Related Subjects: Author Index Reviews Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956
Book reviews for "Antschel,_Paul" sorted by average review score:

Access 97 Developer's Set
Published in Paperback by Sybex (January, 1998)
Authors: Ken Getz, Mike Gilbert, and Paul Litwin
Amazon base price: $62.99
List price: $89.98 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $60.00
Buy one from zShops for: $61.47
Average review score:

Rawk
I bought it when it came out.

Great book for Access97. Great chapters on string handling in the enclosed VBA book as well.

Werd.

A must have for MsAccess programmers
Daily employed subjects, very good explaineds and an useful INDEX to found what you need. That is aplicable to the whole serie "Access xxx Developer's Handbook". I own all of them!. The best book about MsAccess.

The most important book for the advanced Access Developer
I've bought every edition of the Developers Handbook since Access 2.0, and convinced every employer of mine during that period to buy a copy, too. I used to be amazed at how I could look for the solution to some Access problem in three other books and never find it (or even clues that helped!); then I'd look in Getz et al and find the *exact* solution, on a silver platter.

In the past few years, I'll admit, I have on a very few occasions looked for something I didn't find. Once the answer was there, in quite thorough form, but I missed it because I looked in the index instead of the table of contents! The only reason I even mention this is that the Developers Handbook is the *only* technical book I've ever come across from which I have, almost subconsciously, begun to expect not just excellence, but PERFECTION! I realize how terribly unfair this is, but I can't help myself.

I'm pleased to see the scope of the Developers Handbook being expanded into SQL Server and Visual Basic, since high-end Access development can no longer be done in isolation from those tools. Having a resource like this one provided by Ken Getz, Paul Litwin, and Mike Gilbert is far from the worst reason you could have for choosing Access, SQL Server, and VB over some other set of tools.

If you're a developer and value your own time, you'll want this book. If you employ developers and you're lucky enough to have one or two who will actually *use* a book if it's available, buy this book now. The only way it won't pay for itself is if *nobody* ever opens it. And I'm not even sure of that. I think it might even make your developers better at what they do just by sitting on the shelf of their office!


Awful Ogre's Awful Day
Published in Hardcover by Greenwillow (August, 2001)
Authors: Jack Prelutsky and Paul O. Zelinsky
Amazon base price: $11.17
List price: $15.95 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $4.23
Buy one from zShops for: $3.66
Average review score:

Fun, Fun, Fun!
What a terrific, fun, lively book! As much fun for me and my husband to read as it is for our son to have it read to him. Even though he is still small, he loves the rhyming cadence of it and the pictures. A nice change from Dr. Seuss - I just love Awful Ogre! Especially when he dances...or courts a grrrrl...or goes out to dinner...

This book would be a terrific addition to any childs library.

Truly a Dream Team!
Fans of Prelutsky and fans of Zelinsky, rejoice! This devoutly-to-be-wished combination comes off just as well as you might imagine. It really does present a day in the life of a one-eyed ogre in poems and pictures. And by all means, read it out loud! It's so much more fun that way. My favorite -- "When elves and gnomes encounter me, / They often shriek, 'Grotesque!' / I bow with magnanimity / And murmur, 'Statuesque!' " And the pictures! There are a lot of things going on in the four-color pictures. And kids will have fun finding them all! Some of the language is hilariously gross and disgusting -- and not for the squeamish! Prelutsky obviously has always loved the sound of words -- and big ones, at that. And as always, he doesn't write DOWN to kids. There is a glorious perfection in his rhythms. Kids will love to grimace and wince along with the gory subject matter. This book is so much fun!

An Awfully Exciting Adventure...
Jack Prelutsky, author of more than 30 artistic creations, takes the reader on a journey through the daily rituals of an ogre's pleasantly gross life. Prelutsky describes all of the ogre's activities from sunrise, when his pet rattlesnake wakes him, until late into the night, when he has a nightmare about a beautifully tranquil place. Using fabulous double-page spreads, Zelinsky illustrates how the ogre enjoys a violent storm, tends to his garden of carnivorous roses and overblown mold and takes supper at a local restaurant where his titanic appetite is satisfied with triple helpings of everything (including the silverware, plates and tablecloth). The 18 rhythmic and witty verses are brought to life with remarkable detail using watercolor and pen and ink. This combination of gruesome humor, along with the realistic snapshots of the ogre's life, will provide many hours of entertainment and enjoyment to all those who are ready to experience the adventure. Everyone will fall in love with this oversized and grotesque, but playful, ogre as they scour each marvelous and explosive work of art! (Ages 6 and older)


