Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!, The

Book Description

A Smidgeon of Pigeon by Mo Willems How does it feel to be a Pigeon? Well, the bus driver is trying to get him to act happy, but as we all know, this is one bird that is not going to be told what to do! Throughout this hilarious board book, Pigeon runs through his signature gamut of emotions while attempting to thwart his old nemesis.

Customer Reviews:

Great book!.......2007-05-15

I'm a teacher and I read the book "Don't let the pigeon ride the bus" and I Loved it. This one is not as good as that one but it is rather cute.

goofy book with rudimentary pictures.......2007-04-11

Not good for babies...this book has bland colors, boring background and the sarcasm doesn't really fit in a kid's book.

pigeon is at it again..........2007-01-10

my students didn't enjoy this story as much as the others that we've read but it is definately on their top 10 list of books to have me read to them. the simple fact that we have just about all of the pigeon books speaks volumes for mo willems ability to capture a first graders attention!

Great books for children of all ages and grown men who love sarcasm.......2007-01-10

My children love this book and all the books by Mo Willems. Buy it and you will not be sorry. My four year old knows all of Willems books by heart now and he received them for Christmas.

Humorous/Instructional story for social/emotional development.......2006-11-10

Children remember humorous stories best. The pigeon books I have purchased and read are great stories for reading aloud and for beginning readers. Humorous stories foster a love of reading, the most important tool for learning success.

Average customer rating:

Don't let thePigeon Stay Up Late
I love these books!
Cute idea but kids aren't interested.
as good as the others
another pigeon hit

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0786837462
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Book Description

It's getting dark out, but one stubborn Pigeon is NOT going to bed! Toddlers and parents will love this interactive bedtime romp which puts readers back in the driver's seat, deflecting Pigeon's sly trickery as he tries to escape his inevitable bedtime. Will you let him stay up late?

Customer Reviews:

Don't let thePigeon Stay Up Late.......2007-10-17

My kids love this series of books and the newest edition did not disappoint them.

I love these books!.......2007-10-01

Mo Willems' Pigeon books are a great collection of books. The text is succinct; great for the younger crowd. The illustrations are simple. And the pigeon character will charm you. Love it!

Cute idea but kids aren't interested........2007-09-29

I think the humor is above the level that the book targets. It ready funny for an adult but my daughters don't like it much.

as good as the others.......2007-09-27

One of my children's favorite books is "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus" so I was hoping that this would stand up to the same humor, and we were not disappointed. My kids (6&3) laughed at all his excuses. And now some nights when they keep thinking of things they need to keep them from going to bed...I can just say "goodnight Pigeon" and they laugh and head to bed.

A great book for anyone with children who think up 999 ways to stay up late!

another pigeon hit.......2007-09-21

My son loves the pigeon books. I don't know why, but he is under 2 and quickly memorizes them. Having loved Bus and Hot Dog, Don't let the pigeon stay up late follows as another success. Every parent of kids two and under should purchase these pigeon books.

Average customer rating:

This was a very funny book!
Hot Diggety Dog - your kids will love this!
Not as good as the "Bus" or "Stay up Late" books
love it love it love it
A Morsel of Gem

Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, The

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Ducks & Other Waterfowl | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0786818697
Release Date: 2004-04-19

Amazon.com

Sesame Street veteran and Emmy Award-winner Mo Willems returns with a fast, funny follow-up to Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!--only this time, the short-tempered pigeon faces his perfect foil in a "special guest star" duckling. In the previous Pigeon book, author and illustrator Willems expertly distilled the escalating emotions of preschoolers all too anxious to get their way. The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog--also a simple and sparsely illustrated story--explores the flip side of that coin, exposing the poker-face persuasive powers of young negotiators. The pigeon just wants to greedily eat the hot dog that he's found: "Oooooh! A hot dog! Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!" Then along comes the duckling, "scooty scoot scoot!" with his insistent questions about hot dogs: "What do they taste like?...Would you say that it tastes like chicken?...Hey, I'm a curious bird." At first, the pigeon entertains the duckling, "Each morsel is a joy! A celebration in a bun!", but then he soon suspects the little bird might have designs on his delicious dog. In the end, of course, the clever duckling gets his way--and half of the hot dog: "You know, you're pretty smart for a duckling." (Ages Baby to Preschool) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Sesame Street veteran and Emmy Award-winner Mo Willems returns with a fast, funny follow-up to Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!--only this time, the short-tempered pigeon faces his perfect foil in a "special guest star" duckling.In the previous Pigeon book, author and illustrator Willems expertly distilled the escalating emotions of preschoolers all too anxious to get their way. The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog--also a simple and sparsely illustrated story--explores the flip side of that coin, exposing the poker-face persuasive powers of young negotiators. The pigeon just wants to greedily eat the hot dog that he's found: "Oooooh! A hot dog! Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!" Then along comes the duckling, "scooty scoot scoot!" with his insistent questions about hot dogs: "What do they taste like?...Would you say that it tastes like chicken?...Hey, I'm a curious bird." At first, the pigeon entertains the duckling, "Each morsel is a joy! A celebration in a bun!", but then he soon suspects the little bird might have designs on his delicious dog. In the end, of course, the clever duckling gets his way--and half of the hot dog: "You know, you're pretty smart for a duckling." (Ages Baby to Preschool) --Paul Hughes

