Book Description
A new collection of stories by the internationally acclaimed author of Any Human Heart (“the finest storyteller of his generation” –Chicago Tribune).
In “Notebook No. 9,” a film director’s journal becomes an unintentional record of his obsessive love for his leading lady and the slow destruction of their relationship.
In “Beulah Berlin, an A—Z,” a performance artist, longing for stability and order, reveals the details of her chaotic life through her comments on such varied subjects as angst, hay fever, photography, baby names, sonnets, and tobacco.
In “Fantasia on a Favorite Waltz,” a prostitute finds an unexpected friend in a young man who plays piano in a brothel.
In “Adult Video,” we see a man’s life in film format–rewinding to his years as a struggling student at Oxford, fast-forwarding to his dreams of success as a writer, and watching the present unfold as he proposes to his future wife for all the wrong reasons.
Exploring the ways a life can be dominated by a need for love and the torments that arise when love is misplaced or denied, these stories confirm William Boyd’s reputation as a master of the art.
Customer Reviews:
He does the Police in voices.......2005-07-24
There's always something to like in a book by William Boyd. He is never less than a witty raconteur with an unswerving instinct for the mot juste. As the present collection of short stories, "Fascination," attests, he is also a brilliant ventriloquist, capable of embodying, alternately, an adolescent bicyclist, a 19-year-old asthmatic whose parents are both bodybuilders, a female performance artist, a writer named Edward with delusions of his own grandeur (in the collections's best two stories), and a host of dysfunctional middle-aged men. These are narrators who are driven largely by "fascination" for unattainable love objects, like the American publisher in 1940s Cape Cod who meets "The Woman on the Beach with a Dog" and is capable of forgetting his own marriage even when hers intrudes. The fascination here is in the unexpected twists and turns these stories take, including a side trip into Chekhovian territory in "The Pigeon." I enjoyed reading these stories; each is a testament to Boyd's mastery of the form; but I wasn't particularly engaged by any of them. The plotting, to put it bluntly, is perfunctory. I barely got interested in a character or situation, when the story concluded and I was shuffled on to the next character and situation. I got the impression that these might be sketches for books that Boyd never got around to writing--compressed novels, as it were. That being said, this is a much more satisfying collection than the earlier "The Destiny of Nathalie X," which, with the exception of the mordantly funny title story (an insider's take on Hollywood), is even sketchier than "Fascination." Boyd, as his fans know from "On the Yankee Station" (his first collection of stories), "A Good Man in Africa," and a raft of other books, is capable of so much more. I'm certain Boyd has another comic masterpiece like "Stars and Bars" up his sleeve. In the meantime, enjoy this collection for the jeu d'sprit it is.
Book Description
When the narrator receives an invitation to visit Egypt as the guest of the French Embassy in Cairo, he anticipates a boring week of literary discussions and official dinners. He certainly does not foresee the extraordinary events that will ultimately lead to murder. From the start, his fellow author--Martin Millet--seems determined to stir up the tensions that underlie the politeness of Egyptian society. He offends Islamic sensibilities with his views on art and the novel, and worse: his entire stay degenerates into an obsessive search for an Egyptian woman willing to have sex with him. The atmosphere is one of mutual mistrust, bordering on open dislike, not just between East and West, but also between the two authors.
Customer Reviews:
Houellebecq pretty boy style.......2006-12-26
Florian Zeller is, according to the various blurbs, France's most famous twenty six year old. (Yes, I hadn't heard of him either) but apparently he is causing a huge storm in France following the publication of this novel which has sold some 70,000 copies.
He is compared to Milan Kundera, but that is generous. The real influence on his narrative themes and style seems to be Michel Houellebecq. And indeed, The Fascination of Evil features many of the themes that Houellebecq writes about - modern sexual relations, late period capitalism and Islam. Zeller is a sort of Houellebecq lite, as he tells a straightforward story of a handsome narrator (who could be Florian Zeller - take a look at his photo inside the jacket with his tousled haystack of blonde hair and bee stung lips - he looks more teen pin up than intellectual writer) who goes to a book fair in Cairo with an ugly yet commercially acclaimed fellow author Martin Millet (who resembles Houellebecq). The pair entangle with local embassy figures, and Martin goes of on a high octane, relentless pursuit of whores, which lands him in trouble. Martin vanishes - and subsequently his situation (and regrettably, the plot, credibility and style of the novel) collapses into dangerous turbulence.