Beauty of the 'Burst: Gibson Sunburst Les Pauls from '58 to '60
Published in Paperback by Hal Leonard (31 January, 1999)
Author: Yasuhiko Iwanade
Amazon base price: $24.47
List price: $34.95 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $24.00
Buy one from zShops for: $23.07
Average review score:

Best of its Kind
This book is a one trick pony, but it nails its subject matter cold. If you know anything about the vintage guitar market you already know that the Gibson Les Pauls made between 1958 and 1960 are some of the most valuable and highly sought after instruments ever made. The people that collect them are absolute freaks when it comes to amassing encyclopedic knowledge of every minute detail that relates in any way to the construction and performance of these guitars. This book is tailor made for those 'Burst-a-holics.

The book is also a terrific coffee table book for any guitar collector, or enthusiast who shares the love and interest of high end collectors for this celebrated model but doesn't have a few million dollars in spare cash kicking around the house to build a collection of 'bursts. The photographs are magnificent and the book on the whole does a marvelous job of entertaining and informing. It's like buying a multi-million dollar guitar collection for the price of the book. You don't get to play them and hold them, but you sure can look at them and learn all there is to know about why they play and sound the way they do.

Functional sculpture . . . that's what a vintage Les Paul really is and this book does both the art and the craft of the historic '58-'60 Les Pauls justice.

Great for an addict like me.
I admit it, I am addicted to *properly photographed guitars*. A book like this is the perfect fix. Iwanade's book is the ultimate reference to these very special guitars.

If you, like me, have G.A.S. (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome), this book might just get you through a tough weekend where you might have purchased yet another guitar. Darn, I should have read it again this weekend... I could have saved a bunch!

A labor of love for a classic electric guitar
What I admire most about this outstanding book is that the author takes a back seat to the guitars themselves; and lets face it, long after we're gone these fantastic instruments will be valued and treasured. This book could only have been created by someone who really loves the old Les Paul, and turning the pages makes me love them too. I only wish the page size was maybe 4 or 5 times as big! This is a very special book, and I appreciate the intelligence of the author in presenting these guitars in the way that he has.


Black Skin, White Masks
Published in Paperback by Grove Press (October, 1991)
Authors: Frantz Fanon, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Charles Markmann
Amazon base price: $10.00
List price: $12.50 (that's 20% off!)
Used price: $4.98
Collectible price: $9.50
Buy one from zShops for: $5.98
Average review score:

Great read
Frantz Fanon's work is an excellent insight of how people of color throughout the world have been effected by colonization.

A must read for anyone trying to understand the basics about living in the western world as a person of color.

A gift to humanity
Fanon's amazing book is one of the landmarks in modern thinking, as far as I am concerned. Fanon says he wants to expose the sickness in order for it to be cured. He exposes the sickness inflicted on Africans by the contact with the colonizing white West in a razor sharp accuracy and courage. Fanon is completely honest, sparing no criticism from the Africans nor the Europeans. He gets help from giant figures like Cesaire and Senghor, and creates an emotionally and intellectually charged masterpiece.

I learned from Fanon about the use of language as a colonialist tool, the terrible affect on African self esteem, the psychological turmoil that erupts as a result of the contact with white society.
It is clear the world is not the same today as it was in the 50's, but Fanon's book is just as relevant.
Quoting from Sartre talking about another book by Fanon: "Have the courage to read this book !".

extremely trippy book...
a tome on the black man in europe, mainly martinique...basically what fanon is saying is : brothas try to be like the other, because they hate them selves and they desire to sleep with the other to give themselves worth and that a bad environment and colonialism makes a black man bad ...reading the book is like reading a long prose poem, thoughtful and stunning...take the chance. it's extremely interesting...


The Cure: Enterprise Medicine for Business
Published in Hardcover by John Wiley & Sons (31 January, 2003)
Authors: Dan Paul and Jeff Cox
Amazon base price: $17.47
List price: $24.95 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $9.50
Collectible price: $12.99
Buy one from zShops for: $10.95
Average review score:

Good for what ails¿your company
Not at all your typical business book, but every bit the truth about the corporate world that I have experienced. As I became drawn in by the story, as told through the eyes and thoughts of the characters, I relived my own personal nightmares of ineffective management. But their outcome was much more pleasant, and entirely plausible. Judging by the many positive comments of some very highly placed executives, it appears that Enterprise Medicine is for real. By joining together and focusing on the possibilities, they made their vision a reality through teamwork, mutual support and encouragement - along with a good dose of flexibility. I honestly dream of working at a place like that! The employees were empowered and took ownership of their future - and the future of their company. I can think of quite a few companies who are ailing right now. They have the potential to become great again, but I think they could use a good dose of "The Cure" to get them back on their feet!

