Book Description
Travis McGee is the strikingly handsome and ever resourceful invention of John D. MacDonald. Born in the author's imagination in 1964, McGee drifted into the world on a 52-foot diesel-powered houseboat, the Busted Flush, which he has used as a base of operations through many adventures.
In A TAN AND SANDY SILENCE, news of a former girlfriend's mysterious disappearance leads McGee to the West Indian island of Grenada. There he takes on a whirlwind plot of double-dealing, shady financing and shifting identities.
"MacDonald is the thinking mystery lovers' answer to Ian Fleming and Mickey Spillane." (San Francisco Chronicle)
Customer Reviews:
Read this one last, or near the end.......2007-03-22
I do not wish to write a review that says too much, spoiling it for a future reader. I just wanted to say that this one was a disappointment for me. This one was predictable, had Travis doing things that unpleasantly surprised me, and the ending was something cheap and quick. I never felt like I was "there" with him as I have in other books.
As far as being a tired effort from the end of MacDonald's career, "The Lonely Silver Rain" was written in 1985 and was much better in my mind. I would just save "A Tan and Sandy Silence" for later or last. Go through the ones that are just gold first.
from the Jimmy Buffett school of detective fiction.......2005-08-19
A colleague of mine left this book on my desk one day. Reading it made me wish he had left the hardbound version, since that way it would have hurt more when I threw it back at him!
It's a detective story, you see, featuring the inimitable Travis McGee, the beach bum cum gumshoe who appears in over a dozen MacDonald outings.
What can I say about this book? In one stroke, MacDonald has managed to outstrip Flaubert, Dostoevsky, and Joyce, making them all look like mewling infants.
Here's just a sample of MacDonald's deathless prose:
"And I suppose you had an affair with her."
"Gee, honey. I'd have to look it up."
I caught her fist about five inches from my eye. "You bahstid," she said. [p. 32]
Of course, MacDonald cannot be accused of being a superficial writer! Consider these penetrating philosophical musings:
"I own some Sears electric clippers with plastic gadgets of various shapes which fit on the clippers to keep you from accidentally peeling your hair off down to the sukull. I find that long hair is a damned nuisance on boats, on the beach, and in the water. So when it gets long enough to start to make me aware of it, I clipper it off, doing the sides in the mirror and the back by feel. The sun bleaches my hair and burns it and dries it out. And the salt water makes it feel stiff and look like some kind of Dynel. Were I going to keep it long, I would have to take care of it. That would mean tonics and lotions and special shampoos. That would mean brushing it and combing it a lot more than I do and somehow fastening it out of the way in a stiff breeze." [pp. 123-124]
But perhaps Travis, our hero, is at his most debonair when he's beating the snot out of recalicrant women:
"I smiled at her, pulling her a half-step closer and said, 'If you get loud and say nasty things, dear, if you get on my nerves, I can hold you like this, and I can take this free hand and make a big fist like this, and I can give you one little pop right here that will give you a nose three inches wide and a quarter inch high.'
'Please,' she said in a rusty little voice.
'You can get a job as a clown. Or you can see if you can find a surgeon willing to try to rebuild it.'" [p. 136]
In sum, if you're in the mood for sappy, incoherent, misogynistic, and, well, all-around cruddy fiction, you can't go wrong with the peerless Travis McGee!
(The author, John MacDonald, died in 1986, and therefore -- it tickles me to announce -- will not be inflicting any more of these books on us! God be praised!)
I just can't stop reading these things.......2002-09-13
Another Travis McGee book. This one seemed to take forever to get going, to set up the problem, and then as soon as you understood the problem, MacDonald popped you a good one, and the rest of the book was a catch-up from that moment. But that's the simple "mystery" of this McGee novel, and as such is never that special. The attraction of McGee, at least in these later books, are MacDonald's comments within them on the human condition, both specifically with regard to the Quixotish nature of McGee, as well as a general feeling of malaise which centers around money and violence. The McGee novels are as much about philosophy--ethics, particularly--as they are about mystery. Or maybe the point is that the philosophy is the mystery, and as we get to know McGee better, we understand more about his philosophy. I seem to remember the Spenser novels of Robert Parker to be similar to this as well. Are there other mystery series in which the character growth is as important, if not more so, than the particular story of the time?