The Fascination of Evil is not a bad novel. It contains several strophes that encapsulate the morality of the twenty something generation in advanced capitalist societies very acutely, for instance:
'It's the telephone, and in particular the mobile, that has killed off the art of letter-writing once and for all. I often think of those women who lived in hope, with the pledge of one single love letter, when the other person, for example, went off to war. Back then, words had a formidable strength, since they decided lives...Today you start panicking the moment you can't get that other person on your mobile. What's he doing? Why isn't she answering? Who's he with? Anxiety has gained ground. We have entered a period of no return that signals the end of waiting, that is, of trust and of silence.'
Nice, profound. But that is about the extent of it. Zeller reminded me of mediocrite British, Francophile philosopher-writer Alain de Botton with his swift, brisk middlebrow style and quasi-learned references to Flaubert and Valery. Kundera, he aint, and if you want a harsh and controversial depiction of western sexual mores, you are better off with the more talented Houellebecq.
Book Description
Thirty years on from his first hit single, 'Space Oddity', David Bowie remains the most influential rock star from the post-Woodstock generation. Strange Fascination chronicles Bowie's career against the colourful backdrop of post-Beatles pop culture. It's a story of amazing creativity, of huge theatricality and of an almost pathological quest to remain relevant and at pop's cutting edge. It is simply the the most complete account of David Bowie and his impact on pop culture ever written. This book is the first genuinely insightful and heavyweight biography of a true musical icon, fully revised and updated for paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
A moving, though sometimes painful, love letter to Bowie........2006-07-05
This biography, by a self-admitted Bowie fan, is definitely one of the best biographies I've ever read, period. His writing style is often quite enthralling, and his descriptions of early Bowie performances jumped off the page. They went even farther in making me yearn for a time machine or rip in the time-space continuum, just so I could jump back a few decades to see the man live. In addition to his electric descriptions of past showmanship, Buckley also spends much time delving into speculation about his actions over past decades, including what is interpreted as sincere artistic creativity in the '70s, discomfort and commercial kowtowing in the '80s, and a sure climb to becoming an absolutely painful corporate entity in the present.
I must admit that Buckley's portrayal of each decade is convincing. Surely the experimentation of the Eno records could mean nothing but a sincere need for innovation, but the Bowie of the '90's (and I fear the first half of the '00s) has become that corporate giant he has always seemed to run exactly counter to, and it saddens me.
However, I still think that Bowie's legacy means so much more than he has become in recent years, and I am glad that Buckley ends the book with a section on how he has shaped the fans' lives with his music and image. Indeed, this message of his early music: that everyone can be, and is, a star, even as they stand disenfranchised, lonely and unsure of what they are, is what remains important to me and so many of his fans. This is what he should be remembered for, and what will always set him apart from other musicians for me; he will always be the one that tells his fans that it is okay to be different, and indeed beautiful to be so.
This is what I thank David Buckley for communicating so well in his book; that despite the changes the man has undergone, he will, through his past achievements, always hold a spark for those of us who never felt we could be normal, and never wanted to be.
Well-written and informative, but slightly shallow.......2004-06-07
David Buckley certainly knows his subject having even written a PhD thesis on Bowie. In spite of that, this book is (in my twisted view at least) sadly not a very academic or high-brow approach to Bowie's art. Instead it is a rather straightforward biography with more emphasis on Bowie as an artist than as a person. I would have liked to see a more in-depth academical analysis of him, but I guess that wouldn't appeal to so many of his fans. Anyway, it is probably the best book on Bowie around so I recommend it. The only thing that really bothers me is the very strange collection of pictures Buckley has picked for the book. He seems to like those where Bowie has (to me at least) this really nasty, unpleasant grin. (Check out the Thin White Duke picture and the one with Bolan for example.) That is a shame I think, when he quite frankly is the most photogenic person alive.