Customer Reviews:

This was a very funny book!.......2007-08-31

This book is very funny, and young kids as well as old will enjoy it very much.

Hot Diggety Dog - your kids will love this!.......2007-08-22

Kids love finding books about familiar characters and Mo Willems has created a new one with his comical pigeon. Instead of playing along with the reader, this time he answers to a little duckling who just wants a bite of his hot dog. The duckling is pretty sneaky and asks all kinds of questions (which drives the pigeon CRAZY) until finally the pigeon gives in and shares his hot dog with him. More great facial expressions and a simple story everyone will enjoy!

Not as good as the "Bus" or "Stay up Late" books.......2007-07-03

My daughter prefers this one to the others, probably because hot dogs are her favorite food. It's not interactive like the others, but it teaches sharing and has a cute, curious bird to make it fun.

love it love it love it.......2007-06-21

my daughters absolutely ADORE this book. it even inspried my daughter to start reading. it's just a clever and fun book that my daughters have reciting ever since the first time we read it.

A Morsel of Gem.......2007-04-15

It is amazing how in so few words and lines one of the most dreaded human behaviors can be exhibited as in this book: Conscience in the form of the Duckling wondering why the Pigeon doesn't do the right thing. And what a happy relief it is to do the right thing.

Average customer rating:

Got to love the Pigeon!
My second time buying this book
Great book
Board books are supposed to be for babies
Great books for children of all ages and grown men who love sarcasm

Pigeon Loves Things That Go!, The

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0786836512
Release Date: 2005-05-16

Book Description

A Smidgeon of Pigeon by Mo Willems In Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, the pigeon dreamed of driving the bus. In this board book, readers will see him emoting at the thought of driving a plane, a train, a car, and more, all in his deliriously over-the-top style.

Customer Reviews:

Got to love the Pigeon!.......2007-07-03

Totally love this book. My son gets such a kick out of the Pigeon. Great story to share with younger children!

My second time buying this book.......2007-06-27

My daughter and I love the pigeon book collection. This one is just as entertaining as the others, but also, for younger kids, educational on "things that go". We had owned this book, but bought it again for a friend. Gotta love that pigeon!!

Great book.......2007-02-15

My son really enjoys this book. He is a bit young to "get it" but he smiles when I read it to him.

Board books are supposed to be for babies.......2007-01-12

I am a fan of the larger Pigeon books, so I bought this one for my 18 month old who loves books. This was a disappointment as the play on words at the end makes little sense to a baby. This is a waste of money. The longer books are much more enjoyable.

Great books for children of all ages and grown men who love sarcasm.......2007-01-10

My children love this book. Mo Willems is a great writer of Children's books. "What?" has become my four year olds favorite word, and my husband enjoys reading "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late" every night at bedtime. We as a family have enjoyed all of Willems children's books based on Pigeon. My two year old loves "The Pigeon Loves Things That Go" He makes the noises while I read.

Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird

Average customer rating:

Pigeons - love them or hate them! A good book to help you decide.
I loved this book!
An Underappreciated Bird Gets Appreciation
PIGEONS
Who would have thought?

Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird
Andrew D. Blechman
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Outdoors & Nature | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Science | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0802118348

Book Description

In the tradition of Robert Sullivan’s best-selling Rats comes a whimsical and intimate look into the fascinating world of pigeons and the people they collect. Pigeons have been worshipped as fertility goddesses and used as crucial communicators in war by every major historical superpower from ancient Egypt to the United States, saving thousands of lives. Yet, without just cause, they are reviled today as “rats of the sky.” How did we come to misunderstand one of mankind’s most helpful and steadfast companions? Author Andrew D. Blechman traveled across the United States and Europe to meet with pigeon fanciers and pigeon haters in a quest to chronicle the pigeon’s transformation from beloved friend to feathered outlaw. Pigeons captures a Brooklyn man’s quest to win the Main Event (the pigeon world’s equivalent of the Kentucky Derby), as well as a pigeon shoot where entrants pay $150 to shoot live pigeons. Blechman tracks down Mike Tyson, the nation’s most famous pigeon lover, and he sheds light on a radical “pro-pigeon underground” in New York City. In Pigeons, Blechman tells for the first time the remarkable story behind this seemingly unremarkable bird.

