Swimming to Cambodia

Customer Reviews:

Enthralling and captivating.......2005-02-14

First of all this is a monologue and I usually hate monologues. The first time I watched this was starting at midnight and I was quite tired. I was expecting to fall asleep to it but found myself wide awake and engrossed. I was absolutely mesmerized by this performance. Spalding Gray just captivates you from the very beginning and holds your attention all the way through. He mixes it with bits of wry comedy and anecdotes, and mixes in a bit of history and politics for good measure. He actually brings you to the places he is talking about, its like you can see Thailand and experience the production of the Killing Fields.

Mr. Gray talks not as someone talking from note cars or a pre planned speech but from someone telling you about a great adventure. He has a natural and easy going style that makes you very comfortable. His energy and passion is contagious. The may is a born storyteller and narrator.

It is one of the most amazing performances I have ever seen and I am usually an action movie kind of guy. I had never even heard of Spalding Gray before this nor had I seen the Killing Fields. But after watching I rented the killing fields and researched Mr. Gray.

There is great lighting and film style to go along with it. Even though he's just sitting at a desk they add an exciting mood to it.

Its ashamed that Spalding Gray is no longer with us as I found the man intensely interesting. I would highly recommend the VHS/DVD to anyone. I don't know how well it would be in a book as much of the attraction is Spalding himself. The man was simply amazing in this.

Spalding, where are you??.......2004-02-02

The recent disappearance of Spalding Gray has made me realize what I don't like about this film: its narcissism. It's Gray's defining characteristic. After a while, despite Jonathan Demme's fabulous direction (he makes the best of a limited repertoire) it just gets boring.

Another masterpice decimated by 'full screen'........2003-04-25

One of the most innovative, exciting movies of a generation, and NOT AVAILABLE in widescreen.

Demi is a cinamatograhic master and his work has been butchered by VHS full screen format. ('Full' of what, one wonders.)

Watch this tape and see half the movie as created. DEMAND your DVD release now.

I am sure this is very funny live onstage..........2003-03-03

I have read a few of Spalding Gray's books, and I found them hysterically funny. So a while back I decided to work my way through all of his books. All his books have been bought and are on my shelf, so I hope this one is just one of those bad apples..

Don't get me wrong, Spalding is a very, very funny guy. And the other books I have read ("Sex and death to the Age 14" and "Morning, Noon and Night") are just fantastic books. They made me laugh out loud over and over and over again.

This one however.. Not quite... It is more a "transcript" of his stage performances. You can tell that this would be hysterically funny onstage, but reading it on an overcrowded tube on my way to work was maybe not the best setting, and probably didn't give this material justice.

Anyway, I think these stories are better left for live performances.

About Life & Death.......2002-04-21

This film shoots straight at you to think about quality of life, and death. To correct another ... review (but hopefully not be hyper-critical), the reference to the "Killing Fields" is absolutely about Cambodia (and is only remotely linked historically to Vietnam). Spalding Gray is truly captivating in this film.

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Diving into Spalding Gray
Swimming To Cambodia
Sinking to Cambodia

Swimming To Cambodia
Spalding Gray
Manufacturer: Theatre Communications Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

United States | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Cambodia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1559362545

Book Description

"It took courage to do what Spalding did-courage to make theatre so naked and unadorned, to expose himself in this way and fight the demons in public. In doing so, he entered our hearts-my heart-because he made his struggle my struggle. His life became my life."-Eric Bogosian

"Virtuosic. A master writer, reporter, comic and playwright. Spalding Gray is a sit-down monologist with the soul of a stand-up comedian. A contemporary Gulliver, he travels the globe in search of experience and finds the ridiculous."-The New York Times

In 2004, we mourned the loss of one of America's true theatrical innovators. Spalding Gray took his own life by jumping from the Staten Island ferry into the waters of New York Harbor, finally succumbing to the impossible notion that he could in fact swim to Cambodia. At a memorial gathering for family, friends and fans at Lincoln Center in New York, his widow expressed the need to honor Gray's legacy as an artist and writer for his children, as well as for future generations of fans and readers. Originally published in 1985, Swimming to Cambodia is reissued here 20 years later in a new edition as a tribute to Gray's singular artistry.

