Headhunter is a complex novel which combines images from Conrad's Heart of Darkness (the escape of Mr. Kurtz) and Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (Jay Gatz, the lady in white) into a superb psycological novel. Findley is a master of the screw-with-your-head type of novel, and he has proved it with Headhunter.

The novel has countless dimensions that cannot be revealed through one reading. I look forward to reading it again (when I get it back from the last person I told "You HAVE to read this!").

It's lengthy, but definitly worth the time. Enjoy the book!

Findley updates the distrubing images and symbolism of Conrad's classic Heart of Darkness, in this riveting epic. The character development is incredibly precise and leaves the reader with a true sense of being invloved with the characters. It is much easier to comprehend if you have read and studied Conrad's book, but a must for anyone who enjoyed the classic. Headhunter is book that will stay with you for the ages.

The Headhunter was good. I laughed, I was amazed, I was scared, I was glad. What more could you ask for. Good job Timothy Findley. Keep up the good work.

Much of Findley's work revolves around upscale families with problems. The Last of the Crazy People is no exception. As seen through the eyes of the youngest child in the family, who is really the only one not yet corrupted by loss of innocence, the story is told with the accuracy that only a child's perception will grant. Beautifully written, this is yet another book by Timothy Findley that i have loved.

This is one of Mr. Findley's finest works. The metaphorical imagry used to discribe us as mankind is graphic and haunting. I know that I'll never forget,"The Last Of The Crazy People".

Timothy Findley's first novel is a powerfully shocking read full of characters who reach out to the reader. Set in Ontario in 1964, the main character is an 11 year old boy, Hooker Winslow, living within a dysfunctional family. Findley holds your attention while you identify with this young man trying to learn about the problems in his family--but no one will tell him the truth. Not his distanced father who speaks to no one except his own spinster sister Rosetta who lives FOR her brother. Not his mother, the "crazy" Jessica who no longer wants to be a mother. Sometimes his drunken brother Gil. And the maid, Iris, tries to help him--but the truth is never within his grasp. The ending is breath-taking. Read this novel and you'll become a Findley fan.

June 20th 2002- Timothy Fidley passed away.
Rest In Peace.

Timothy Findley has quickly become one of Canada's most prominent internationally writers. His ambiguous stories are always tinted with a twist of magical realism that leads his readers to believe there really are phenomenal elements left in the world. In this latest collection of works, "Dust to Dust," Findley brings back characters from past works, such as the beautiful but troubled couple Minna and Bragg and creates intriguing new ones like Evard and Erik Kelgard, the strange twins and their magic show. We can't help but be drawn in by the dicotomy Findley creates between the magic of life and the secrets of death. I endorse this tor Findley fans and new comers alike.

Writing a "book" review on a play that one has not read may seem a bit presumptuous. However, my wife and I saw the US premier of this play at Houston's Stages Theater a few weeks ago and can attest that it is some of the finest entertainment we have seen in many a day. I hope that many people will read it, that college English classes will study it, and, most importantly, that numerous theater groups will stage it.

Historical. Hilarious. Poignant. An exhaustive list of appropriate adjectives would exceed Amazon's page limitations.

The play has a large cast of memorable characters including a semi-blind theater seamstress and a bear. The scene is a barn in England in 1601, and Queen Elizabeth seeks diversion from the impending beheading of her lover in the company of William Shakespeare and his band of actors. The dialogue is both scholarly and witty, with many echoes from Shakespeare's plays.

But the driving force for the drama is the point/counterpoint exchanges between "King" Elizabeth, who feels compelled to shirk her womanly feelings for the good of her country and the actor Ned, a 17th century drag-Queen. More than that I will not tell.

See it if you can, but, until it plays in your area, read the book.

In 1601, Queen Elizabeth I was forced by duty to condemn to death a man widely believed to be her former lover. On the night before the execution, she demanded that William Shakespeare's acting troup, The Lord Chamberlain's Men, perform a play to distract her from the heartbreak that would occur in the morning. This much is truth. Timothy Findley takes these historical facts, blends in a few "what if's?" and creates a powerhouse play about men, women, fantasy, death, and ultimately, love.