Customer Reviews:

Pigeons - love them or hate them! A good book to help you decide........2007-09-10

The book deals mainly with pigeons and their relationship to humans.
The author interviews both pigeon lovers and haters, those that see them as food, those that choose to shoot them for sport. The author briefly takes us into the life of pigeon activists and advocates as well as those paid to exterminate them from urban areas. Relatively no new information is given as to pigeon habits or habitat but I did learn the pigeons' color variations are unique to them and due largely to breeders who bred them for certain create new color patterns. All in all an entertaining read.

I loved this book!.......2007-02-21

Andrew Blechman has painted such a fascinating picture of pigeons as well as the people and their passions.
I loved it and highly recommend it. As well as being very entertained, I learned alot about these amazing and beautiful flying creatures. You'll never look at pigeons the same way again.

An Underappreciated Bird Gets Appreciation.......2007-02-08

What is the difference between a dove and a pigeon? Probably you have some warm and peaceful feelings toward the former, and possibly you agree with Woody Allen's definition (in _Stardust Memories_) of the latter as "rats with wings". There isn't really much difference, though: "Pigeon" is merely a French translation of "dove". Pigeons deserve all the respect that doves get (and are even being renamed "rock doves" by some ornithologists), according to Andrew D. Blechman, who has written the surprising and entertaining summary _Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird_ (Grove Press). After all, pigeons have been domesticated since ancient Egypt, and they served in both World Wars. They are athletes, winning prizes of millions of dollars. They taste good. They like us; they are very easy to domesticate, and if you hold one in your hands, it will not peck, fight, or bite. Blechman's book won't convert those in the diehard "rats with wings" camp, but even they are going to have to admit that there is lots more to feel about these common birds than just disgust.

First of all, the birds are darned good fliers, "a feathered rocket built for speed and endurance". A pigeon can reach a peak velocity mere seconds after launch, and maintain it; one was recorded flying at 110 miles per hour for several hours. The speed and ability to fly account for the bird's attraction as racing animals, and they are trained like fighters. It is a serious enough sport that some races require the pigeons to be tested for steroids and other doping. The enthusiasts, almost always men, are often obsessive, manifesting a "neglect for all things deemed tangential to winning, such as maintaining the semblance of a normal family life." The birds have a capacity for returning home that has yet to be fully explained. They use direction finding by the Sun's position, but also magnetic fields, infrasound, visual cues, and smells. Blechman tours a squab farm, and returns to the boss's office, where he takes a small bite of freshly roasted squab. "I feel a bit queasy, but... it _is_ tasty." He thereupon gives us a recipe for pigeon pot pie. Good racing, good shooting, good eating - these birds ought to be well loved, but they are disliked enough in some quarters that people will pay to be rid of them. Shooting and poisoning don't really work, and poisoning gets other birds as well. Safer, and less of a PR problem, are spikes and netting. The best method of all is to keep the pigeons from getting access to food, whether it be trash or deliberately set out for them.

Blechman is an engaging and funny writer, who is obviously delighted to have learned so much about a subject the rest of us do not yet appreciate in his degree. He traveled all over the US and Europe to see different birds, and especially to hang out with many eccentric people who have latched onto one specific facet of this multifaceted bird - racing, showing, farming, and more. The book's subtitle refers to pigeons revered and pigeons reviled; anyone who reads this enjoyable tour of how humans and pigeons interact may not wind up revering them, but will certainly think of the birds in a more appreciative way.

PIGEONS.......2007-02-04

Andrew Blechman's book is a great read. It is highly informative about pigeons(!) but not at all pedantic. The people he writes about are as central as the pigeons and come to life on the page with his caring descriptions and narratives. I thoroughly enjoyed entering their world. Its a book that lingers in your mind and conversations.

Who would have thought?.......2007-02-02

Who would have thought that a book about pigeons could be so thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining, and educational? Andrew Blechman has succeeded in writing the quintessential non-fiction book, one that reads more like a classic novel than a text book. Blechman's story-telling presentation, attention to detail, and penchant for illustrating fact through story, immediately draws the reader in and keeps them there until the very last page. Brilliant!

Average customer rating:

Isolation
"How long did a pigeon live?"
How to come unstuck!
Short and satisfying
Oh man, we need more from Suskind.

