Too Far From Home: A Story of Life and Death in Space

Book Description

An incredible, true-life adventure set on the most dangerous frontier of all—outer spaceIn the nearly forty years since Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, space travel has come to be seen as a routine enterprise—at least until the shuttle Columbia disintegrated like the Challenger before it, reminding us, once again, that the dangers are all too real.
Too Far from Home vividly captures the hazardous realities of space travel. Every time an astronaut makes the trip into space, he faces the possibility of death from the slightest mechanical error or instance of bad luck: a cracked O-ring, an errant piece of space junk, an oxygen leak . . . There are a myriad of frighteningly probable events that would result in an astronaut’s death. In fact, twenty-one people who have attempted the journey have been killed.
Yet for a special breed of individual, the call of space is worth the risk. Men such as U.S. astronauts Donald Pettit and Kenneth Bowersox, and Russian flight engineer Nikolai Budarin, who in November 2002 left on what was to be a routine fourteen-week mission maintaining the International Space Station.
But then, on February 1, 2003, the Columbia exploded beneath them. Despite the numerous news reports examining the tragedy, the public remained largely unaware that three men remained orbiting the earth. With the launch program suspended indefinitely, these astronauts had suddenly lost their ride home.
Too Far from Home chronicles the efforts of the beleaguered Mission Controls in Houston and Moscow as they work frantically against the clock to bring their men safely back to Earth, ultimately settling on a plan that felt, at best, like a long shot.
Latched to the side of the space station was a Russian-built Soyuz TMA-1 capsule, whose technology dated from the late 1960s (in 1971 a malfunction in the Soyuz 11 capsule left three Russian astronauts dead.) Despite the inherent danger, the Soyuz became the only hope to return Bowersox, Budarin, and Pettit home.
Chris Jones writes beautifully of the majesty and mystique of space travel, while reminding us all how perilous it is to soar beyond the sky.

Customer Reviews:

Great for those with interest in life in space........2007-09-15

I really enjoyed this book. I have always had an interest in the space program since I grew up in Florida and would watch most launches when I was in grade school. There were just a few parts of the book that might not be totally accurate due to the writers background as a sports writer and that is why I gave 4 stars. Happy reading!

stuck in space..........2007-07-30

In February of 2003 the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere and all seven astronauts aboard were lost. The news shattered the pysche of our nation and as TOO FAR FROM HOME strongly details the last people to see them and who felt their loss so acutely were the 3 astronauts aboard the International Space Station who had just seen Columbia disenage from station. Americans Kenneth Bowersox, and Don Pettit and Russian Nikolai Budarin were left with only the outdated Soviet capsule Soyuz to get back home. With the mission estended and no end in sight the author richly details life aboard the ISS and all the inherent risks of life in space and all the spectacular reasons why men and women risk their lives to be in space.

Couldn't put this book down!.......2007-07-25

I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing is beautiful and very descriptive. It reads like a science fiction book. It is very fast-paced and easy reading.

In November 2002, ten astronauts left Earth aboard the space shuttle Columbia headed for the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was to depart much earlier, but problems, both technical and weather related, marred the launch. On one launch date, when the astronauts were already strapped-in in their seats aboard space shuttle Columbia, bad weather in their emergency landing site in Spain prevented the launch. The astronauts had to return home. On another occasion, a technical fault cancelled the launch. When the new launch date in November was approaching, the astronauts were wandering if more problems would suddenly appear and prevent another launch. Some astronauts believed that the mission had a bad luck aura around it, but did not discuss it openly. One astronaut had told his relatives that he was never coming back home again!

The launch did take place on November 2002, and to spectators on the ground and to the astronauts aboard Columbia the launch was routine and successful. But cameras aboard Columbia transmitted a different image to Mission Control. A piece was dislodged during the launch and hit critical heat shields located underside the shuttle. After reviewing the tape hundreds of times, Mission Control concluded that the piece must have bounced off the underside of the shuttle causing no damage.

On February 1, 2003, only seven of the ten astronauts were heading back to Earth aboard Columbia after bidding farewell to the three astronauts they left behind in the International Space Station. Sadly, they never made it back home. On re-entry, as witnessed by millions of spectators worldwide, Columbia exploded, killing all seven astronauts onboard. Contrary to what Mission Control thought at first, the heat shields were damaged during the launch. The three astronauts left behind in the International Space Station -- Donald Petit, Kenneth Bowersox, and Russian flight engineer Nikolai Budarin -- found themselves too far from home, stranded on the International Space Station!