Fun in the sun.......2002-03-15
Over the years I've read hundreds of novels in a variety of genres, but for pure fun and enjoyment it's hard to beat Travis McGee. Some of the books are better than others, but they're nearly all worth a couple of lazy summer days. They are the ultimate summer time, quick-read beach books. At their core, they're good mysteries. But Travis McGee is such a great character, with such a wry outlook on life, that often the mystery seems secondary to McGee's views on whatever topic author John D. McDonald has selected for his soap box. Most of them take place in Florida, (a Florida no one will ever see again given they were written mostly in the 60s and 70s) and all have a color in the title. Don't take them too seriously, just have fun in the sun.
A Bland and Silent Story.......2001-05-05
If this was your first Travis McGee book, don't worry. Most of them are much, much better. This book suffers from an overload of the author's rambling commentary on society. After the introduction to jealous husband, you have to slug through 100 pages before you begin to get into typical Travis McGee action. The action is often illogical, and too often Travis - err - Gavin stumbles into old friends at the most unlikely places, bailing him out of trouble. Sorry, this one just didn't click for me. In many ways, it reminded me of the Pale Gray for Guilt story, but there was much less action in this book.
Product Description
Great book for Travis McGee fans. Contains, "A Tan and Sandy Silence","The Long Lavender Look" and "Bright Orange For the Shroud". All under one cover.This book is available only in Book Club edition.
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
Book Description
This is the first English translation of a picaresque classic -- a children's fantasy for adults-- written in 1951. The hero, a magical little boy, goes in search not of his fortune but of knowledge. He meets a master taxidermist, who teaches him the trade. Alfanhui attempts extraordinary experiments - making trees sprout feathers and creating birds that grow feathers like leaves. When his house is burned down, he travels around Castile, learning about colors, oxen, herbs, and other people: a lonely giant in a wood, a puppet who thinks he is a man, and his own grandmother with her collection of mysterious locked trunks. This is a celebration of the natural world through a boy's experiences.
Customer Reviews:
Wow.......2005-08-07
It's a shame that few people have discovered this book. It's truly a marvel. This book is about a boy's quest for knowledge, fiction, and color. Alfanhui (the main character) travels around Spain learning the various secrets of the earth here and there. For example, very early on in the book, he discovers a cave beneath a tree in front of the house he's living in, the roots of which drink water from a green pool underground. Thus, Alfanhui creates several containers of colored liquid and puts the roots of the tree inside them. Sure enough, the next day the tree has sprouted leaves of all the colors of the rainbow.
The book is episodic in nature (numerous chapters of between two and five pages), and can be read quickly, though I myself wish it had been longer. Indeed, the most shocking thing about reading this book was turning page 199 to discover that the book had ended. I literally couldn't believe it. I went back and reread the last chapter just to make sure the book wasn't kidding. It wasn't.
Book Description
How to Use Yoga has been written by senior teacher Mira Mehta, one of today's leading exponents of yoga in the style of B. K. S. Iyengar. She presents a practical philosophy that unites body, mind, and spirit for health and fulfillment. With over 450 color photographs, this book acts as a guide in achieving a fit and flexible body through the practice of yoga postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama). These practices work on all body systems, stimulating circulation, toning muscles, and improving overall health. Best of all, the author makes this powerful antidote to the stresses of modern life accessible to those who want to practice at home—safely and effectively.
Customer Reviews:
Great reference book.......2006-06-27
This is one of the first yoga books I purchased. It covers a number of poses that really are not just for the beginner. But the book is comprehensive and will provide a great foundation for a home yoga practice as well as a great reference book.
It is not too long and easy to read, but not the best for a first yoga book.
A didactique book for beginners on hata yoga Inyengar methode.......2006-03-20
Goods explanations of postures, but is important to have equipement for helps us in the postures and practice safely. excellent book for beginners on the inyengar's methode of hata yoga and a good help for practicants at home.