The Pigeon
Patrick Suskind
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

German | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0394563158
Release Date: 1988-05-12

Customer Reviews:

Isolation.......2006-04-04

In Paris, the bank guard Jonathan Noel lives a very ordered but extremely monotonous life. Obsessed by minutiae, his daily routine is a substitute for real engagement with other people. One morning however, he finds a pigeon in the corridor outside his room. This is a disturbing event - his routine and life have been seriously disturbed. How can he cope?

This is a thoughtful, evenly-paced novella essentially about the effect of trauma on people's lives and how obsessions (I would hate to think writing reviews online counted in this) can act as a substitute for establishing real relationships. While it's true that there is a redemptive theme to the book, the true fascination in it for me was Suskind's description of Noel's state of mind as events cease to go to plan - a considerable achievement in so short a piece of fiction.

Well worth the read.

G Rodgers

"How long did a pigeon live?".......2005-06-14

After a rocky childhood as a result of World War II, Jonathan Noel had a good two decades of plain existence. He has been renting a room for that time and even though he does not even have a private bathroom he has decided to buy it. He works as doorman at a bank and day after day he follows the exact same schedule. But now that he is in his fifties, things are about to change.

One Friday morning in the month of August 1984, while he was on his way to the bathroom, Jonathan sees a pigeon outside the door of his room and goes into panic. He is afraid that pigeons will overtake the apartment and he does not dare kill it. The pigeon causes a revolution in the main character's life that is baffling, but the metaphor is hard to miss. Jonathan embarks in a series of crazy plans to evade the object that causes his strain, going as far as moving into a hotel, even though he cannot afford it.

Once more Suskind shows his ability for delving into the psyche of his characters and providing his readers with awesome insight. When we add to this author's writing ability to the mix, the result is more than satisfactory. This book in particular reminded me of the works of my favorite writer, Dostoevsky, since the Russian's main characters often enter a vicious circle in which they thinking something bad will happen and this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, which can only be prevented through great determination and effort. For those that have not read Suskind before, this is a good a place to start as any, and of course, make sure to not disregard his masterpiece "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer". Those that do know him already understand what I am talking about!

How to come unstuck!.......2005-01-06

From time to time you find yourself getting stuck in a comfortable rut, only to have your routine broken by the most trivial of events. Such events can be painful at first, but ultimately liberating. That's as simple as I can make it.

Great book!

Short and satisfying.......2003-12-07

The central achievement of Süskind's novella is the way it articulates the social anxiety of a man whose childhood fear of abandonment has played out as a lifetime of limited scope, controlling routines and self-imposed isolation. That might sound heavy but it isn't - mainly because Süskind wisely chooses the "free indirect" narrative style (mastered by Henry James). The story is told in the third person, but is nevertheless filtered through Jonathan Noel's gaze and consciousness so that external reality exists only as refracted in his mind. The result is that we see the world as he sees it, but without the unreliability that such a point of view entails. Süskind is thereby able to show us precisely what he wants us to see - both the horror and humour of Noel's experience - and to deliver a climax which remains somewhat objective and thereby inspires hope. Other reviewers seem to have found the ending cloying and unrealistic, but I think they're assuming more than Süskind suggests. Noel and his life are not utterly transformed at the end - he has an epiphany, he loses his fear, but it may or may not last.

Oh man, we need more from Suskind........2002-10-12

I had to get a copy of The Pigeon used after reading Perfume. I read it in one sitting. It's such a gem. I don't know how many pages go by where the main character is just standing in front of this bank thinking, not doing anything. It's riveting. He eats a meal towards the end of the book and I've never read such tasty descriptions of food. And rain, and peeing in the tub, and ripping your pants in public.
I'm going to have to do some searching to get my Patrick Suskind fix. This is one of the most satisfying books I've ever read. It left me on a high for a couple weeks. It's since worked it's way somewhere deep in me, I won't forget it.

Average customer rating:

I give it 5 feathers.....er....... STARS!
Much ado about nothing!!
My Daughter and I Love This Book
One of the best kid books ever!!
A Blast to Read!

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Manufacturer: Hyperion Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 078681988X
Release Date: 2003-03-03

Book Description

When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon! But you've never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate. In his hilarious picture book debut, popular cartoonist Mo Willems perfectly captures a preschooler's temper tantrum.