Great Read
"The Cure" arrived on Friday afternoon, and I couldn't put it down. I am glad I had a free weekend to read it because it is a page-turner. I never thought a business book could be so entertaining and informative at the same time. This is really a business novel, so there is a story (a compelling one) with characters (many you will recognize from your own business).

It tells the story of company that faces many challenges - the biggest of which is its own culture. What's different about this book is it tells you how to change that troubled culture into positive energy that will drive the business towards success.

This is a must read for those struggling with the cultural issues facing so many businesses.

The Cure: Enterprise Medicine for Business
I loved this book. It really applied to my business and I can already see how it will improve how we do business. I highly recommend!


Architects on Architects
Published in Hardcover by McGraw-Hill Professional (16 August, 2001)
Authors: Susan Gray and Paul Goldberger
Amazon base price: $27.97
List price: $39.95 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $20.79
Buy one from zShops for: $23.35
Average review score:

Susan Gray--Does it again!!!
Classic text, rich assortment of photos, all presented in this, the new contemporary work on archs. What could she possibly venture into next....can't wait Ms. Gray

New York Times / Martin Filler
"...much more edifying is Tadao Ando's epiphany on his first visit to Le Corbusier's Ronchamp chapel: 'Because of the overwhelming spatial experience, which penetrated deep into my soul, I had to escape after staying less than one hour. I was awe-struck by a light unprecedented in my life.'Best among the other appreciations are Carlos Jimenez on Luis Barragan; Ricardo Legorreta on another Mexican, the little-remembered Jose Villagran;and Hugh Hardy on William van Alen, architect of the Chrysler Building. As Hardy writes of that idiosyncratic aluminum-spired skyscraper,'This iconic office building goes for broke, flaunting the exterior skin's independence as a costume pageant of pattern, gleaming profiles and symbolic panache. It's a theatrical gesture that identifies this as a building like no other, and gives New Yorkers proof that they are extraordinary.'"

Architecture + Urbanism / Ken Tadashi Oshima
Introspecting Influence

Who inspired the Whos Who of Architecture? "Architects on Architects" attempts to address this loaded question in a series of 24 essays by leading architects of the late twentieth century from around the world from Norman Foster to Carlos Jimenez to Tadao Ando. As the essays illustrate, influence is actually not simply a question of "who?" but rather comes from a number of different sources: a single building, an entire career of an architect,or sometimes just an attitude or way of looking. Many of these influential experiences happened during the architects formative years as students or interns and the impact of how these influences changed the direction of a life are revealed for the first time in these later career recollections. For Richard Rogers, his visit to the Maison de Verre as a student in 1955 would not only determine his thesis project, it would stay with him through the next half century as the symbol of "the power of innovation itself." For Tadao Ando, Le Corbusiers words in "Vers une Architecture" stressing that a journey in ones youth has a deep and strong significance throughout a lifetime inspired the young untrained aspiring architect to visit Le Corbusiers church at Ronchamp in 1965.As the essays attest, the importance of an architect can be measured not only by his or her designs, but also by the architects impact on other architects careers. Based on this criteria, Le Corbusier, Paul Rudolph,and Louis Kahn appear in these essays as some of the most influential architects. However, although five of the 24 essays are devoted to Le Corbusier, we see five very different aspects of the master architect: Ando describes impressions of Ronchamp, Michael Graves talks about Le Corbusiers method of drawing, William Lim discusses him in relation to Frank Gehry, Sumet Jumsai describes his personal meeting, and Arata Isozaki describes the context of his death. While Paul Rudolphs reputation suffered greatly during the Postmodern period, we see his lasting impact through his students who studied at Yale ranging from Norman Foster to current dean Robert A. M. Stern.
One of the most interesting aspects of this collection is the great variety of topics that the architects chose to write about. Some easily understandable choices include Cesar Pelli writing about his mentor and former employer Eero Saarinen and high-rise building specialist William Pederson writing about Rockefeller Center. However, it might come as a surprise to see Diana Agrest writing about architect-turned-filmmaker Sergei M. Eisenstein or Richard Meier writing about Frank Lloyd Wright rather than Le Corbusier. For the most part, these short essays are poignantly written -- a refreshing change from the typical arrogance and incoherence of many architects writing about their own work. Nevertheless, the essays shed great insight into the
architects inner thinking and also reveal architecture as a collective profession greater than the work of any single architect.The collection serves as a valuable document to understand this generation of architects from the second half of the twentieth century and also begs the question of how this generation will influence future generations of architects.