Introduction to the Iyengar method.......2004-02-13
How to Use Yoga is the quintessential book for beginning yoga students. One of today's leading exponents of the Iyengar method of yoga, senior teacher Mira Mehta presents a practical philosophy that unites body, mind, and spirit for health and fulfillment. She makes this powerful antidote to the stresses of modern life accessible to those who want to practice at home -- safely and effectively. With more than 450 color photographs, How to Use Yoga guides the reader in achieving a flexible body through the practice of postures and breathing techniques. The practice of yoga works on all body systems, toning the muscles, stimulating circulation, and improving overall health. Aside from its physical benefits, yoga can calm the mind, increase concentration, and relieve tension. How to Use Yoga is divided into four parts: -- Towards Physical Well-Being-forty-one postures and variations suitable for beginners -- Towards Mental Peace simple breathing awareness techniques -- Ten-Week Course -- a stretch-and-relax program for beginners designed by the author -- Postures for Common Problems -- poses helpful for headaches, neck, and shoulder pain, backache, stiffness in the hips, and a special program for menstruating women How to Use Yoga also includes information on home practice, safety guidelines, and yoga resources, and a suggested reading list.
a truly useful book.......2002-10-22
Yoga is a practical philosophy & exercise regime that requires little equipment & less fanfare than almost any form of exercise other than walking or jogging. & with yoga you don't have to cope with traffic, people hurtling in opposite directions, pavements, potholes & pooches.
The one thing to remember about yoga is it's not a form of exercise that's in a hurry. The whole point is to slow down, extend & flex yourself slowly, deliberately, carefully.
A ten week course of Asanas is clearly illustrated as well as the Asanas for headaches, menstruation, stiff necks & shoulders & so on.
There are cautions given - about having a teacher first help you with the inverted postures, & people with chronic ailments.
HOW TO USE YOGA is elegant & truly useful - a pleasure to own. It has really helped me unwind, unstaple & uncrinkle my body & soul from the hectic workaday world I insist they lead, especially as I live far away from any yoga teacher.
Excellent for folks new to yoga practice!.......2002-02-05
I have really enjoyed learning yoga with this excellent step by step guide. Although its lighter on theory and explanation of the sutras and philosophy behind yoga than some of the other texts on yoga, its one of the best I've seen on how to do the asanas correctly. When you are thoroughly confused by yoga instructors who are busy teaching 60+ folks in the same classroom, this book will be a far superior mentor and friend than expensive yoga teachers! Highly recommended. Other than the Hatha and Ashtanga yoga books written by BKS Iyengar, I dont see anything better out there.
Amazon.com
The food in the French Farmhouse Cookbook is a reminder of how deeply the soul of French cooking is rooted in the fruits of the soil and sea. For three years, Susan Herrmann Loomis traveled the coasts and visited rural farms in all corners of France. She discovered more than treasured recipes for the quintessentially French dishes that appear in this book. She also met people passionate about the foodstuffs they raise, gather, catch, or produce. Their stories make this book a living tapestry of individuals and the food they cook. Many dishes, while utterly French, fit well into today's preferences for sensible good eating.
Book Description
As much a book of inspiration as a collection of over 250 uncommonly delicious recipes, French Farmhouse Cookbook captures the rustic and richly flavored farmhouse cooking that is the basis of French cuisine and a perennial inspiration of French chefs. The author visited and lived among farmers, cheesemakers, ranchers, and vintners from the Pyrénnées to Alsace-Lorraine, from Normandy to Provence. The result is a stunning portrait in recipes, lively essays, and a wealth of astucesótips passed down through generations of cooks. Here are dishes prepared by lifelong cooks--not chefs--intended to satisfy, not impress.
"Susan Loomis's new book is that rare thing: a cookbook that expresses accurately the milieu of its recipes. It is a timely and beautiful reminder that we have to connect back to the land in order to recover a sustainable future."--Alice Waters, author of Chez Panisse Vegetables.
Main selection of the Book of the Month Club's Good Cook Club. 55,000 copies in print.