Customer Reviews:

I give it 5 feathers.....er....... STARS!.......2007-08-22

Don't let the simplistic drawings turn you off. Instead, focus on the wonderful expressions on the face of this most hilarious pigeon. They are priceless. They remind me so much of a preschooler I know only too well: my daughter. Yes, this pigeon is definitely a preschooler at heart, complete with the ability to plead, cajole, bargain, and then throw a whopping tantrum when he doesn't get his way (all he wants to do is drive the bus....geesh!) I've read this story to preschoolers as well as older elementary and they all find great delight in saying "NO" over and over again to each of the pigeon's ridiculous requests. This is definitely a keeper.

Much ado about nothing!!.......2007-08-21

I read all these positive book reviews for this piece of tripe and all I can think is "Has the whole world gone mad???" There is absolutely nothing to recommend this waste of good paper. The "artwork" is as bad as it gets, despite those "enlightened" comments from people who think they REALLY know what art is all about. The story is not funny, nor clever, nor witty, nor creative..... but the words bland and uneventful do come to mind. The only explanation I can come up with for the Caldecott Award and the 5 star reviews is revealed to me on the back cover of the book.... Oh, now I understand, the author/illustrator is a big shot for Sesame Street. That explains everything! Please buy your kids decent books with great stories and artwork. Don't waste your coin on this stinker.

My Daughter and I Love This Book.......2007-08-15

My toddler daughter loved this book the first time I read it to her. I like it too. The cutest thing is that she likes the pigeon so much and would let it drive the bus now. The page she likes best is "LET ME DRIVE THE BUS". She'll wave her arms and kick and shout it out. I just can't stop laughing.

One of the best kid books ever!!.......2007-07-21

I have three kids: 6 yo son, 3 yo daugther and a 1 yo son...and they love this book. My 6yo son can read it with all the best expressions and even my 3 yo can read it!! The first time I read this to them my daugther made me read it about 15 times!! And she laughed and giggled every time I read it.

I love that the illustrations are simple but the pigeon expressions say it all. The kids love that when I read it they tell the pigeon, "Nooooo" when he asks to drive the bus.

If you don't have it in your kid library, get it. It's worth it. Our book is already worn out. We just got "The Pigeon finds a Hot Dog" and it's also a huge hit. Fun! Fun! Fun! Can't wait to get the rest.

A Blast to Read!.......2007-07-18

This book is a riot! My 4-year-old knows it by heart and "reads" it to her little brother. It will make you smile!

Average customer rating:

An Inferior Novel
Wonderful Discovery
Beautiful visual images +Disturbing situations
I'm Hooked
Cold and Wet

Superior Death
Nevada Barr
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Series | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0399139168

Book Description

The inaccessible wreck, Kamloops, has rested at the bottom of Lake Superior for nearly seven decades, the bodies of its ill-fated crew eerily preserved in the frigid waters. But now there is an extra corpse on board -- a newly slain interloper suspiciously dressed in 1920's clothing.

It is Anna Pigeon's jobas a ranger with the U.S. National Park Service to help protect wild and lonely places from civilization's corrupting touch. Now a bizarre mystery held firmly in a Great Lake's icy grip is drawing Anna into a nightmare of greed adn cold-blooded murder. And what she finds waiting beneath the surface could prove fatal.

Customer Reviews:

An Inferior Novel.......2007-09-20

One of the many problems from which this book suffers is a lack of regional and cultural context. As someone who has lived in the Keweenaw Peninsula, I was looking for descriptions or insights the author might offer regarding the area and its people, but these were conspicuously lacking. Obviously, the author had spent some time in the park, but her portrayal was such that Isle Royale seemed to be surrounded by cardboard cut-out locales. Even though Houghton (the location of the park headquarters) is visited, referenced in numerous ways, and even made the location of a lesbian community of interest to sorting out the sexual preferences of various characters, it remains a cipher -- a nearby blank canvas upon which the author can paint some plot conveniences, but nothing else. Readers will learn more about New York City from this book than they will about western Upper Michigan. Likewise, the people and culture of the Keweenaw Peninsula are pretty much absent from the book, unless one counts the moment where a character -- written sympathetically at that point -- compliments the protagonist for having a capacity for introspection she finds absent in those from the Upper Peninsula.

A second major flaw is the over-use of convenient details and timing. So many coincidences just happen to occur during the short period of time covered by the book that the word "implausible" seems inadequate. I realize this is fiction, but even science fiction writers have recognized for decades that good writing demands reasonable limits upon what an author can do within a particular genre or universe. A novel consciously written and marketed as an action thriller, for example, may stretch credibility in order to move from one over-the-top sequence to another, but since that is the point of the exercise, a reader can buy the book expecting to accept the story on its own terms. This was not the case with "A Superior Death", which I purchased expecting to find a mystery novel set on Isle Royale, not a tale that incorporated so many conveniences as to depart the mystery genre entirely and gravitate into Matthew Reilly territory.