Excellence.......2003-11-18
As a huge Bowie fan, and someone who sought factual information on the enigmatic rock legend i really enjoyed this book. There is more to recommend it than the cover (best picture of Bowie ive ever seen), Buckley meets just about anyone who was ever connected with Bowie, drawing upon bandmates like Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick, as well as contributions from producers such as Tony Visconti and Nile Rodgers as well as sound masters such as Eno, to give us a fuller picture of Bowie throughout the last four decades. What i like in particular about this book is the descriptions of Bowie's 'bad times', the 74-76 period in particular is very full and well outlined. If you love Bowie, you'll love reading this. The book also tries to uncover the meaning and history behind individual classic songs such as Heroes, Station To Station and Life On Mars?, which many of the other Bowie books dont do. As a biography of course we must not automatically accept everything in the book as fact, i mean for example, Bowie didnt contribute or endorse the book - but he never supports or endorses biographies of himself anyway, so just a teeny weeny pinch of salt sometimes thoughout might be wise.
Balanced book about a complicated artist.......2003-07-20
By his nature, David Bowie isn't an easy person to write a book about. He is very complicated, closed, and truly a "chameleon", which is the label many put on him. Buckley does an admirable job. He is obviously a devout fan, but he writes this book with a very balanced view. It is neither complete idolatry, nor is it a "kiss and tell" book. Instead, it is mostly about Bowie's art (music is obviously most of that, but his other forays as well) and how he works. There are tidbits of gossip here and there, as well as an aspect of setting the record straight. His early life isn't covered very much at all, and I would have liked to have heard more about his relationship with his brother Terry. The book goes as recent as 2000. Overall a great read, but I am left with one question....am I really the only one out there who loved the "Glass Spider" album??? I thought it was great!!!
Solid, well-balanced book.......2002-06-04
Buckley has slillfully juggled a proper critical distance with the evident enthusiasm of the long-time David Bowie fan. Quick to praise the highlights of his subject's career, he is equally adept at pricking the bubble of pomposity that has often surrounded Bowie, exposing his coke-addled rantings and deriding the leaden Tin Machine.
Book Description
Thousands of books and articles have been written about Walt Disney and his organization, yet few people realize the significance railroading played in the evolution of the Disney empire. Encouraged by Walt's family and railfans inside and outside the Disney organization, Michael Broggie has chronicled the tale of Walt Disney's personal involvement in railroading.
This book unveils the private realm of Disney railroading through hundreds of photographs, many of which have never before been made public, and interviews with Mrs. Walt Disney, Diane Disney Miller, Ward Kimball, Ollie Johnston, Bob Harpur, Bill Cottrell, Roger Broggie, Bill Evans, and many others.
Walt Disney's love affair with trains began in his hometown of Marceline, Missouri. His first job was selling tobacco, candy, and newspapers on the Missouri Pacific line. By 1950, his enthusiasm for realistic model trains had evolved into an elaborate backyard live steam railroad. Walt's Carolwood Pacific Railroad included a 46-foot-long trestle, loops, overpasses, gradients, an elevated dirt berm, and a 90-foot tunnel underneath Mrs. Disney's flower bed!
The complete history of the Disney railroads, from small scale models to steam trains for the Disney parks is covered. This is a book all Disney collectors and railroad enthusiasts will want to experience! Over 300 illustrations, many previously unpublished.
Customer Reviews:
Best book about Walt Disney's vision..........2006-07-07
Having been a "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour guide at Disneyland AND an engineer on the Steam Trains, I can say with full confidence that this is THE best book written about Walt Disney and his vision of Disneyland, and his love of trains.
The photographs are outstanding, the writing is wonderful, interesting, and easy to read, and the the stories, history, and facts are amazing.
Buy this book for yourself, and get an extra copy to give to someone who likes Disney - they'll be very thankful!
