Moskva-Petushki, which is translated in English as Moscow to the End of the Line, is Venedikt Erofeev's greatest work, one drunken man's (Venichka's) journey on the Moskovskaia-Gor'skovskaia train line to visit his lover and child in the Petushki. En route, Venichka talks with other travelers in dialogue and he also speaks in monologue about various themes such as drinking, Russian literature and philosophy and the sad, poetic soul of the Russian peasant. As the novel progresses, it becomes increasingly dark, disoriented, hallucinogenic and surrealistic, in proportion to the narrator's alcohol intake.

Moscow to the End of the Line was written in 1970. During this time, Erofeev, himself, was traveling around the Soviet Union working as a telephone cable layer. Erofeev's friends have said the author made the story up in order to entertain his fellow workers as they traveled, and that many of these fellow workers were later incorporated as characters in the book.

The text of the novel began to be circulated in samizdat within the Soviet Union and then it was smuggled to the West where it was eventually translated into English. The official Russian language publication took place in Paris in 1977. With glasnost, Moscow to the End of the Line was able to be circulated freely within Russia, but, rather than stick to the original form, the novel was abridged in the government pamphlet Sobriety and Culture, ostensibly as a campaign against alcoholism. Finally, in 1995, it was officially published, together with all the formerly edited obscenities and without censorship.

Although he is an alcoholic, Venichka never comes across to the reader as despicable. Venichka is not a man who drinks because he wants to drink; he drinks to escape a reality that has gone beyond miserable and veered off into the absurd. He is not a stupid or pitiable character, but rather one who has no outlet for his considerable intelligence. That Venichka is very educated is obvious; he makes intelligent and well-read references to both literature and religion. However, in the restrictive Soviet Union of his time, there was no outlet for this kind of intelligent creativity; Venichka is forced to channel his creative instincts into bizarre drink recipes and visions of sphinxes, angels and devils.

Although many will see Moscow to the End of the Line as satire, it really is not. Instead, it is Erofeev's anguished and heartfelt cry, a cry that demanded change. Venichka is not a hopeless character, however, the situation in which he is living is a hopeless one.

A semi-autobiographical work, Moscow to the End of the Line was never meant as a denunciation of alcoholism but rather an explanation of why alcohol was so tragically necessary in the day-to-day life of citizens living under Soviet rule.

Moscow to the End of the Line is a highly entertaining book and it is a book that is very important in understanding the Russia of both yesterday and today as well. This book is really a classic of world literature and it is a shame that more people do not read Moscow to the End of the Line rather than relying on the standard "bestseller." This book deserves to be more widely read and appreciated.

This is a sublime little tale, saturated with humor and pathos. Erofeev (both author & narrator have the same name, heightening the autobiographical tone of the book) is the Dante of the Moscow commuter rail. He stumbles from bar to bar and a purgatory of the 'thirteen varieties of Soviet vodka.' Then, it's onto the train, which takes him some thirty stops from Kursk station and 'The Hammer and Sickle' to the 'end of the line' at Petushki (which I'm told means 'flowers' in Russian) where he is to meet his Beatrice.

But (unlike Dante) Erofeev never seems to arrive. As he downs more and more hooch, the story becomes progressively more blotched and incoherent. It culminates in the Passion of Erofeev, in which our poor hero is driven up against the wall of the Kremlin (though whether its the Kremlin in Moscow or Petushki is unclear) and left screwed.

This is a story about mercy. Read it. It is easily one of the best books I've read in the past year. Then pass the word along, because it deserves to be better known.

Ah, this book...a cherished one for me, pilfered from a friend who's father studied under Nabokov (but later given back). I read this under the serious spell of Knut Hamsun and this book is similiar to "Hunger" but perhaps more humorous. It's about an unemployed, alcholic cable fitter who is fired for charting diagrams of his comrades "idleness" correalated with the days they get drunk. Thrust into a serious drinking binge he is stuck on a train trying to reach Moscow and in between we have flashbacks of him trying to buy vodka before restaurants and stores have opened, giving us recipes of cocktails made out of aftershave ("Aunt Clara's Kiss) that brings on hallucinations and incredible verbal pyrotechnics full of literary ramblings and political rumblings. The whole time his hallucinations are marked by a pair of overcoated angels egging him on or chastising his behavior as he mixes up his route on the train forgetting to disembark and actually heading away from his destination. He finally does reach Moscow and the novel closes like a hand over a movie lens as abruptly as it started. It is a startling book, not only the best of the samizdat novels (works distributed like fanzines secretly during the communist regime) but by far the most dazzling comic novels ever written about desperation and alcholism. It is an incredible book and after reading it you will never have patience for another Bukowski book again.