I will describe the following examples in fairly generic language, for the sake of those who still want to read the book. A) One of the most obvious cases of laughably far-fetched convenience is the coincidence by which the protagonist catches on to the killer. B) Two characters possessing a crucial teddy bear originally appeared to have been deliberately written as odd for the purpose of making them interesting, yet after a couple of ludicrous coincidences by which the protagonist is saved, it became obvious that their oddity was also the author's cover for not having to come up with a rational explanation for the series of events. C) A character accidentally chokes to death while engaged in an activity that was, for the character, fairly routine; furthermore, this death was not related to the flow of the story, but conveniently occurred at the end of the book in order to provide a warped kind of closure (since, as other characters make unsubtly clear, the reader was being manipulated into being satisfied with this person's death). D) A missing-person subplot is stretched across the entire length of the book -- long after the official disinterest in locating her was plausibly sustainable, particularly given that the murder victim's wife claimed she hadn't initially reported her husband's disappearance because she thought he had gone to be with the other woman in question.

The identity of the killer wasn't too hard to guess, simply because there was no other justification for the prominence of the person in the story, and the author's attempts to cause the reader to consider other suspects were so ham-handed, the discerning reader is unlikely to take the blind alleys seriously. One of those dead-ends involved two diving partners of the murder victim; the three of them refer to themselves as the Three Musketeers. The problem is that the murder victim was nicknamed after d'Artagnan, who was not one of the Three Musketeers. Yet the author uses this very identification to allow the protagonist to link a knife to the dead man due to the initials "d'A". Clearly, if the author had identified the victim with the actual name of one of the Three Musketeers (Athos, Porthos, and Aramis), any mark on the knife would probably have been either less distinctive or more obvious, depending on the number of letters used in the inscription. So, in order to artificially create a mystery-within-a-mystery, the author has to wrongly identify d'Artagnan as one of the Three Musketeers, and then have at least four characters (the dead man and his partners, as well as the protagonist) consistently follow the same mistake. That's as ludicrous as writing a mystery about a murdered sports buff in which one of the puzzles requires the deceased, his friends, and the detectives to brazenly and consistently identify a famous football player with the wrong team.

Finally, while the author offered some details regarding the underwater condition of the Kamloops shipwreck, it (like the Keweenaw) appears to exist merely as a blank canvas for the author's own purposes. The story of the sinking of the Kamloops, including the deaths of those who came ashore and the subsequent discovery of the bottle containing the note written by Alice Bettridge, would have added a lot of background and depth to the events of the novel, even if treated only briefly. Instead, "A Superior Death" seems analogous to a book in which characters deal with wreckage or artifacts from the Endurance, without any overview of the Shackleton expedition. I suspect the reason the author passed up such a golden opportunity is that the motive she creates for the murder requires her to designate the captain of the Kamloops as engaging in criminal activity during the fatal voyage. If there were historical evidence to support such a charge, then the events of "A Superior Death" could not have happened (because there would have been no secret), and it otherwise seems rather unseemly to impugn a historically-identifiable dead man in such a way. It seems reasonable to guess the author and her publisher felt they could not describe the real crew, their story, and their names, and then go on to claim that the lawbreaking dead captain mentioned in the story was a fictional construct bearing no resemblance to the real person, living or -- in this case -- dead. Regardless of the underlying decision-making process, the resulting work manages to ignore the fascinating human history behind the disaster, while appearing to taint the memory of one of its victims.

Those looking for books about Isle Royale should instead consider the excellent titles by Howard Sivertson (Once upon an Isle: The Story of Fishing Families on Isle Royale and Tales of the Old North Shore: Paintings and Companion Stories), Tom and Kendra Gale (Isle Royale: A Photographic History), Peter Oikarinen (Island Folk: The People of Isle Royale), Jim DuFresne (Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes), and Daniel Lenihan (Shipwrecks of Isle Royale National Park: The Archeological Survey), among others. Everyone else merely searching for a good read should simply look elsewhere.

Wonderful Discovery.......2007-06-29

Nevada Barr was recommended to me by Sara Paretsky and I agree - her stories are great. The characters are rich and the background interesting. The story is fast paced and intriguing with a nice twist at the end. Good read.

Beautiful visual images +Disturbing situations .......2007-06-28

This books gives a wonderful, vivid discription of Isle Royale National Park. I knew nothing about diving around ship wrecks and found this book entertaining and informative.

The story is fairly mysterious but I felt the solution was forced. The connection between Molly PIgeon's client and the wine in the ship wreck was quite a stretch - but this IS fiction.