Also an excellent book on the history of DIsneyland.......1998-05-16
I consider myself an expert on Disneyland; I'm a former Imagineer and a collector of Disneyland information. Michael Broggie is not exaggerating his father's importance to the realization of Walt's dream. This book goes slightly beyond the sanitized "official" version that the Disney company promulgates and includes some stories and details that haven't been widely known. It's a beautiful coffee table book, complete and accurate (except for one or two nits someone like me might pick). I love it particularly for all the never-before published photos--you get so tired of seeing the same old approved shots when you collect Disneylandiana.
In case Amazon doesn't provide links, I would also recommend "Walt Disney Imagineering" by David Mumford, et.al. and "Inside Story" by the late Randy Bright. Both are "official," but just as authoritative as Broggie's.
Worth reading from Cover to Cover.......1998-05-08
I normally only read technical books. I picked this book up just to look at the pictures. Then I started to read the short articles within the chapters. I found them so fasinating that I found myself reading the main articles. My son asked my wife "what is Dad doing reading?". Walt Disney said that it all started with a mouse, but after reading this book you will realize that it all started with a train.
Walt Disney's Railroad Story is a delightful book!.......1998-03-01
I have always loved the trains at Disneyland more than any other attraction. I always had dozens of questons about the trains that I wished I could get answers to. When I found out about this book I ordered it immediately. (My first experince with "one-click" ordering by the way, and WOW how easy!!) The book arrived on a Friday and I sat down to read it as soon as I got home from work. I could not put it down! I read straight through until 4am the next morning and finished it. It answered all the questions I ever had about the trains at Disneyland. It is a wonderful glimpse into the life of Walt Disney, and the group of incredibly talented people who worked for him. If you love trains, this book is a must. If you love Disneyland, this book is a must. If you could care less about trains and Disneyland, but you love a good story, this book is a must. Thank you Michael Broggie, for sharing this wonderful story.
A very fascinating book for railroaders & Disney fans.......1997-10-24
As a backyard railroader for the last 30 years, I had always wanted to find out more about Walt Disney's backyard, the "Carolwood Pacific". Now in "Walt Disney's Railroad Story", you can read about all of his interest in railroading, first building a miniature railroad in his backyard, and finally developing theme parks, complete with railroads. Author Broggie knew Walt personally, and covers all of the details of the many Disney railroads. This is one book that I could hardly put down until I had read it completely. I feel that this is a book that should be on the shelf of every backyard railroader and most Disney fans.
Book Description
The ultimate intimate look at Daniel's life based on his private and professional photo collections and the archive of his recordings. Exclusive images give a unique insight into his private life, his early career and current global superstardom. Also covers the wedding to Daniel's beloved wife Majella, their wonderful home and the many famous people he has met along the way.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating only because that's the nature of the subject.......2006-08-01
You seemingly can't miss keeping people spellbound with the topic of Mr. Bowie. But his book is littered with non-sequiters and Mr. Buckley's tiresome, and sometimes trite, personal theories on pop-culture and music. He states sanctimoneously at the start of the book that he will not write about David Bowie's personal life, then proceeds to give us plenty of that. His book is also very Brit-centric in how it sees pop culture (making his theories in that area all the more tiresome) and has some silly notions about America- like apparently the reason Let's Dance did so well was because it came out in the era of Reagonimics. Well, Chic did not need Reagan to sell lots of records in the late 70s. Buckley dismisses the Art-school dropout story on Bowie as myth, then completely bypasses the fact Bowie worked as a commcercial artist whilst breaking into the music business.
It's OK, if your a Bowie fan. Buy a used copy of this if you must have it and then check out Tremlett's books on the fascinating Chameleon of Rock.
Average customer rating:
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Fascination
William Boyd
Manufacturer: Hamish Hamilton Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Boyd, William
| ( B )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
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ASIN: 0241142903 |
Average customer rating:
- Fascination ... and other bar stories
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Fascination ... and Other Bar Stories
Jackie Manthorne
Manufacturer: Gynergy Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| Classics
| Contemporary
| General
| Historical
| Humor
| Letters & Correspondence
| Middle
| Old
| Poetry
| Renaissance
| Shakespeare
| Short Stories
General
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0921881169 |
Customer Reviews:
Fascination ... and other bar stories.......2006-07-26
When the sun sets and the heat rises in dim, smoky rooms filled with women intoxicated by each other, anything is possible. In this otherworld of lesbian bars, the baby dyke finds her fantasy, the image-proud butch loses her cool, ex-lovers are reunited and couples break apart. These are satisfying stories of the rituals of seduction and sexuality ... fascinating fiction for lesbians.