With so many combat novels and movies available , this author takes you on a journey of a single soldier. A soldier that has his orders to return home.... The story usually ends there! He must now carry out a task he has alone comitted himself. I was captivated by the many different aspects of this soldiers life that the author has made me(the reader) a part of. It was a collage of action , romance and much drama. This is definatly one for the book club!

This book was enjoyable from the both a storyline standpoint and from the historical perspective. Anyone who can identify with the political environment during and after the vietnam war will find this book interesting. As I read the book, I enjoyed pausing and contemplating the comparisons between the vietnam war and the political posturing taking place to the buildup to war with IRAQ. No matter what your opinion about the war with IRAQ, you will enjoy this book as a point of reference for comparison. Good Book Mr. Graley...

This book was an interesring point of view of the Vietnam war. The characters were very colorful. Good book

This is a lively, engaging text with great ideas and wonderful stories. It's a MUST READ for all professional women. Reading this made it crystal clear how so much of what goes on during negotiation is below the surface. It's here, not in the give and take of formal bargaining, that women lose out. This book not only illuminated how the subtle "Shadow Negotiation" plays out, it gave me tools to engage in this aspect of the negotiation more effectively. I was pleasantly suprised at the range of situations covered by this book. It not only covers situations that I traditionally think of as "negotations." It made clear how everyday interactions, over who should attend a meeting or when to take vacations, for example, are also negotiations that have shadow processes. I have no doubt that reading this book will enable me to be more effective at work in more ways than I had ever imagined.

As I flipped through the Harvard Business Review's Top Ten Business Books Of 2000 , I was intrigued by the review of "The Shadow Negotiation". Having a background in sociology, my curiosity was piqued by the book's focus on gender issues and interpersonal communication.

It turned out to be a riveting read and I lost count of the number of times I thought "Hey, that's happened to me!"

The Shadow Negotiation teaches by example, and delves into the psychological and social intracacies of negotiation. This book has enriched my understanding of the layers of negotiations that occur long before arriving at the table.

This book is for both sexes, and applies to all sorts of negotiations that pop up in everyday life. As a consultant, I have applied it to my salary negotiations, and find that I can manage my business relationships with much greater confidence. A wonderful gift to all of your working friends and family!

I recently completed a three month negotiation process at my job and came out from being the lowest paid executive to one of the top three with the help of Shadow Negotiation. What came as the biggest surprise was, after getting out of my own way and following the structured steps suggested by the authors, each phase of the negotiations left me stronger and more focused rather than at a loss as to what the next step could be. Through the guidelines set forth in this book, I feel I can shift a negotiation process intuitively rather than strong arming it as we as women have always been led to believe was the only option. Not only do I now realize I am smarter than I thought, I can more likely conclude a negotiation process with all parties feeling the winner. Thank you again for your book.

Would you jump at the opportunity to meet with the top people in your industry and chat to them about how they got there? That's pretty much what this book offers, and although the contributors all work in IT, their experience and advice can be applied anywhere.
Williams asks all the questions you would want to ask, and arranges the responses so you can easily flip through and make comparisons for like topics. It's not a book you have to read all at once - each interview is like a short story that you can revisit whenever you get the urge for some inspiration, management advice, or whatever. Each individual has something different to offer.
Because it's straight-from-the-horses' mouths, so to speak, it avoids any the preachiness of other 'success' books.
It's well-structured, reader-focussed and filled with thoughtful little touches like facts pages and useful quotes.
An excellent read, great to keep by your desk or bed for ever-refreshing insights into work and success.