Customer Reviews:
Authentic, easy, fun!.......2007-05-14
My husband first bought a copy of this cookbook at a yard sale. I didn't look at it right away, fearing another overblown, complex and difficult French cookbook. Mais non! Most of the recipes are fairly easy and reflect the fresh, authentic nature of country French cooking. We now keep this cookbook at our house in Southwest France, in Wisconsin AND in Florida. This is the only book of which we have three copies!! The recipes are a delight (Loomis' gougeres are the best and have several quite helpful hints that no other chef has given).
The food and the stories capture the essence of rural France--making the cooking, wherever you may be, pure delight a la Francais!
Authentic, accessible and delicious.......2007-02-22
I served for two years in southwestern France as a Mormon missionary. When I came home to Calgary, Alberta I pined for the simple, fresh, unpretentious food I'd grown used to eating in rural France. Luckily the French Farmhouse Cookbook was first published about four months before I got home, and when I stumbled on it by accident in a bookshop I was overjoyed.
Not only are the recipes authentic and accessible, but the stories Ms. Loomis tells about how food is raised and grown -- how seriously the farmers and growers view their work -- ring absolutely true to my experience living in France. I've never found another North American book so true to real French family food.
Especially useful are recipes for small things that one can take for granted at any supermarket in France -- creme fraiche, sucre vanille, quatre epices, etc. -- but that are hard come by in most US or Canadian stores. You can substitute other ingredients (sour cream for creme fraiche) but it's not quite the same; the effort the author took to include everything needed to reproduce the authentic experience is another reason this is my favorite French cookbook. I can't recommend it highly enough.
La Créme de la Créme!!.......2005-07-19
My wife is French, her sole and all-absorbing passion in life is cooking. She has two armoires filled with cookbooks, including all the classics. This is her favorite. All of the recipes she has made from this book have been exquisite. Two thumbs up, and all eight fingers! This is a must-have!
Bon Appetit!
GLIMPSES INTO ANOTHER WORLD.......2005-06-22
The stories about the actual farms and farmers who provide the recipes and ingredients in this wonderful book are fascinating. Nothing is taken for granted, and meals are extensively discussed and savored. Memorable is the story accompanying the recipe for Duck with Prunes in which the cook providing the recipe explains apologetically that the recipe is from another region of France, but "we love it so much, we cook it all the time."
The farmers' pride in the quality of their produce and livestock, and the care with which Susan Herrmann Loomis specifies exactly what kind of oranges, or chickens or asparagus are to be used in each recipe inspire a very unAmerican way of viewing cooking and eating, in which only the finest ingredients are perfectly cooked. The descriptions of the walnut farms, the Bresse chicken farm, the vanishing family farms are evocative of a great foreign film. After reading this book cover to cover, I feel as though I've had a course in French rural culture--with refreshments. Highly recommended!
practical and diverse.......2005-03-10
This is one of the most practical and most referred to book on my cooking shelf. This book is extremely practical because Loomis uses easy-to-find ingredients and the recipees for entrees can be made in 30 minutes or couple of hours (but most of that is waiting time). The instructions are detailed but to the point and tips are delighful. There is also a good diversity in the complexity of the dishes but most are relatively simple, as they were farm-house cooking, meaning either they had to be put together very fast before dinner, or tossed into the oven or stove before doing the days' chores, and to be enjoyed at night after a long stewing/braising/etc. The dishes (esp the basque region dishes) are very flavorful and bring out the best flavors in the ingredient. Highly recommended for enhancing/inspiring your home cooking.
Average customer rating:
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Backroad Bistros, Farmhouse Fare: A French Country Cookbook
Jane Sigal
Manufacturer: Pavilion
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Books:
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- Aliens: DNA War (Aliens (Dark Horse))
- At Bertram's Hotel (Miss Marple Mysteries)
- Automated Alice
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- Becoming The Chef Your Dog Thinks You Are
- Bethlehem Road
- Boy-Bishop's Glovemaker (Knights Templar series)
- Brother Cadfael's Penance (Brother Cadfael Mysteries)
- Cat in a Flamingo Fedora: A Midnight Louie Mystery
Books Index
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