Jim Shepard's collection here is a real treat. It's a must read, an innovative style with a fluid rhythm and enthralling nostalgia. Shepard has shown what a promising author he is with Nosferatu, and Battling Against Castro ups the ante.

Great stories. Few writers would dare to rewrite Salinger's "Just Before the War with the Eskimos" in a white trash landscape and Roth's "The Conversion of the Jews" in a catholic school. But Shepard did it. And landed on his feet. Amazing! Read this and follow with the novel "Nosferatu" (a fragment included here). "Batting Against Castro" is all that a short-stories collection should be: a kaleidoscope vision of the world as we don't know it and, also, an intimate invitation to visit a writer's mind. A rare privilege.R.S.V.P. NOW!

If you're as sick as I am of cookie-cutter, writer's program writing, you should check out this fine collection of stories. Divided into two sections, "Strangers" and "Family," it manages to avoid every cliche going in contemporary American fiction. Shepard goes straight into the character, and if you don't like it, that's your problem. Quick example: "Who We Are, What We're Doing," in which you get a speed rap from a gung-ho flyboy who totally digs killing other people from his over-teched fighter plane. For three pages, you're there, like it or not. That's "Strangers" for you, but the "Family" is no less hard-edged. I usually burn out on a book of short stories after a couple, and lay it down to come back to later. Not with "Batting Against Castro." Shepard's a winner. -- Ed Ward

This text is a fascinating detail of the rise and fall of the PTL ministry, Jim and Tammy Bakker, and Jessica Hahn. I felt that Shepard's reporting of the paper trail that eventually undid this infamous televangelist was incredbily educational and compelling. The book reads easily and is a balanced and fair account of all involved in the PTL scandal, especially those peripheral to the Bakker family themselves.

This novel is set in a fictional police state- a sort of Austro-Hungary in the tropics. It follows a lead character's brush with the authorities, and a deepening entanglement with the opposition. There isn't a "Hollywood" ending, which is also refreshing.

I know, let's go back to when ONLY WHITE MEN wrote and published stories that were ever anthologized, and how about only doing those by WHITE MEN who are AMERICAN and live in DELAWARE? since those are stories that might be good...?

Jerome Wilson's story is simply amazing, by the way, I've taught it for years to give my students hope.

Ashley Hammond: Thanks for liking "Paper Garden"!--Jerome Wilson

I read this in a writing seminar class I took with the author Wally Lamb (She's Come Undone, I Know This Much is True)at University of Connecticut three years ago. It impacted my appreciation for short stories and led me on the path to read many of the authors represented in this book. I bought complete short story collections of several of my favorite authors represented. I loved the idea of reading about other author's feelings about the stories and how they were influenced in their own writing. If you have an interest in writing, this book gives invaluable insight. I am purchasing it for my brother-in-law who is currently taking a creative writing course. My favorite story was "A Paper Garden" it captured my imagination and delighted me with description of the main character and her charm. Enjoy!

I don't know... maybe I didn't get it like the people who posted the other reviews... All I know is that it wasn't what I expected, and I don't think it was worth it. But hey, that's just me. (Don't take me wrong, I AM also a dog lover, and I also love doggie stories... I just didn't love this book.)

I fell in love with this book from the moment I read the first dog, er ... poet. I have raved about this collection ever since. What can I say? Even cat-people love it. It's true! I'm not lying! Really! A young school-teacher friend of mine has decided to use these poems to inspire her students to write poems from their own pets' point of view ... just so the kids will feel safer about writing poems. If the pet writes the poem, then it doesn't matter if people laugh at the poem; the pet won't mind. And that way, the pet can just go ahead and write all the poems (s)he wants to ... no matter what. Thank the Big Dog for bringing this back into print!

I was lucky enough to come across this book when I was getting ready to attend the Sewanee Young Writers' Conference where many of the selected dogs' owners were teaching. The only thing better than reading the poems to myself (or my dog, who also loved it) was hearing the writer's recite these love poems. Honestly, there isn't a bad one in the "litter": each poem will leave you with a smile or a wagging tail. A particular favorite is Lynda Barry's Bob Barker's "I Love My Master." I've read this to many people and it always takes quite a while for the laughter to subside. I would say this book is for everyone who likes poetry, but it is an absolute must-have for dog lovers!