Mission Controls in Houston and Moscow worked around the clock to bring back the astronauts safely. Launching another Space Shuttle was not an option, since further NASA space shuttle launches were suspended for months, perhaps years. There was also the problem of how to provide the stranded astronauts with enough supplies while they remained in space. Ultimately, they had to settle to a plan that, according to the author, was risky to say the least. Latched to the side of the space station was a Russian-built Soyuz TMA-1 capsule with outdated technology and, according to the Americans, a questionable safety record. In 1971 a malfunction in the Soyuz 11 capsule left three Russian cosmonauts dead (However, as one reviewer on amazon.com pointed out, all Soyuz crews since that mission have worn full pressure suits during launch and entry as a safeguard against that failure happening again). Furthermore, the Soyuz TMA-1 capsule hadn't been flight tested before (there was never a need to use it)! However, as far as the Russians were concerned, the Soyuz was safe and the only way to bring the astronauts back home.

Despite the inherent danger, the Soyuz became the only hope to return Bowersox, Budarin, and Petit home. Interestingly, though, the three astronauts had such a great time aboard the International Space Station that none of them wanted to return home when they were relieved. Aboard the Soyuz, the three astronauts eventually took "an accelerated, lung-crushing dive" back to earth. Their account aboard the Soyuz is remarkable, and will leave you gasping for air!

The author goes back to the history of the space race with Russia; with the first Russian in space; to animals sent in rockets to space; Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon; the Russian space station; and finally to the International Space Station. You will learn a lot of things about life in space that you probably did not know about, assuming you have not read such material before like me. For example, many early astronauts aboard space stations felt lonely and depressed and longed for home. All the earlier astronauts retired from NASA soon after their return from space! Two astronauts actually went on strike for a whole day while on a space station, and refused to continue their mission. They too retired from NASA on their return. However, the Russian cosmonauts fared much better. They adapted well to the loneliness and confines of space, unlike their American counterparts. According to the author, this is due to the simple life of the Russians as compared to the luxurious and comfortable life Americans lead and are used to.

You will learn a lot about the amazing beauty of a space walk, and how astronauts are so mesmerized by the beauty that they forget themselves, floating as in a trance towards Earth. One astronaut almost was lost in this way if it wasn't for another astronaut pulling him back! I actually went to my video store and bought an Imax DVD of a spacewalk! On the funny side, you'll learn how astronauts "take a crap" in zero gravity, and some quite embarrassing situations!

Here's some negative criticism from other reviewers on amazon.com:

"This author skips around with what in the movie business would be called flashbacks; a few of these are fine but I think this author over used them."

"Felt like there was a little too much effort put into making this into a Manly Tale. Everything seems a little too exaggerated -- the spicy language, the icy fear, the burning decisions. Maybe this style would have held up without question in a magazine, but at the novel's length, I kept wondering, "How do you know?" The little details started to feel like some of them were imagined or embellished; the writing was popping me out of being lost in the scene."

Overall, I highly recommend this book if you have never read non-fiction books on space before.

Too far from home: A story of Life and Death in Space.......2007-07-05

Arived quickly in time for a flight to Atlanta and back, was able to get entirely through it during both flights, However I generly like a lininar book, this author skips around with what in the movie business would be called flashbacks, a few of these are fine but I think this author over used them.

This is as good as it gets............2007-06-27

Ordinarily I wouldn't read a book on space travel because it's not something I've ever had an interest in. I picked the book up for my husband. I'm certainly glad I opened it myself. I read one of the comments where the person thought that Chris Jones should stick to what he knows, sports. I think it's obvious that Chris IS sticking to what he knows, the heart and soul that fills a person up and pushes them to go for the impossible. He understands the human spirit and writes about it beautifully. Space travel is a huge, poetic, heroic, incredible achievement that somehow I viewed with a blase' attitude -- Ho-hum, man in space.... What was I thinking! Thanks to Chris I will now always view it with a lump in my throat and gratitude to the remarkable men and women who make it happen.

Average customer rating:

A Frog Thing
Frank is Fabulous!
Great children's book
A frog lover's view
"A Frog Thing" is a great thing!

A Frog Thing (Book & Audio CD)
Eric Drachman
Manufacturer: Kidwick Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0970380933

Book Description

Frank wasn't satisfied doing ordinary frog things. He wanted to fly, but he was a frog and frogs can't fly. Follow along as Frank jumps and runs and leaps and dives until he finally finds his place in the pond. The companion book on cd will transport you and your child into Frank's world with sound effects and wonderful performances by children and adults.