Writer, actor and performer, Spalding Gray is the author of Sex and Death to the Age 14; Monster in a Box; It's a Slippery Slope; Gray's Anatomy and Morning, Noon and Night, among other works. His appearance in The Killing Fields was the inspiration for his Swimming to Cambodia, which was also filmed by Jonathan Demme.

Customer Reviews:

Diving into Spalding Gray.......2007-08-12

Swimming to Cambodia is fundamentally an autobiographical monologue, and one only peripherally connected to the (excellent) film that inspired it, The Killing Fields. Those unfamiliar with Spalding Gray's works may be perplexed to read his self-centered, occasionally manic or depressive, and deeply personal ramblings. This book is, in a way, misleading; even more so than Shakespeare's plays, Gray's monologues are meant to be watched, not read. It's difficult to imagine his drawling New England accent, the ironic and self-deprecating humor, and the incredible honesty with which Gray would sit at a table with a glass of water and share, fundamentally, himself.

Swimming to Cambodia is not the first of what became his signature internal dialogs, but as it is the earliest work available on film, it's a good place to start. Those who may recognize him from his work in small film roles (Beaches, King of the Hill), or theater (including a much-loved role as the Stage Manager in Our Town) may be surprised to learn of his collection of solo stage work. Some are available only as a manuscript (Sex & Death to the Age 14), others as a sound recording (Slippery Slope), and three have been filmed (Monster in a Box, Gray's Anatomy), including this piece. Gray's work should be explored as a whole; the narrative of his life informed and expanded on continuing themes of anxiety, his mother's battle with mental illness and early-middle-aged suicide, his relationships with women, his eventual fatherhood. His final, unfinished monologue, is accompanied by the epitaphs of those who knew and loved him, and who were saddened by but understood his final succumbing to depression in 2004. Start at the beginning, and get as close to the live versions of his works as you can.

If you're looking for insight into the political history of Cambodia, or deeper meaning in the Oscar-winning film based on a true story about the friendship between an American journalist and his Cambodian counterpart, you've come to the wrong place. Gray does address topics like the sex trade in Cambodia (often graphically), and his experience filming The Killing Fields in Thailand, but he weaves these in with his thoughts on his adopted home town, New York, or a train ride from Philly to Chicago. But if you're interested in the opportunity for an honest (and often humorous) glimpse into the mind of a brilliant, insightful, and emotionally complicated performer, this is the beginning. Spalding Gray blurred the lines between life and performance, and so I urge you to experience his work as a living process, the way he shared it.

Swimming To Cambodia.......2007-07-27

This is a readable enough book, but those seeking new and interesting inforamtion about Cambodia in the time period with which this book is concerned will not be particularly fullfilled.

Sinking to Cambodia.......2007-04-30

I thought this would be a great insight into someone who had been involved in the film "The Killing Fields" the academy award winning film about the fall of Phnom Penh and the associated attrocities heaped upon the Cambodian people in 1975. But I was quite disappointed. Although I expected profanity and the like. I was put off with how much was communicated through its pages. Fair enough not everyone believes the same way or has the same value system. However this book was not a consuming read as I thought it would be. Yes, it spoke about the day to day trials of filmmaking. And in particular the activities of Spalding. Because Mr Gray had a relatively small role in the film, it could not enlighten the me with much insight other than Mr Gray's personal experiences and observations of other crew members.It may be a great work for some but it did not work for me.

Average customer rating:

Great book for reading readiness...
GRANDFATHER'S DREAM
Grandfather's Dream is a dream read!
Grandfather's Dream

Grandfather's Dream
Holly Keller
Manufacturer: Greenwillow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0688123406

Book Description

The Vietnam war is over, and Grandfather and young Nam dream that the new dikes will restore the wetlands, bringing home the beautiful cranes that once filled the winter sky. But other villagers think that growing rice is a more practical use for the land. "This is a beautiful book with many layers of meaning and an important message. The simple illustrations...are lovely and appealing."--School Library Journal.

Customer Reviews:

Great book for reading readiness..........2006-06-11

This book lets you learn 75 vowel-spellings using 573 vocabulary words.

GRANDFATHER'S DREAM.......2006-03-11

THE STORY IS BEAUTIFULLY DONE AND GIVES A CHILD INSIGHT INTO LIFE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY AND CULTURE.