I was very disturbed at the resloution of the pedophile problem. The character, Patience, was brazen enough to murder, to dive in dangerous waters and leave a trail of crimes yet she lacked the real courage to bring a true pedophile to court. I can see this happening but I can't see others sitting back and letting this happen.

I also found the Hawk/Holly incest situation disturbing; of course this does happen. I saw it coming so it seemed out of character for the clever Anna to hook up with Hawk and I was dissapointed this transpired.

I'm Hooked.......2006-12-12

I read the first Anna Pigeon book, Track The Cat, and I was somewhat intrigued. After reading A Superior Death I am hooked on Navada Barr's character, Anna. I could feel her clausterphobia and her fear under the water. Anna and her friends are quirky and entertaining. This book is an easy and enjoyable read.

Cold and Wet.......2006-10-03

This time our heroine, park ranger Anna Pigeon, is stationed on an island in always-cold Lake Superior, and one-too-many bodies show up two hundred feet down on a 1927 shipwreck. Anna, no lover of the deep and a bit claustrophic at that, must dive on the wreck to investigate, then dive again to resolve. Brrr. Even in the heat of a midwest summer, this novel gave me chills.

Nevada Barr is a national treasure. Having now read all her books, I can't wait for her next one.

Schrodinger's Cat Trilogy: "The Universe Next Door", "The Trick Top Hat", & "The Homing Pigeons"

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Operation MF continues...
Don't Read This Book!
Review By Graham J. Farmer
everyone should read this

Schrodinger's Cat Trilogy: "The Universe Next Door", "The Trick Top Hat", & "The Homing Pigeons"
Robert A. Wilson
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0440500702
Release Date: 1988-10-10

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Parallel universes are certainly not a stretch, when you think about
all the bizarre stuff that Robert Anton Wilson comes up with. Here we
have another Illuminati trilogy style collection, even with some of the
same characters. However, these are alternate universe versions of
these people, hence the title of the trilogy.

If you don't like that original trilogy, you are probably not going to like this.

Operation MF continues..........2006-03-02

After reading The Illuminatus! Trilogy, I stared at my copy of Schroedinger's Cat and wondered how the hell Bob could top the 800-page work of lunacy he had created with Robert Shea. Of course, I shouldn't have doubted Bob; anyone who has read his books knows how he can construct the most meaningful anecdotes and stories from seemingly random and uninteresting information. This book is no different.

When I started reading this book, I assumed that the story would have to do with Schroedinger's Cat (obviously), but I didn't understand the novel's structure until I reached page 80 and the book ended, only to start again in a different world (which I know sounds strange; read it if you want to understand). The plot of this novel seems entirely random, and up to a certain point it is, but it has more structure than would seem at first glance. Like Illuminatus!, it would require a great deal of analysis and scholarship to unravel the ever-knotted threads of Schroedinger's Cat, and I know few who have the time to do that. Still, it's quite an enjoyable read, even if you never know fully what the hell is going on.

As is usual for Robert Anton Wilson books, Schroedinger's Cat is side-splittingly funny. Perhaps the funniest part of the book is how characters change from world to world. For instance, in one world, Epicene Wildeblood is a debonair ladies' man. In a different world, Epicene is now a she, Mary Margaret Wildeblood, after a sex change. Even historical figures in the novel change depending on the world. James Joyce, in one world, was a minor composer. In another, Ezra Pound was not a famous poet; he was a famous folksinger. In yet another, Aleister Crowley was not an infamous occultist, but instead a British general who was the first person to reach the North Pole, which he claimed was inhabited by little green people when he got there (if you laugh at that, you will appreciate the book's humor).

It's hard to put together a review of this book, because there's no continuous plot (at least not in the ordinary sense). Characters disappear for (sometimes literally) hundreds of pages, then reappear as if nothing happened. It's very disorienting and why I waited several months after reading the book to actually review it. I thought that "sitting on my thoughts," allowing them to formulate, would help. Instead, I find that I've forgotten half of what went on in the book. Oh, memory, how thou hast robbed me!

Anyway, before I start to ramble, let me say that this is a good book for all science-fiction fans to read, since it is actual SCIENCE fiction (i.e. it involves quite complicated issues of quantum mechanics). I would recommend it to anyone with an IQ of 250 or a Ph.D. in rocket science. If you're like me and have neither, it's still a great novel. It just won't make full sense until you understand Bob's philosophy of neurological model agnosticism and quantum mechanics.