Alternately playful and earnest, erudite and silly, these are delightful essays and perfect vacation reading. Most of the authors use this as an opportunity for some sort of memoir, some are deft at film criticism, some spend too much time laboriously recounting a plot, but the vast majority of the pieces are astutely observed, unpretentious, and immediately likeable.

Reading Writers at the Movies is nearly as engrossing as seeing the movies that are the subjects of the book's 26 essays. Of course, that's probably to be expected when writers such as Susan Sontag and the infamous Salman Rushdie offer their takes on movie classics.

The typical take on movie criticism is that anybody can be a critic, since everyone has an opinion. But when a writer who can appreciate the craft of character creation gets ahold of a movie (or should I say, vice versa), it can quickly illustrate the difference between an artist and a hack for hire. Rick Bass's critique of Buffalo '66--a movie that, as he confessed in his essay, I had no desire to see because of its gimmicky subject matter--vividly illustrates what I call The Pauline Kael Theorem: The feeling that, even if you don't agree with a review from a given critic, you're still thrilled to read his or her take on it.

There's a wide variety of movies covered, too. The expected classics are here, such as The Wizard of Oz (Rushdie's take on it is, you should pardon the expression, one for the books) and The Godfather. But the book also covers some underrated gems (such as Frederick Wiseman's documentary Titicut Follies) and some critical howlers (Titanic) that will make you either look at old favorites in a new way or make you run out the video store in search of an unseen gem.

This book should be required reading in courses on movies, criticism, or just plain old writing.

This is a fantastic dance song, one of the best from the 90's. It is an unforgetable song. Overall Excellent. Rock on Space Brothers!!!

I think it is a very good tune, they have captured a great single line ditty that catches you ears, and doesn't let go, it leaves you whistling it all day long, without you even realising it!T his is one not to be missed, and comes highly recommended by myself. Satisfaction guarenteed, on the condition that you like the style.

One of the best trance tunes ever produced, "Forgiven" has an extremely catchy and excellent melody coupled with excellent vocals and lyrics! I can't think of any reason why anyone shouldn't have a copy of this truly brilliant song, both the Radio Edit and the Dub Vocal mix have the same brilliant hook to them, although the Loop Da Loop House mix is dreadful and the Qattara mix is deathly dull (not what you'd expect from the guys who brought us "Come With Me"). However, apart from the poor remixes, this tune is truly a masterpiece and absolute classic that gives me memories! Buy it, you will not regret it!

Wow. This guy has a talent for cheese, saccharine, and making genuinely good subjects feel bloated with the author's own self-importance. Talk about the writer inserting his ego to detrimental effect! He packs his sentences with such a smug writerly sensibility that it's difficult to get into the story at all. Like, gag me with a spoon!

That being said, where's the movie version? Didn't I see Willem Dafoe someplace recently...? That's gotta sting! (I mean, golly, don't studios usually play the 'me too' game? Maybe they could hook the author up! Dunh dunh dunh... 'NOSFERATU,' starring, as Murnau, RICK MORANIS! And, as Shreck, in his biggest role since Diff'rent Strokes, it's KAREEM ABDUL JABBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!)

There are a variety of circumstances that make this book a paradox. First, the subject matter is fascinating: Silent movie director FW Murnau's life and career. Unfortunately, because the family is ashamed of its gay ancestor, a lot of material was withheld from the author, who has to fictionalize this sort-of biography. Shifts from third- to first-person narrative would be less jarring if there was not a sudden change in quality (first person sounding much more authentic). Another problem is that the author takes a glib view of film history itself, writing this book to satisfy his childhood obsession with the horror movie Nosferatu by writing about its creator. But to only mention three of his movies, leaving off his most stunning achievements--Faust and Sunrise--is astounding. But, despite all this, Shepard paints an interesting picture of Murnau as an obsessed loner whose only joy was the lost boyfriend, Hans, and the subsequent obsession with his death (in WWI trenches) and memory. As a film history buff, it's hard not to feel the clang of what's missing here. As a look at the mournful obsession for youth and dream lost, though, it sort of work, marred again by the narrative alternation.

With stunning insight, Shepard creates a fictional history of the great filmmaker locating the roots of his mature genius in the forbidden passions of adolescence and young adulthood. One of the most compelling windows into artistic obsession and its erotic impetus I have ever seen. The descriptions of the creative mind at work in the making of Nosferatu the film are an artistic tour de force. His evocation of the transports of youthful love are among the most beautiful ever written! Check out the love letters!