After a performance of Much Ado About Nothing, Queen Elizabeth goes backstage to talk with the actors, and finds them all mourning the iminent death of the Beatrice of the evening, their terminally ill leading "lady," Ned. Ned has lived all his life as a woman, and does not know how to face his upcoming death with the courage of a man. Elizabeth, by contrast, has had to destroy her feminine side in order to rule England successfully. Realising this, the two strike a bargain: Ned will teach Elizabeth how to be a woman, if she can teach him how to be a man. What follows is a heartbreaking journey of self-discovery in which Elizabeth learns how to mourn, Ned learns how to die with grace and how to live with love, and William Shakespeare finds the greatest play never written.

This is an excellent choice for any Shakespeare fan, and for any lover of theatre. Powerful, enlightening, heartbreaking and uplifting, Elizabeth Rex is an exquisite journey for the heart, with beautiful dialogue, strong characters, and fascinating arguments. A must-read.

To begin with, every reader of this book should first read the poem "Hugh Selwyn Mauberly" by Ezra Pound, since this fictional persona of Pound's ends up being the central character of this fascinating book. The book works mainly on two levels: 1.) That of the intrigues, relationships and a certain "cabal" surrounding the rise of the Fascists and Nazis to power and their eventual defeat, all plausible (I did some research), and historically based, which makes the book the page-turner that it is. 2.) The embedded questionings of human motivations and actions and meditation-provoking sections futher calling into question what ultimately comprises history.

This second aspect is what makes the book more than just your average historical thriller. Findley has a fine manner of putting events into a poetic, philosophical cast. - But the book meanders a bit much, and somehow lacks a certain panache and poetic/philosophical heft that detracts from its effectiveness- Perhaps this is inevitable in a book that weaves in and out of so many different intrigues, betrayals and deceptions while at the same time employing a prose style that is downright contemplative at times. In other words, the two levels don't quite seem to mesh as they should.

Aside from a little muddlednesss, however, this is a very fine piece of literature. It will having you turning the pages in excited bewilderment while at the same time pondering the questions it provokes about mankind and history.

There is an intriguing passage in the middle of Mauberly's narrative where he imagines a future historian, a "dread academic, much too careful of his research" who will completely botch things in his account of these times "because he will not acknowledge that history is made in the electric moment, and its flowering is all in chance....There is more in history of impulse than we dare to know."---So, can a "true" history be written after all? Or does a fictional account, such as this book containing a narrative written by a fictional character, have the famous last words?

Timothy Findley's new novel is the result of a poetic and limitless imagination which goes beyond the confines of national boundaries and places him securely among the most original creative writers in the twentieth century. With a rich, brilliantly crafted plot, this novel of gripping international intrigue is one of his best yet. Ingenius characters and a fantastic plot make this novel a brilliant example of Findley's genius. A captivating piece of fiction.

This is available in New York Stores. Fascinating novel of intrigue and suspense

I was charmed by this book. It's a great story with strong characters, interesting themes and an evocative setting of turn-of-the-century Toronto. But I agree with the reviewer who noted the nonstandard usages. The archaic, arcane punctuation was particularly distracting. Get thee a good copy editor!

I've read very few books by Timothy Findley it's a bit hard to find his works here where I live. And have to rely much on Amazon or other online bookstores to find his works. However, the tale of Lily Kilworth is by far my favorite. His poignant narrative makes it very easy to imagine her life as it unfolds. Her brief moments of happiness are a joy just as the moments of torment are horrible to see. Very few books have brought me to tears yet with this one I found myself reaching for the tissue box as I turned the page. This book is truly a wonderful addition to those who appreciate good literature. My only complain is that like another reviewer here, I too think it has far too many Italics.

This is probably the seventh or eigth timothy findley book that I have read and probably one of my favorites. It was to say the least a book I rarely put down. From beginning to end the trials and tribulations of Lily Kilworth are fascinating and sometimes disturbing. A deep dive into the world of a mad woman and her son, it stirs the reader both emotionally and mentally. A great read at any age!