--- from books back cover
Average customer rating:
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The Fascination Affair
Lloyd E. Scott
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0738840807 |
Book Description
This is another collection of short stories, most of these are very long and they were written sometime ago. Thank goodness I was able to find them since they were used wit a different word processing system. While editing them I forgot how good they are. This collection was originally titled "A Room Of 5 Stories," but one of my favorite stories is in this collection, "The Fascination Affair." The title reminds me of a spy series from the sixties, if you watched the different spy series back then, then you know which series I'm referring to. My other favorite story in this collection is "Broken Dreams." It is a very enjoyable story that the narrator is telling to you the reader. After "The Fascination Affair" there are some notes that are inserted before the stories "The Distance In Between" and "Broken Dreams." As usual I thank you for reading my stories and I hope you enjoyed them.
Product Description
Includes poems and essays and also his unusual short stories dealing with the fantastic quality of everyday life.
Average customer rating:
- Good Adventure in the Diablo Universe
- Very Decent
- A legacy of too many adjectives
- Wicked Fantasy Story
- Dark and Magical
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Diablo #1: Legacy of Blood
Richard A. Knaak
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dark Fantasy | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Knaak, Richard A. | ( K ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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The Black Road (Diablo, Book 2)
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Moon of the Spider (Diablo, Book 1)
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Scales of the Serpent (Diablo: The Sin War, Book 2)
ASIN: 067104155X
Release Date: 2001-05-01 |
Book Description
Since the beginning of time, the angelic hosts of the High Heavens and the demonic hordes of the Burning Hells have been locked in a struggle for the fate of all Creation. That struggle has now come to the mortal realm...and neither Man nor Demon nor Angel will be left unscathed...
Norrec Vizharan has become a living nightmare. While on a quest to find magical treasure, the soldier of fortune discovers an artifact beyond his wildest dreams: the ancient armor of Bartuc, the legendary Warlord of Blood. But the mysterious armor soul. Now, pursued by demons who covet the dark armor for their own devices, Norrec must overcome a bloodlust he can scarcely control and learn the truth about his terrifying curse before he is lost to darkness forever...
An orginal tale of swords, sorcery, and timeless struggle based on the bestselling, award-winning M-rated electronic game form Blizzard Entertainment. Intended for mature readers.
Download Description
Since the beginning of time, the angelic hosts of the High Heavens and the demonic hordes of the Burning Hells have been locked in a struggle for the fate of all Creation. That struggle has now come to the mortal realm...and neither Man nor Demon nor Angel will be left unscathed... Norrec Vizharan has become a living nightmare. While on a quest to find magical treasure, the soldier of fortune discovers an artifact beyond his wildest dreams: the ancient armor of Bartuc, the legendary Warlord of Blood. But the mysterious armor soul. Now, pursued by demons who covet the dark armor for their own devices, Norrec must overcome a bloodlust he can scarcely control and learn the truth about his terrifying curse before he is lost to darkness forever... An orginal tale of swords, sorcery, and timeless struggle based on the bestselling, award-winning M-rated electronic game form Blizzard Entertainment. Intended for mature readers.
Customer Reviews:
Good Adventure in the Diablo Universe.......2007-09-20
Richard Knaak did a great job at taking the atmosphere and setting of Diablo and creating a good adventure story.
He was able to create a good adventure, and good characters, within the constrains of the Diablo Universe. The creatures, magic items, cities, and demonic possession all play a role in this story.
The book is well written and fast paced. If you want a good adventure story in a familiar setting, pick this one up.
Very Decent.......2007-09-19
This book however having little to do with he actual game itself is a good read. Taking away the knowledge of what you know from the game you can put yourself in this world hidden behind Tristum's story and the story from the second Diablo game. Places were The Legacy of Blood is set. Conquering the enemy in an adversary and also as yourself finding what mattered to you the most. Action, Adventure and wow great detail. I think this book was superb but not fantastic.