B$ a Script Sale ... when you don't live in Hollywood!
Published in Digital by Sub Rosa Books ()
Author: Paul Sinor
Amazon base price: $24.95
Average review score:

B$ a Script Sale...when you don't live in Hollywood
This ebook focuses on the best strategies on how to write a good screenplay to sell. It is comprehensible with up-to-date information and exceptionally inspirational. When you think on how to write a good screenplay a lot of things come to mind but Paul Sinor has compile for us the most important survival tips to win in this game. There is no doubt that this book will inspire anyone to be a screenwriter or to become a better one. There is an unbeatable combination that only Paul Sinor can compose for you to begin your journey at the same time that your own drive, ambitions and writing skill will expand like you never seeing it before.

Those who buy this book will be fortunate enough to learn about the screenwriting trade and expand their horizon whether it is for writing or just for education. Don't hesitate to get it today.

Great read!
This is a great read... I think that it's a great book for a screenwriter to have especially when you don't live in a city that lives and breathes the film industry. It does give you a step up in a great direction and I highly recommend it!

Great Book
Excellent book!!! A must read for anyone looking to get there screenplay into Hollywood. The entertainment business is tough but Paul Sinor makes it a lot easier and a lot more manageable with his new book. It covers everything you could possibly think of, from the role agents, managers and attorneys play to finding the right production company and negotiating a contract. The best part is, you don't have to live in Hollywood to get someone to read your screenplay. There's an entire chapter on what to do if you don't live in Hollywood. If you are serious about writing screenplays and breaking into the entertainment industry then this book is definitely for you!!


Chef Paul Prudhomme's Fork in the Road: A Different Direction in Cooking
Published in Hardcover by William Morrow (October, 1993)
Authors: Paul Prudhomme and Paul Rico
Amazon base price: $24.50
Used price: $2.24
Collectible price: $4.99
Buy one from zShops for: $5.00
Average review score:

A Fork in the Road by Paul Prudhomme
Although I have not used many recipes, the book is certainly a wonderful way of cooking healthy without loosing the flavor. I purchased the book "used" from amazon marketplace and was very pleased with the condition of the book as well as the way the transaction was performed. I would give her a 5 star rating.

The best cooking book I own
I can't believe this book is out of print. My wife and I own a couple of shelves full of cook books, everything from The Joy of Cooking to the Moosewood books and books of regional quisine, such as Turkish. When we don't know what to cook, this is the book we turn to. We've never made anything out of this book that we didn't like.
Some of the recipes, as other reviewers have commented, can be involved. Many are not. The best part, the food is wonderful and you don't have to feel that twinge of guilt from just having added to the clogging of your arteries.

Hold the fat, pour on the flavor
Chef Paul Prudhomme creates that Louisiana taste, but without the gobs of butter and other oils that usually go into this rich, flavorful cuisine.

Because Chef Paul had already developed a system of layering flavors (with spices, herbs, stocks, other juices) he was able to translate this knowledge of deep flavors to compensate for the absence of fats in the dishes he normally would make.

Fat carries aromas and flavor to our nose and taste buds. And it produces a certain feel to foods. Chef Prudhomme replaces the lost ingredient with fruit juices, intense but fat-free stocks and mixes of spices that are added in series to preserve their intensity and build the taste.

So, you don't have to stare nightly at a plate of lettuce, steamed chicken breast and rice if you don't want to. You can make oven fried fish, turkey and many other tasty dishes that will still be within your dietary restrictions.

Because this is a chef's book, the methods are sometimes time-consuming (like making stock.) And the very method of layering takes some time as well. So this is not a quick-to-the-table book but one that can teach techniques to enhance your own recipes.


The Clothes Have No Emperor: A Chronicle of the American '80s
Published in Paperback by Fireside (November, 1989)
Author: Paul Slansky
Amazon base price: $14.00
Used price: $2.74
Collectible price: $6.00
Average review score:

Absolutely Ruthless but Alarmingly True
Paul Slanksy evidently hates everyone, and the 80's supplied him with more than enough material to nail them all. Obviously, Republicans take far more abuse because the book IS about the Reagan era. This book is funny and really cuts through the nostalgia many (GOP in particular) hold about the 80's. Great Read.