This is an incredible book. I've read most of Findley's other novels (see my review of _The Telling of Lies_ for more on the author and his other books), and none measures up to this one ... but few OTHER writers' novels do, either.

God is tired, and depressed. He gets no respect any more, so he decides to do away with himself; hence, the flood. (This was back in the days of unicorns, fairies, and elves.) But before destroying everything, God tips off his devoted servant Dr. Noyes, who is, not to put too fine a point on it, a total jerk: obsessed with God's law and with doing what is right in God's eyes.

The real hero of the story is Mrs. Noyes, an alcoholic who stows bottles of gin about the house and talks to animals. Part of the story is narrated by her cat, Mottyl. God's lovely fallen angel Lucifer senses that something big is up and transforms himself into a beautiful woman in order to hook up with Ham and make it onto the ark. (Another of Noah's sons tried to run away, fell in with some bandits who threw him in a pot and tried to eat him, and he was lucky to escape with his skin permanently turned blue.)

Power blocs form and struggle on the ark, secrets are kept and revealed, and what seems like a quirky, amusing fantasy inexorably transforms itself into an apocalyptic horror. The language is simple and spare, but the imagery and the plot it relates is unbearably rich.

There isn't one superlative I wouldn't lavish on this book. You should do your utmost to find a copy for yourself (It took my wife four months to secure a copy with the intent of trading it away at a "book gift" party she intends to throw at our house; the book made her cry.)

Beautifully written with colourful images and heart tugging scenes, Timothy Findley spins a twisted fairy tale about the first time the world ended in, Not Wanted on the Voyage. The story is complete with unicorns who are destined for a grotesque death, faeries who are forgotten in the rain, and intelligent talking animals who show more emotion and spirit than some of the main characters. In his catastrophic version of Noah's Ark, Findley twists the expected roles of God and Noah showing just how arbitrary powerful figures can be in their justice. And as the rain pours down in colourful splashes admist a mythical setting one cannot help but fall gently in love with figures such as Lucifer, Mottyl the blind cat, and sweet Mrs Noyes, Noah's wife. Altogether, Timothy Findley's Not Wanted on the Voyage is a wonderfully written saga that opens one's mind to the complexities of religion, patriarchal society, and the importance of myth. It combines both the world of fairy tales with the violent realities of survival in the primary world. It can be read purely for entertainment or it can be read for a little bit of enlightenment. Either way it is a brilliant and unforgettable novel.

As a grade 12 student, I had no choice whether to read this book or not because it was a requirement for my English course. At first, I found it rather boring, but later on in the book (around page 90) I became VERY interested in it. I was amazed at how far Mrs. Noyes went to bring her blind cat on board the ark, and how she stood up for her cat's rights. It really makes you add detail to the Biblical story of Noah and The Flood. Right now, my English class has to write an essay on the thesis of 'the abuse of power and the distruction that results from it'. I feel that Noah should not have mistreated his family and took advantage of them the way he did. But I also feel that it was an act of obediance to God. Noah might have felt that the only way he could obey God's command(and possibly become a disciple) would be to make sure that NOTHING went wrong. That's why it appeared that he was abusing the power given to him. Comments anyone??

Laurence was able to create characters of great depth, all diverse in their personality traits. Morag Gunn carries the story through reflection of her life, skipping back and forth from present time to past. This book takes place in Manawaka, a legendary town in Manitoba. Some secondary (as well as central) characters are also present in Laurence's "The Stone Angel", giving the reader a greater appreciation of the close relation between the books and the characters. A very involving read!

The Manawaka cycle consists of the following books: "A Bird in the House", "A Jest of God", "The Fire Dwellers" "Stone Angel", and "The Diviners". It is truly a portayal the cycle of life for women.