A fascinating journey in to the minds of some of the leaders of Australian IT including "big names" from companies such as IBM, CISCO, Andersen Consulting, Sun, Oracle, EDS, Compaq etc. Mr Williams talent (aside from the sheer dedication it must have taken to get time from these busy people) is to tease out of each leader, some unique aspect that led to success in their particular situation. This book always gets taken down from my bookshelf whenever I need inspiration for the next step in my career or need to work through some problem such as how to balance a challenging job and still have a life! An excellent read for anyone aspiring to move ahead in any industry, and particularly fascinating for those working for any of the companies where the leaders serve...I'm sure you'll find out some surprising things about your bosses boss!

Just prior to my return from a recent vacation in Australia, I was browsing in a bookstore looking for some reading material for my return flight. I picked up the book, "Success in IT" which was in a prominent display at the front of the store, partly because of my interest in information technology and partly because of the very positive title in these days of "dot.com" problems.
I was impressed by the lay-out of the book, the fact that it was not highly technical and looked easy and interesting reading for my flight home so I purchased it.
Although, of course, being a visitor to Australia, I was not familiar with the names of the CEOs, I was very aware of the status of the company each represented. The book proved to be much more than "success in IT" - it was certainly success in every one of life's endeavours and proved that the companies selected have the "cream of the crop" to lead them to success.
The chapters are in the form of personal interviews conducted by Robert Williams and the success he has achieved in eliciting the many ways these people have led their companies with integrity and vision is clearly established.

This is an excellent book. I am very disapointed to find that it is out of print. My Mother used to read me this book over and over again. I still can't get enough of the wonderful stories and illustrations. My new daughter loves it too. This book shaped my imagination in such a way that I still wonder if faieries and elves are real. This book added mystery and and spark to nature for me as a child. My Mother and I still enjoy reciting the passages we can remember. It was this book that encouraged me to read and I enjoy reading it to myself to this day. The stories are like no other new children's book I have read. A timeless collection of classic fiction and verse! This book is a must have bonding agent for mums and babes. " Somewhere, somewhere. Can you tell me the way to somewhere, the Somewhere that's meant for me?" J Warnock

This is a wonderful, imaginative collection of stories and poems for kids. "Bad Mousie" and the story about the girl who lived on the flying city were two of my favorites from this collection. The illustrations are marvelous. This was one of my favorite books as a child, and it is strange that it is no longer available. It is such a timeless classic...

I've got a copy of this- it's a great book. My grandma gave it to my mother and her sister in 1957, and it's still with us....a little battered, but still there. My mum used to read it to me and my brother, the illustrations are beautiful and they sparked off my imagination many times. It's a wonderful collection of original stories- I wish they'd do a reprint so children today could enjoy it.

This book was equally informative for women!!! Easy to understand, full of excellent information as well as enlightening and humorous points that one could easily relate to. It allowed to me to fully understand the changes both men and women experience throughout life. It's comforting to know that Dr.'s., esp. you, take an honest interest in the true meaning of change and the importance of health and well being. Your patients are lucky to have you as their Doctor!!!

After discussing my problem with a doctor friend of mine he suggested I read this book that it might answer some of my questions.Well once I started reading I found I could't put the book down,It was me .I think more people should take time to read this book.I've contacted Dr. Shippen to see If he can help me .

As a physician specializing in male hormonal replacement, I have read many books on the subject. I find "The Testosterone Syndrome" to be the definitive book on the restoration of healthy levels of testosterone and estrogen. Dr.Shippen has written a book not only grounded in scientific facts but one that is enjoyable to read. Low testosterone is something every man will face in his life time. This is the book to tell you what to expect and what to do about it. I recommend it to all my male patients who are beginning to notice signs of aging.

This book was a great help in understanding turbine and transport category aircraft. I read and re-read this book to help prepare for my airline interview. Many questions asked in my interview had been answered in the Turbine Pilots Flight Manual....buy it, you be glad you did.

This is a great book! It conveys a lot and is yet simple enough for just about anyone to understand. I'm starting a job as a Beech 1900 pilot and this book has been great in preparation for that. Read it cover to cover...you won't be dissappointed!