Don't Read This Book! .......2005-11-23

We like to believe, in these enlightened times, that reason and science are all that matter. This, though, is simply not true. Words, thoughts, ideas, and images creep into one's mind insideously and, with each one, corrupts the essential self we desperately cling to. You think you are safe, there in front of your computer screen, reading this. You're not. In fact, it is already too late for you. You've been caught, infected, by an idea, a forbidden thought, that pulls you inexorably toward a knowing that most run from, screaming. You can't know, now, who or what you will become as a result of this, but know with perfect certainty that the you you are now will be gone, replaced forever with some other you, a you you don't even know. It starts in your mind, moves into your brain, then into your body, then into the whole universe. It is simply too late. You'd better read this book after all, otherwise you're screwed.

Review By Graham J. Farmer.......2005-09-20

Once again Robert Anton Wilson has written a novel that absolutely forces the reader to stand at attention - ready at all times for a multi-dimensional plot twist, sometimes through mirrored realities (almost!?) that humorously mock our own. His unique style effectively guides the reader into questioning his/her own thought processes and conciousness.

A few times while reading I had to remind myself to laugh - partly due to Wilson's superior intellect, evident in his writing, which had me studying each page as if hidden somewhere within was the meaning of life! However, rest assured once I got started it was a full body affair.

Always I look forward to Wilson's designs - in his novels there seems to be secret messages intricately woven within, maybe it is just me, but this type of writing is a blast to read. Literally this story will blow your mind.

everyone should read this.......2005-03-29

Trying to write a review about this book without trying to sound too grandiose is quite difficult. What's it about? Well, it's about everything... how we view life, politics, social interaction, sex, religion etc. Is it any good? This question is asking for a subjective judgement, but if you are the kind of person who likes original and unique philosophical views delivered in a creative style that will entertain, humor and sometimes scare you, than yeah it is good. In my estimation, the book is beyond creative. As far as his writing style, the man is brilliant. Every page blasts away at your preconceived notions of what writing, thinking, living should be and gives the reader an invigorated new sense of life's unlimited possibilities. Why this author is not listed among the upper echelon of literary dignataries is beyond me. I mean seriously, most "classic" novels are deemed as such because they have captured an audience because of their timeless content, advanced writing style, indvidualistic voice and perhaps inspirational,universal message. This being the case, I cannot think of a better way to describe this book.

Average customer rating:

A Good One
Should be paid to listen to this.
an eye for an eye
High drama in Yosemite
Great book!

High Country (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
Nevada Barr
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Series | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0425199568

Customer Reviews:

A Good One.......2007-10-05

This is another good Anna Pigeon mystery. Not as good as her best, but worth reading.

Should be paid to listen to this........2007-04-17

One star is to many. I purchased this book through Audible because it was featured and on sale. I thought it would be an opportunity to experience a new, to me, author. What a shame. Because of the narration and the melodramatic reading and descriptions I could not finish it. It was so Jr. High Schoohish. Because of this first experience I will not purchase anything by Nevada Barr or anything being narrated by Barbara Rosenblat.

an eye for an eye.......2007-01-05

Women in murder mysteries seldom get to confront physically demanding life-or-death situations. Or, if they do, they are on the receiving end of physical violence, eg Sara Paretsky's VI Warshawski, who has had more concussions than Ali. Anna Pigeon, a National Park Ranger, is often in danger in Barr's series, but never as out-there physically as she is in this tale set in Yosemite. It's a chiller, literally and metaphorically, and the physical violence Anna exhibits raises fascinating questions of gender, genre, and ethics.

High drama in Yosemite.......2006-09-30

Many other reviewers did not like this book. I beg to differ. I thought it was gripping and could hardly put it down. Other reviewers' problems may stem from this book apparently being a departure from previous books in the Anna Pigeon series. Since this was my first experience with Nevada Barr, I didn't notice.

Anna is a national park ranger who has been placed undercover as a waitress at Ahwanee Lodge in Yosemite to help investigate the disappearance of four young people in the park. Her depiction of the bleak cold grayness that defines winter in the western mountains is extremely accurate. It reminds me of times hiking on Mt. Rainier and in the Sierras. The part of the book I enjoyed most covers what happened to Anna on her visit to Lower Merced Lake. It is violent, suspenseful, unpredictable, and guaranteed to keep the pages turning.

Some may be put off by Nevada Barr's almost-Churchillian sentence construction, unusual metophors, and literary allusions. Others, like me, will love them. This is a great read and highly recommended.

Great book!.......2006-09-28

This was my first Nevada Barr book, and I thought it was fantastic! She is an excelllent writer, her characters are memorable and stay in your head for days, and she has a deep understanding of the human condition. It didn't hurt that I'm from California and have probably visited Yosemite at least 20 times.

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