I discovered Margaret Laurence while living in a log cabin in Canada at the height of my feminist awakening in the 1970's. Although steeped in far more radical authors such as Betty Friedan and Virginia Woolf, Laurence's Manawaka series touched me as no others, perhaps because I identified with each and every woman of her books. The startling part was that none of their lives looked anything like mine--not in the slightest. And yet I felt as if I were each character and came away with a bit more insight into myself. I loved the way she chose women who were unlike each other, but all of whom had contact with each other in some way. One was a main character in one book and a minor one in another book. One was a young girl, another a middle-aged woman, and yet another a dying elderly woman. One was the wealthy daughter of a town leader, the other the daughter of the garbage collector. And each woman learned something about herself and her life through the drama of the story. Laurence's solutions for each woman were far from simplistic, but each woman came to some resolution in her life. To read only one misses the eloquence of the series, the portrait of rural Manitoba and of people who inhabit the imaginary town of Manawaka. I wish that the series were published in one volume so that readers did not risk entering the characters from only one person's perpective. I have not read the books since the 1970's and yet hold them very dear. I am now inspired to reread them from the perspective of a 53-year-old. I have little doubt that they will only be that much more intensely felt. Perhaps I will write another review after my rereading of them.

It is understandable that high school students might be unmoved by her books and I agree with the reviewer who suggested they might not be appropriate for mandatory high school reading. They require a bit more life experience than most adolescents have, but I venture to guess that her message is universally understood by women of all ages who are introspective. I think a good introduction of Laurence for youths might be "A Bird in the House", about a child's perspective on a death in the family.

I cannot think of any books that have had a greater influence on my adult life as a woman. I hope that the entire series is republished.

My last year of highschool we had to read The Stone Angel, and it was the only book assigned to me in highschool that I managed to finish ahead of sechduel. I have since been out of school for two years and when I found The Diviners I jumped at the chance to read it. And I loved it and everything about it, unlike the other reveiwers I was neither forced to read it nor was I looking for a book about a middle aged women to relate to. I read this book simply because Laurence is a great storyteller. She manages to wave the past and present flawlessly never losing the reader anywhere in between. I fond that the realisionship between Morag and Pique was much like the realisionship between Deliah and Cissy in Dorthy Alison's Cavedweller. So if you like The Cavedweller then you like this book. The same can be said for if you like Laurence's books you will Alison's books because she is the next step for Women's litature in North America!

NOTE: This review may contain crucial spoilers.
The novel, The Wars, is as much a story about war as it is about a young man's troubles with love. In fact, were it not for the dreary setting, this novel would still hold its own as a masterpiece. Whilst roaming the blooded fields, Robert Ross, a nineteen-year-old Canadian, struggles with the concept of love. This is truly an amazing story in that, although circumstances are tough, the predominant theme is still love, a quality that cannot fade away. The ugly truth of soldiers and war is brought about in a way that only parallels the love story, further confusing young Robert.
Being known as one of the greatest novels concerning World War I, the logical place to start is how the author, Timothy Findley, expressed his views of the war in the trenches. He details everything from the chlorine gas used, to the dreaded rifts that could collapse at any instant. 'The ammonia in their urine would turn the chlorine into harmless crystals that could not be breathed.' (page 141) I thought it was actually educational to learn this; not for the fact that I would ever be presented with this challenge, but because it is an interested tidbit about the war, that made me appreciate to what great lengths soldiers undertook to stay alive. The toughest thing to deal with, was that dying by bomb was at times preferable than just sitting in the trenches. No one could stand watching their friends being torn apart by bullets, and the thought that if bombed they could all die together, was pleasing to them.
'He'd found a model he could emulate ' a man to whom killing wasn't killing at all but only throwing.' (page 32) This would have to be one of my favorite passages of the novel. Timothy Findley portrays Robert as a man who does not like to kill, as can be seen in the scene when he must shoot the horse. Therefore, he made an ingenious attempt to find a reason for the Canadian to kill. 'Throwing' hardly sounded like a gruesome word, and if Robert stuck this term into his head, he could 'throw' as much as he wanted. His mindset is shattered when an important event arises. 'The sound of it would haunt him to the day he died.' Referring to a bird singing, this is said right after a German is spotted, seemingly unarmed, who lets them retreat. Robert thought he was safe, until the man was killed. Next to the German was a sniper rifle. The thought of knowing that he could have and would have been killed at any instant shattered Robert's ideas of killing, leading him into madness later on.
Robert's trouble with understanding women begins with this passage: 'All because he wouldn't fight a man she didn't love and whom he'd never seen.' (page 13) He could not understand why he must 'defend his honor' by fighting a man who was interested in his love. 'Being loved was letting others feed from your resources''
Timothy Findley's writing is filled with beautiful passages and a sense or realism is attained by his style of writing. Sometimes, the best way to clearly 'show' something, is by writing in mixed words and unfinished sentences. The style of writing is not only unique to a few authors, but can convey the madness around the characters. For a novel of World War I, the style is used to its most powerful and intense extreme.