This manual gives me a general idea on how an aircraft turbine engine operates. This book is for any teens who want to be a turbine engineer. There are no complex technical drawings or discussions in this book, therefore it's a nice book for begineers.

Ever since first reading this book in my local library in 1980, I'd been itching to discover the location of the buried Masquerade jewel--not for the prize itself, which was found long ago, but for the sport of deciphering Kit Williams' paintings, which contained clues. Driven mad by the author's early assertion that it was "so simple, a ten year old could solve it," I worked at it periodically in the years that followed and finally caved in when I saw that amazon.com sold a version that contained the solution. I purchased the book merely to end my twenty years of suffering.

How close did I come to solving it? Not nearly as close as I would have liked--as an American, I have very little knowledge of England's geography (mandatory to solving the puzzle, despite the previous disclaimers). I did have part of the solution correct; I knew the letters that bordered each painting spelled out locations, but the method was not as simple as the author pretended. Needless to say, I feel much better now that I know this.

That having been said, let me conclude by stating that the story of Jack Hare's journey is enjoyable, the paintings are absolutely exquisite and the mystery is still intriguing, whether the jewel is still in the ground or not. I recommend it to anyone who loves puzzles--just be prepared to work hard at the solution; it's not easy!

masquerade caused a frenzy when first published in england. kit williams book was the first ever 'real' treasure hunt, with a 'real' prize buried somewhere in england. masquerade is no longer available, which is a shame, but, this little book not only covers the orignal story, but explains the answers to the puzzle of masquerade. this is a wonderful book for all ages to love and enjoy. buy it!!

In 1979, British artist Kit Williams published a children's book with a great hook--if you solve the puzzle inside, you could find a buried treasure. The book sold in droves on both sides of the Atlantic, and treasure hunters flocked to England. Eventually, someone discovered the treasure without solving the main puzzle. Williams later published this version, which reproduces the original book, but also explains the answer to the main puzzle. But without a treasure to find, interest in the original book declined and it is now out of print.

Which is too bad, because Williams' lush paintings deserve to be seen in a large hardcover version, not the tiny paperback available now. Not only are the illustrations beautiful to look at, but they are filled with details that invite the eye to search for clues. The text is also filled with riddles that are fun to solve too. This is a book you'll want to read again and again, even if you can't solve the main riddle.

One last point--the recent book "The Merlin Mystery" tries to duplicate Masquerade's feat, but the illustrator is no Kit Williams. If you want to read other puzzle books like "Masquerade", I recommend "The Egyptian Jukebox" by Nick Bartcock and "The Eleventh Hour" by Graeme Base. Neither of these books, I should warn, hide any treasure however.

If you ever end -up talking baseball for hours with your friends then pick this book up. Because it is like talking about baseball with Ted Williams. You get to hear how an ecenteric kid grows up to be the best hitter ever, but still be an ecentric man. I never read a book by someone who loved his work as much as Williams, even with the disapiontments of his life. The book is realistic in its prespective. Williams is matter of fact (endless cool facts and pitching hitting deuls) about the negatives in his carrer. He shows his obessive side and professional drive all at once. BONUS GREAT PICTURES OF WILLIAMS AND OTHER GREAT PLAYERS! I also suggest my favorite baseball book of all time My Luke and I by Elanor Gerhig (OUT OF PRINT BUT DEFINATLY worth the hunt)

I have always been a huge fan of the game of baseball, the greatest game in sports. To tell you the truth, I didn't know much about Ted Williams. All I knew was that he was some great hitter in his time, nothing more or less. Of course, Ted Williams played in his prime decades before I even entered the world so I felt there was no reason to know who he was. I was more interested and knowledgable about stars like Griffey and Bonds, Maddux and Schilling. However, after the tragic and recent death of The Kid, I became interested, too late of coarse. I read articles written by Sports Illustrated and the like and then I picked up My Turn At Bat. Let me tell you this, Ted Williams is not just a great hitter, he is an American hero. So, to make a long story short, Ted Willaims writes about all his troubles with the press in Boston, his quarrels with fans, his military service, his fishing and hunting passion, and of cousrse everything else that a legend writes about in his autobiography, all from his side of the story. The funny thing about My Turn At Bat is that it doesn't feel like you are reading a book. Instead, it is more like you are in small conversation with The Splendid Splinter on a cool summer night. Ted Williams was the man that Hollywood has tried for years to duplicate. But he is no John Wayne or James Bond. He was America's true hero on and off the field, something that no baseball player today can become. There are a lot of great ballplayers out there today, A-Rod, Chipper, Ichiro, etc., but there are none that can come close to Teddy Ballgame. If you are a fan of the game of baseball, the way it should be played, I strongly recommend this book. In Mr. Williams words, "Put it in capital letters and run it on page one."