Grandfather's Dream is a dream read!.......2005-06-09

This is an invaluable book in the classroom! I am using it with a study of Vietnam for 1/2 grade gifted students. It would be an excellent vehicle to convey the message to any classroom that if we have a healthy environment, we have a healthy planet. It is gently written but tells so much about the culture and people of Vietnam.

Grandfather's Dream.......2000-11-01

I am surprised no one else has written a review of this book. It is an excellent book, used in many school districts as multicultural, narrative literature. THis book can be teamed with Sadako and/or the Magic Crane to show examples of the belief that cranes bring good luck. It can even be tied in with an origami lesson on folding paper cranes.

Cambodia in Pictures (Visual Geography. Second Series)

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Cambodia in Pictures (Visual Geography. Second Series)
Visual Geography Pictures
Manufacturer: Lerner Pub Group (L)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Cambodia | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Southeast Asia | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0822519054

Average customer rating:

Cambodia in Pictures (Visual Geography. Second Series)
Stacy Taus-Bolstad , and Margaret J. Goldstein
Manufacturer: Lerner Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin

ASIN: 0822519941

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Laos and Cambodia in Pictures
F. G. Bechwati
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse UK DS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Cambodia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Laos | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1425986897

Book Description

The book is a photographic essay containing colour and black and white pictures, using both film and digital cameras, taken during my trip to southeast Asia in the summer of 2006, and portraying various aspects of life in present-day Laos and Cambodia. Royalties from the sale of the book will go to C.C.P.P, an organisation in the beach town of Sihanoukville, south of Cambodia, that helps the children that would not normally afford to go to schools through an art program which allows them to pay for their education by selling their own paintings to the many visiting tourists of the beaches.

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Disappointing follow-up...
Out of Sight, ...
Staying in control and out of danger!
strong journalistic investigative tale

Out of Mind
Catherine Sampson
Manufacturer: Mysterious Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0892968141

Book Description

The critically acclaimed author of Falling Off Air returns with her heart-pounding second novel, in which Robin Ballantyne tracks a kidnapper-and ends up on the trail of a killer. Robin Ballantyne heads to Cambodia to film a documentary about landmines. That's her cover story, but she really wants to interview Mike Darling, who happened to be on a retreat with her friend Donna right before Donna mysteriously disappeared. The trip turns disastrous after one of the men at Mike's camp, whose parents share a home with Mike and his wife in England, steps on a landmine and loses his leg. Then the Darlings' own son is kidnapped. Mike returns from Cambodia furious that the police are making no progress, and then someone is found stabbed to death in the home the Darlings share. Robin begins her own investigation into the murder and the kidnapping that preceded it-risking her own job, love, and life in the process.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing follow-up..........2005-11-02

I enjoyed 'Falling Off Air', Sampson's debut novel featuring Robin Ballantyne, but had to slog through this dreary follow-up. It started out quite well but about a third of the way into the book, I felt Sampson lost impetus (it seemed to me as if she herself was bogged down and bored with the characters) and started meandering all over the place. Robin's relationship with her detective boyfriend is bloodless and unconvincing, her bratty twins tedious and somehow unreal (hard to believe she has three children of her own), and Robin herself is unlikeable and colorless. In fact, none of the characters seem like real people. The story line had potential, but became totally lost in a thicket of silly sub-plots and unconvincung characters. And the number of phone calls from one player to another was ridiculous! At one point there seemed to be three of four per page and the only way the author could think of to convey the plotline to the reader. I made myself finish it, just to see how Sampson extricated herself from the morass, but it was a chore.

Out of Sight, ..........2005-09-29

This is about a missing person case, a high profile one of a war photographer, Melanie Jacobs, who vanished in England. Mike Darling, no relation to Jim, was a professional soldier (member of the Special Forces) and supposedly the 'last person' to see her before she disappeared.

A news investigation at the same network, Robin Ballantyne, is planning a documentary about missing persons and takes matters into her own hands when her boss orders her off this particular case. After talking with Melanie's mother, she went to Cambodia where Darling is taking cover and keeping mum, appearing to have something to hide. There, under false pretense to film part of her documentary, she uncovrs secrets her boss did not want her to know.

Things gets dangerous after she returned to England. She'd remembered Melanie as a meticulous, hard-working and brave photographer out in the field and she was a stickler for attention to details. Like Robert Capa, she risked her life daily to "record atrocity." He felt guilt for taking photos of the soldiers who died immediately afterwards, but she wasn't afraid to put the factual record above her own survival. Capa was killed by doing just that.