Great stuff-wouldn't mind one on Dubya!
If I owned a time machine, I'd go back to the late seventies when Reagan was starting his campaign and drop copies of this book all over the country.

Perhaps it could have helped.

The idea that someone so incompetant and clueless could become PRESIDENT is a sobering thought.

Fantastic Time Capsule into the American 80's
The cover has been crudely taped on backwards, the cover laminate is gone, the pages are dog eared, but my copy still holds together after countless re-readings.
Chronological, exhaustive coverage of the gaffes and shocking lies told to the american public that made reagan so memorable (or should have), combined with gems of pop culture, entertainment, crime, and so on. An illustrated, cynical diary of soundbites and factoids. If you were under the general impression that reagan wasn't that bad of a president, you will walk away from this a changed person: he WAS'NT the president! The ascerbic commentary may seem occasionally unfair, (more so if your a republican), but 9 times out of 10 it hits straight on, attacking both democrats and republicans with their own quotes and foolishness. But mostly reagan.


Cronopios and Famas
Published in Paperback by New Directions Publishing (01 April, 1999)
Authors: Julio Cortazar and Paul Blackburn
Amazon base price: $11.16
List price: $13.95 (that's 20% off!)
Used price: $2.73
Buy one from zShops for: $5.75
Average review score:

Cronopios and famas
This book will open your mind like it or not. The great writing style serves to seduce you as it works on you. This is the only book I would say demandeds to be read two or more times at the least. Once don't with it you can't help but feel like you know something that the people around you don't as if some how you had an edge.

Makes me happy.

This is on my list of favorite books of all time; it is a great book not because it subtly describes the frivolties of life and not because it shows the persistence of human spirit, blah blah blah... It is a beautiful and great book because it makes you laugh - in its own great non funny way. It is not laughing out loud, of course, more like chuckling to yourself as you read it. You even get to identify with the characters of the book, with their weird perks and idiosyncracies. In our real world, the cronopios have a great cult following (at least online) - in the book, they are what people strive to be: worry-free animals in pursuit of happiness.

I read this book on a regular basis, mostly in short pieces. It is written in short chapters, so even when you are too tired to read anything else, this will cheer you up.

Recommended for all conoisseurs of inventive and experimental literature.

Brilliant and boldly experimental
"Cronopios and Famas," by Julio Cortazar, is one of those wonderful books that stands in a class by itself. It has been translated from Spanish into English by Paul Blackburn. The book is a collection of interconnected short pieces that often blur the distinctions between the short story and the essay; some of the pieces further share aspects of poetry and drama. Cortazar also incorporates elements of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and comedy into this work. Call "Cronopios and Famas" a novel, if you prefer; or simply label it "experimental literature." But whatever you call it, read it!

The book is divided into four main sections, each of which is further subdivided into several short pieces. The first section, "The Instruction Manual," contains such pieces as "Instructions on How to Cry" and "Instructions on How to Climb a Staircase." Cortazar invites us to look at everyday things and actions from a radically altered perspective; in the process, he seems to point towards an occult, or metaphysical, wisdom.

The second section, "Unusual Occupations," details the antics of a bizarre family (think TV's "Addams Family" as drawn by Dr. Seuss, with input from Franz Kafka). The third section, "Unstable Stuff," is the most varied and chaotic section of the book, and is rich in fantastic and absurd elements.

The final section of the book has the same title as the entire book: "Cronopios and Famas." In several short vignettes Cortazar draws a portrait of an alternate society populated by three different types (races? castes? species?) of beings: Cronopios, Famas, and Esperanzas. Cortazar describes the individuals of each group, and details many instances of social interactions between the groups. This final section of the book is reminiscent of Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World," but more cryptic. Along the way we witness the invention of the "wild-artichoke clock" and get a glimpse of "GENITAL, the Cigarette with Sex."

"Cronopios and Famas" is not for the lazy reader. I must admit that after my first reading of the book, I didn't really like it that much. But the second time I read it, I said to myself, "This is brilliant! What was wrong with me the first time I read it?" I wonder what my reactions will be on my third and fourth readings. This book, rich in irony and remarkable images, is truly a remarkable achievement by one of the most innovative masters of 20th century literature.


Related Subjects: Author Index Reviews Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956

Reviews are from readers at Amazon.com. To add a review, follow the Amazon buy link above.