I read this autobiography many years ago, and recently, decided to give it another look. Mr. Williams pulls no punches in this very honest, entertaining, and well-written story of his life in and out of baseball. Unfortunately, due to the strange circumstances surrounding his recent death, many fans will forget his tremendous achievements in our national pasttime. Along with the fact that Mr. Williams lost five or six prime years of his career due to his military commitments. He was a true patriot, and his war anecdotes are entertaining, educational, and provocative. He flew planes with the same focused determination as hitting a baseball.

Reading the book again also reminded me of a childhood memory. My father, Michael, was a batboy for the Washington Senators during the 1940s. He knew Mr. Williams, along with Mr. DiMaggio and other stars of that era. I used to ask my father about both of them. "DiMaggio was a complete all-around player, but Williams was the better hitter. He used to stay for hours in the clubhouse after the game. Weighing his bats. Sanding them down. They both were very quiet men, but Williams was even more taciturn. But writers of the day used to goad him on, and he would take their bait. That's how he got his tempermental reputation."

When I was a child, I attended the Ted Williams Baseball Camp in Lakeville, MA. It was run with military precision, and even as a child, you were treated as an adult. Coaches never berated you in front of your teammates as was customary in the Little Leagues or Boy's Clubs. The whole atmosphere and environment were conducive to promoting your best efforts. The presence of Mr. Williams was felt everywhere. On rainy days, we used to watch countless films about the science of hitting.

This book is an excellent story, and for many of us, will take us back to our youth. But young baseball fans also can benefit from this tale of one of our greatest athletes and patriots.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

Before I say anything else, I want to make it clear that I just finished this book and I haven't yet tried Mr. Fay's techniques, although I am certainly anxious to do so.

The author says that this approach is very successful, but it seems to me more than a little formulaic. But if it works, that's great!

I think the idea of having the seeker read the Scripture passages himself is a good one. Although I certainly wouldn't even think of putting a limit on what God can do through the reading of His Word, I wonder what a person would think about the Bible passages if they put no stock in the Bible as the Word of God. There are people who won't be convinced by what the Bible says about itself, and those people might possibly be persuaded by outside sources such as the writings of Josephus and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Mr. Fay does a good job of telling you what people's objections to the Christian faith might be and how to answer them. He clearly outlines the Scriptures that you should share with those you're sharing your faith with. The appendices are very helpful and William Fay's testimony is fascinating, to say the least....

I can't believe how I have been affected by Share Jesus Without Fear. I am a new Christian and I have spent these years in Bible study classes (gathering knowledge) but not knowing what to do with it. I don't know scripture well enough to witness on my own and now that I have read this book, I know God is speaking to me and nudging me. I am now starting on my second reading of the book. I now know how to BE BOLD and to share my faith. I carry it with me in my purse!

I've always wanted to share Jesus, but found it difficult. I was afraid of becoming tongue tied, forgetting scriptures, and flat out being rejected. William Fay's book, Share Jesus Without Fear has made it easy to share Jesus with others and offer them the chance to receive the gift of Salvation. Many Christians do not share their faith because they simply do not know how to begin a conversation. Fay gives helpful conversational starters and simple advice for the beginner. The jist of his book consists of 7 Bible scriptures to help you share your faith, simple questions to ask, and a prayer of salvation. Fay's plan for sharing Jesus is easy to follow. If your silence has been bugging you, this book is a must read. Begin to share Jesus without fear and you will be blessed.