Her disappearance was kep uder wraps, for some mysterious reason, with claims from the Head of Corporate Policy, that no one has an idea why's she'd simply vanished. Was it a coverup or just fate that Melanie had been abandoned by the network? Robin received threats and endured person violence, like the girl in the movie, 'Red Eye,' but it made her stronger in the end, but she returned home changed. She faced her demons and won. Catherine Sampson previously wrote FALLING OFF AIR.

Staying in control and out of danger! .......2005-09-18

September 15, 2005

Robin Ballantyne is the single mother of twins and a TV documentary maker who has recently returned to work. She convinces her bosses to let her film a series about missing people. A project that will attempt the reconstruction of vanished lives when a daring and reckless camerawoman named Melanie Jacobs suddenly vanishes without a trace from HazPrep, a military training camp for journalists, and a private security operation just outside of London. Melanie's mother approaches Ballantyne with a request to help uncover the truth regarding her daughter's mysterious disappearance. Ballantyne in turn promises her co-workers distraught mother that she will investigate.

But when she begins asking questions, Ballantyne heads directly into the depths of a dangerous and conspiratorial world as conflict rises with a group of army veterans, as well as with her boyfriend, DCI Tom Finney. Ballantyne's employer, "The Corporation," does nothing to support her, instead an executive requests she back off and drop Melanie from the series altogether. Melanie's boyfriend, Fred, confesses there were problems in their relationship.

Persistence will reveal that the last person to have seen Melanie alive is ex-special forces soldier turned mercenary, Mike Darling who is clearing up land mines in the killing fields of Cambodia. Darling is hesitant to speak of Jacobs despite a rumored relationship. A landmine explodes, sending Ballantyne home before she can dredge up more. But when Darling's own child is abducted Ballantyne suspects there is a connection between the two disappearances.

The devious plot twists and turns to an explosive end that is sure keep readers glued to their seats!

Reviewed by Betsie

strong journalistic investigative tale.......2005-08-20

Following maternity leave to raise her twins now three years old as a sole parent, journalist Robin Ballantyne has returned to work as a TV reporter. Her current assignment focuses on a series of missing persons. When camerawoman Melanie Jacobs vanishes without a trace, Robin promises the distraught mother of her peer to investigate this as part of her work.

Robin's inquiries lead to the killing fields of Cambodia but quickly link back to London. She particularly researches what she can about Mike Darling, who allegedly is the last person to have seen Melanie. As she gets closer to the truth, her lover DCI Finney and the Corporation's bosses tell her to back off for her own safety. Before she can decide what to do, someone kidnaps Mike's baby. Though no one else agrees with her assessment, Robin believes that there is a link between the infant abduction and the disappearance of Melanie; she is determined to find it even if it means angering two highly regarded military families who prefer secrets remain hidden.

OUT OF MIND, the sequel to FALLING OFF AIR, is a strong journalistic investigative tale starring a wonderful protagonist struggling between raising her three years old twins alone and doing her reporting work. The story line is superb especially when everyone tells Robin to drop this particular inquiry, but the obstinate mother feels she survived the terrible twos so how bad can this case be. Though sometimes her supermom efforts seem off kilter, fans will appreciate this strong mystery and look forward to more of Robin in future books.

Harriet Klausner

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The killing fields
Bruce Robinson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Screenplays | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Cambodia | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007B6N4E

Book Description

This book will familiarize readers with the basics they need for protecting their companys critically important rights involving copyright, patents, trademarks, and all other aspects of intellectual property.

Download Description

In today's high-tech world, there are all sorts of new rules being formulated on a daily basis when it comes to protecting one's "rights" in the market. Software piracy, fair usage of documents, copyright protection--these are real concerns that cost companies millions of dollars each year. As such, understanding and maintaining rights in intellectual property is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the professional activities of the practicing technologist, manager, and entrepreneur. Protecting Your #1 Asset shows how valuable rights in intellectual property are unwittingly lost by seemingly innocent courses of action. Since failing to know the rules can lead to disaster, attorney Michael Lechter reveals important bits of protective information, including: · The basic categories of intellectual property· Patent, copyright, and trademark protection · Comparison of the different modes of intellectual property protection· Appendixes documenting the procedure for protecting intellectual property. Protecting Your #1 Asset will show how knowing how to protect your rights (and how not infringe on the rights of others) can be the difference between a big payday and financial ruin.