I guess I'll be the token American to review this work.

I first read Pilgrim in November of 2000. It easily became one of my "desert-island-dozen" choices. From that point, I made it a mission to read as much of Timothy Findley as I could. So I started with "The Wars".

Although this book seems short at first(my copy checks in at a mere 254 pages)don't be fooled, this book is much deeper than that. His Hemingway-esque approach keeps the pages turning quickly. It moves so quickly that by the time you've finished it, your left in awe as if hit by a truck you never saw coming.

The tale would definitely fall in the "coming of age" category. As it is set in France during World War One, the potential for making a man out of a boy is clearly evident. The protagonist, Robert Ross, surrounded my the madness of war reaches his breaking point and, in an act that would seem unjustly called treasonist, finds the essence of true humanity among fields of mortar fire, poison gas, and flame throwers.

As I said this book moves quickly (I read it in two days). With such a short time commitment and so much reward, you owe it to yourself to read this book.

This book was great. One of the few that I wish never ended. Plus it was written by a Canadian, a true bonus. His use of imagery and historical facts make a effective one-two punch for your imagination. A must read for any war enthusist. Much more to tell but I do not want to ruin it for you.

fred.

Back in 1976, while working on a term paper for a course at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, I had just seen the movie about Patty Hearst, aired on ABC. The movie was a propaganda piece that made this white woman look like the victim. The only survivor of a police manhunt, she was tahen allowed to spew forth her specious and spurious claims about being "Kidnaped" and "held against her will" and "raped." My analysis called into question all of these claims, but it was not until I came across a small black book called "The Life and Death of the SLA" that I found out what the group was about and how Patty Hearst had gotten mesmerized by the adventure. I used this book for much of my source material and now, some 25 years later, I am doing a re-examination. She's still guilty as sin, but now I will add some primary resources, since a few of the SLA members are still alive -- rotting in prison, of course.

This book is well written. And it goes into detail about how the police showed no mercy toward the SLA. The book makes it clear that the robbery of the Hibernia Bank was the work of masterminds, not sick revolutionaries. These brothers and siters set up a statewide program called PIN -- People in Need, and had major corporations putting together food baskets and distributing themm to people who needed the food. Does THIS sound like the work of people who were not organized?

The book goes into much detail about one issue that has gone overlooked: the role that then California governor Ronald Reagan played in fanning the flames of revolution when he said on TV that he hoped that the people who accepted the People in Need program food "got botulism." This must made the SLA even more committed to taking down the system, and they certainly made a dent in it.

This book is a spellbinder. What the media doesn't tell you will be unveiled within these pages. AMerica is a sick nation that claims to do no wrong, and when people come forward to say "we've had enough," this nation lowers the boom the way that it did on the SLA. The Black Panthers couldn't quite deal with the SLA because the SLA was serious about confrontation, conflict and the revolution -- the Panthers, for the most part, were media freaks, former pimps, punks and hos.

For those of you out there who remember, and still appreciate, the times of the 1960s, read, "The LIfe and Death of the SLA." Then read Patty Hearst's lie-filled book. LIke the Kerner COmmission report, you will come away with the same conclusion as they did: "We live in two societies, one black, one white - separate and unequal."