A legacy of too many adjectives.......2006-12-29
I recently bought four of Knaak's Diablo books, and 1/3 of the way through reading this (the first I picked up) I threw it down in disgust. This is essentially fanfiction, and there's no such thing as well written fanfiction. In a single paragraph Knaak describes a necromancer as a dark mage, an enchantress, a witch, and perhaps throughout an entire chapter with the necromancer as the main POV character will have added another five or more descriptors. That is absolutely the worst kind of descriptive writing. Pick one and stick with it. We don't need to be constantly reminded that the necromancer is a necromancer (writers need to assume that their readers are intelligent), and we certainly don't need for that necromancer to be given a bajillion different adjectives describing the nature of their character. No good writer does this. If you have any doubts, pick up Tolkien and see if he does it. He doesn't. Tolkien is always a good litmus test.
It's not limited to the necromancer, either. A Captain is a mariner, a seafarer, an inn owner, etc., etc. It's the same for every major character in the book.
I know a wee bit about where good fantasy can be found and where it will never be found. Fantasy written from a game - Warcraft, D&D, Diablo, etc. - will never be good because it isn't the authors creation. If the author him/herself doesn't have the necessary *deep personal investment* in the story or the characters, the resulting work will have no more than the depth of a wading pool, and the emptiness of the characters, probably created out of necessity as opposed to being truly alive in the writers mind, will be readily apparent.
So I can blame only myself for being disappointed and resultantly frustrated with this book. I should have known better. I *do* know better.
Take my advice (and not the advice of those whose ratings gave this an average four-star rating) and steer clear of this. Play the game and make up your own stories. You'll probably be more satisfied and have loads more fun.
Wicked Fantasy Story.......2006-08-26
Diablo: Legacy of Blood (Book 1 in the series)
By: Richard A. Knaak
Well, I saw these books out at Borders a few weeks ago, picked up the 1st and 2nd one, read the backs and thought that they sounded pretty damn cool. Well, I finally finished the first one today and frankly, I thought that it was hella kewl. I'm not all that familiar with the story of the Diablo games, but I must say that I love the mix of both might and magic in this book. It is absolutely awesome and gives some really wicked detailed descriptions of everything.
The story is about a veteran fighter, Norrec, who, with the help of his companions, stumbles unwittingly stumbles on the tomb of Bartuc the Warlord of Blood who committed many atroscities against his fellow man. Events unfold leading Norrec to don the armor of the long dead warlord, which is in fact cursed with many enchantments and even the spirit of the warlord himself. Now, Norrec, sometimes under the control of the cursed armor must find a way to break the warlord's curse before he becomes the new Warlord of Blood and continue the bloody and violent legacy of the previous one.
This was an awesome book, like I said, it had lots of might and magic and was just fantastic. Definetly gotta give this one a 10/10. Awesome all the way through the epilogue.
Dark and Magical.......2006-03-23
The book is a page-turner, making me want to read on. The beginning was typical and wasn't really appealing, but as the story progressed it just got better. The writer gives us details of the significant characters. As I read the book, I got into the shoes of the characters, when Norrec killed his two friends I can't help but feel empathy for Norrec's cursed fate.
The psychological struggle of Norrec was well written. The change in Norrec from wanting to get rid of the armour to keeping the armour finely plotted, using carefully placed lines which appear to be the usual feelings, but are actually showing his changes. It was unexpected that Norrec who desperately wanted to get rid of the armour fought for his life to keep it in the end, this was a great twist to the story.
Another well written character would be Galeona the ambitious sorcerer of General Malevolyn. Her intentions always change, as the story progresses her allegience is uncertain because of her desire to follow the powerful one. She is ambitious and it is nice to see how she plans her next move to fulfill her own goals, these plans even include sacrificing other people's lives without hesitation just to find the cursed armour
The story itself is interesting, but would be alot less interesint without the characters. The characters are the driving force of the story, it brought the story to another dimension, without the strong characters the story would be just another story book.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read novels, especially those who like fantasy fictions.
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