Customer Reviews:

Ideas are free, but assets bring wealth..........2006-03-01

I wonder if the creators of that operating system had this book, would anyone know of Bill Gates or Microsoft; or if Xerox held its research and development of the paperless office, would the Information Technology field be totally different- yeah you know where I am going with this.

If you are a creative mind searching for a way to protect your hard work and development, GET THIS BOOK for it is a sound minded investment for your greatest assets: ideas that move the world and generate money.

This book explained all the types of Creative Assets Protection out there. Granted it does not read as the other Rich Dad books, not as personal, but its lessons and information are vital not only to understand various intellectual properties, but also to seeking the best legal representation in both the physical and cyberspace.

Swindled.......2004-11-18

I think I know how this book was written. A whole lot of cut and paste from U.S. Law code with some mediocre story telling sprinkled in. If you want to be technical and write in the language of professional law, fine. But this is not the series to do it in.

Dry and boring. Could barely keep my eyes open........2004-10-03

Unlike the rest of the Rich Dad books that I've read -- which were for the most part fantastic -- this book was terrible. Michael Lechter may indeed be a very bright guy and a star in his field, but he is an absolutely horrendous writer. The intro by Robert Kiyosaki was the only really enjoyable part to the book. Lechter immediately jumped into complex explanations of the various types of IP protection available without really clarifying anything for the lay person like me. And no real life examples of anything -- just references to a couple hypothetical "horror stories" that he relays at the beginning of the book. The only reason I gave this book 2 stars and not 1 is because at the very least I was able to get some basic definitions of IP terms down. But I guess I could've gotten that from a dictionary too.

A great book that covers a lot of ground.......2004-05-17

This book was an extremely helpful book for me because of the fact that it covers so many different areas of intellectual property protection. Because it covers so much and so many different types of intellectual property protection, it is a book that really makes you think about all the possibilities. I like the fact that it is very broad. Considering that the book is written by an attorney who is bound by the rules of ethics not to disclose his client's confidential matters, I found the book to have ample specifics and examples of different types of intellectual property protection.

My personal impression is that it is a book that can help business owners looking to protect their intellectual property as well as those who are interested in a more scholarly approach. That is the genius of this book. It can be very useful to many different kinds of readers. I think that even a lot of attorneys who practice in different areas of the law would probably find this book extremely valuable. That is a great complement to the author.

As the title indicates, it makes you realize that your intellectual property is really your number one asset.

Teaches the basics, if you can get through it.......2004-03-13

Background: I've read all of the RD books, 6 of the Rich Dad's Advisors series, and other books by the RDA authors. For all of the RD/RDA books, I have found the conversational style to be very readable and an effective manner in which to convey information. With this book, however, it was a struggle to get through it. In terms of readability and value, this is the worst RD book I've read.

Coverage of Material: I am not knowledgable about IP law, and I felt that this book provided a basic coverage of the issues.

Organization: One frustration I had was that a lot of material was repeated, and obviously so. Rather than organizing the book in a more efficient manner, the author instead chose to repeat certain passages. When I've paid for a book, I don't care for the same half-page passage repeated three or four times.

Writing Style: The first part of the book was well written. I especially liked the initial horror stories and phone conversation, both of which were written in a conversational style. If that style had been maintained throughout the book, I would have given it 4 or 5 stars. However, the writing quickly degraded to being almost unbearable. Some parts of the book were written with a condescending tone, and it seemed that Mr. Lechter was stroking his ego. I also found the lengthy discussion on the Internet's structure to be tedious and unnecessary, perhaps a filler to increase the page count. This information was not relevant to the subject; a one or two page summary of the Internet would have been sufficient.

Other Comments: I've enjoyed Robert Kiyosaki's books, but as a whole they are full of contradicting information. This book was no exception. In the foreword, Mr. Kiyosaki uses the same quote three times, wording it differently each time, and giving two different references (Rich Dad for two, himself for one).

Bottom Line: I read this book because I want to read all of the Rich Dad and Rich Dad's Advisors books. In general, although a few of them are blatant advertisements, I've learned something from each one. In the case of this book, I would strongly suggest you find an alternative, unless you want this book because of the series affiliation. Legal primers available online provide a better value.

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