out The Spinner's murderer, Matt decides to confront each of the people being blackmailed with the news that they're still not off the hook in the hope that one of them will blink. The obvious downside to this plan is that he would be making himself a target which, if you forget about the subsequent 13 Matt Scudder books for a moment, makes for some very tense and exciting reading.
This is quite a fast-paced mystery that gives us multiple suspects to choose from with the wrong choice possibly proving fatal. Scudder is still an introspective soul who seems to view the world and his place in it with bemusement. Lawrence Block doesn't waste a word in his narrative which serves to move things along nicely.
It's another compelling entry in a series that I think fans of hardboiled crime books would love.
Bumbling along.......2001-08-31
The second in this series of 14 mysteries, soon to be 15, finds our unlikely hero Matthew Scudder further along on his trek to alcoholism, mixed up in unsavory mahem, and trying to get by day to day. It's an interesting case: A blackmailer posthumously hires Matt to determine which of his three pidgeons killed him. So the quasi-detective sets himself up as the blackmailer's replacement to entice the murderer to strike at him so he can solve the case. Matthew, because his mind is becoming benumbed by booze or maybe he just isn't a very good detective, bumbles this case every step of the way, and comes to a less than satisfactory conclusion -- the type of ending only Block has the nerve to create. It's book noir at a higher level. The dialogue is terrific and true, the settings in Manhattan are recorded with exactness, it's a fine tale that kept me reading well into the night. One aspect I especially appreciated, Block didn't seem to feel he needed gratuitous foul language in this second in the series as he did in the first. The book is a great example of why the series is so popular.
Not bad early Scudder with a disturbing flaw.......2001-03-08
"Time to Murder and Create" is the second novel in the Matthew Scudder series. Like many of the earlier Scudder tales, it is relatively short and not a greatly complex story. The plotline is clever; an extortionist gets a premonition of his own murder and hires Scudder in advance to investigate if anything happens to him. The story is well told, and this still being Scudder's drinking period, it is full of plenty of despair and loneliness. One major flaw exists however. One of the people the extortionist is blackmailing is politically connected figure who has sex with underage boys. Scudder's lack of outrage at the man's activity leads to a less than approriate conclusion of the story. If this had been Andrew Vachss' Burke, the pedophile would have gotten his just desserts. Overall, this is a fairly conventional mystery by Block standards. But it does have its moments.
Second Scudder novel reads well........1998-12-22
. Matthew Scudder is Lawrence Block's remarkable private investigator. He's a former NYPD detective who left the force after an accident left a child dead in a crossfire. Because he is unlicensed you can't "hire" him. Instead he does you a favor by taking your case and solving the crime. In exchange for the favor the client returns the favor by giving him some cash. Scudder is an alcoholic. Rarely do you find him without a drink in has hand or at one of has favorite watering holes. "Time to Murder and Create" is the second in a series of at least a dozen books in the Matthew Scudder Series. A petty thief, Jake Jablon, known as "the Spinner" because he's always spinning a silver dollar, is found murdered. Someone crashed in his skull and then dumped him in The New York's East River. Matt Scudder was hired in advance by Jablon to find his killer if he is killed. He knew someone was after him because he was blackmailing three people. Jablon hands Scudder and envelope containing information on the three. Scudder hides the envelope in his hotel room with the instructions not to open it until Jablon is dead. When it becomes known that he was dead Scudder's work begins. He examins the contents of the envelops and begins to visit all three victims of Jablon's blackmailing efforts. Scudder himself is in danger. The book makes citing reading and is very difficult to put down. The book originally appeared in paperback that makes it difficult to find in my public library system. After being a success a hard cover version of the book was published with mystery writer Jonathan Kellerman, another one of my favorite authors writing an introduction.
Excellent early Lawrence Block Scudder mystery.......1998-12-21
This was one of the earlier Scudder books by Lawrence Block and I read it as one of my first. I was most impressed and recommend it highly. Some of his books are better - the older ones are better than the newer efforts. This is early Scudder with just the right amount of alcohol comments and a hard core mystery which will delight the usual Lawrence Block fans.
Product Description
multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
Product Description
Literary essays on O'Hara, Styron, McCarthy, Bellow, Mailer, Updike, Cheever, Porter, Fitzgerald and Wodehouse.
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Time to Murder and Create: The Contemporary Novel in Crisis (Essay index reprint series)
John W. Aldridge
Manufacturer: Books for Libraries
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
ASIN: 083692682X |
Product Description
6 Mass Market Paperback Titles in Matthew Scudder Series - When the Sacred Ginmill Closes - Eight Million Ways to Die - Sins of Th Fathers - Out on the Cutting Edge - Time to Murder and Create - Stab in the Dark
Books:
- The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, Sugar Street (Everyman's Library)
- The Cold Moon: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel
- THE COLLECTED DRAWINGS OF AUBREY BEARDSLEY
- The Complete Father Brown (Father Brown Mystery)
- The Dangerous Protector
- The Emotional House: How Redesigning Your Home Can Change Your Life
- The Empress' New Clothes (Trade Paperback Erotic Romance)
- The Fifth Mountain
- The Great Novels of Anatole France: Penguin Island, the Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard And the Revolt of the Angels
- The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan Novels)
Books Index
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