Customer Reviews:

A Frog Thing.......2007-09-03

This is a charming book. It teaches a lesson about life without being preachy. The drawings throughout the book are delightfully stylized, using soft colors. My two-year-old grandson pretends he is flying every time we read it. I am glad I purchased this book, and will buy others by the same author.

Frank is Fabulous!.......2007-05-08

My son is 2.5 and loves this book more than I can possibly describe. I purchased it in conjunction with Ellison the Elephant, by the same illustrator and author, and literally these two have been in his nightly request list since they arrived. The illustrations are lovely, and the 'lessons' are great and not in a heavy-handed delivery. There are audio CD's but I prefer to read them to my son.

Enjoy!

Great children's book.......2007-05-01

Frog wants to fly! But flying is a bird thing and not a frog thing. Frog can do frog things but he wants to fly. Everyone tells him that he can do anything, as long as it is a frog thing. But you never know what might happen and how a frog might be able to do a bird thing. A Frog Thing is an excellent children's book and highly recommended.

A frog lover's view.......2006-11-29

We borrowed this book and cd from our library and just kept reading it over and over. The cd is well done also. I'm now looking to buy our own copy.

My children enjoyed Freddie so much. They felt sorry for him, laughed with him, and cheered for him. The illustrations are simply beautiful.

The story is about a little frog who wants to learn to fly, after all his parents had always told him he could do anything. He tries and tries but flying isn't a 'frog thing' it's a bird thing. Frankie's dream of flying becomes a reality when he is rewarded by a mother bird for rescueing her chick from the water. Read this wonderful book and find out how.

You'll love Frankie and his family, Enjoy!

"A Frog Thing" is a great thing!.......2006-10-14

This book is amazing! The pictures are unique in that they make you feel sorry for the charaters, but also laugh at the same time. It also delivers a powerful message about how you can do anything you put your mind to, no matter who or in this case "what" you are. This book is a must have for any childs library no matter the age.

Average customer rating:

BostonMom
If there were a 6-star rating...
Great Drawings, Whimsical Story
If you liked "Little Bunny" you'll love this...
Taking imagination to a new level

Moon Plane
Peter McCarty
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0805079432
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

Can airplanes fly to the moon? This one can!

Above the clouds an airplane flies into the sky.
On the ground a small boy looks up.

A young boy sees a plane overhead and imagines himself in it, traveling all the way to the moon. What does he see on his way? With characteristically spare prose, Caldecott Honor winner Peter McCarty invites readers along for an imaginary trip from the earth to the moon and back again, visiting trains, planes, and boats along the way. McCarty’s luminous illustrations make the boy’s fantasy into a dreamlike journey that ends in his mother’s arms—a perfect way to end the day.

Customer Reviews:

BostonMom.......2007-08-29

I love to read Moon Plane aloud to my children. Not only is the story enchanting, but the prose is poetic and adds to it's dreamy nature. Some children's bedtime stories are cute. This one taps into those magic years of childhood. Enjoy it.

If there were a 6-star rating..........2007-07-31

This is the most wonderful children's book I've seen since E. Palmer Brown's Cheerful. My 9-month-old son literally crawls over the side of the glider and reaches for this book every night before going to bed and just beams at the pictures (and the font!). Now that he's crawling, he will often crawl over to his bookshelf and go directly for this book over others. It's amazing! Hurray for Peter McCarty!

Great Drawings, Whimsical Story.......2007-05-14

Who wouldn't like to fly? The little boy in the story does, and our grandson would like to fly too. In a plane. Over cars. To the moon. And then back to mom and his plane-covered comforter for a traveler's peaceful sleep. And, of course, that old moon is winking in the window.

If you liked "Little Bunny" you'll love this..........2007-02-17

I was first introduced to Peter McCarty's work with Little Bunny on the Move. I enjoyed the art in that book immensely, and the art in Moon Plane is of similar style and equal quality. In addition, I believe the text in this book is better. This is a superb young children's book.

Taking imagination to a new level.......2007-01-06

This book has some beautiful illustrations, and the simple story is very sweet. I read it to my 2.5-yr-old, and I was amazed at the way it hit home with him. He was not previously interested in either planes or moons, but he breathed the story in like air. It was the first time I saw him identify himself with a tale. "This is Liam," he would say, pointing to the boy on each page. I believe some part of him was truly convinced that he had flown a plane to the moon each night. His pajamas suddenly became his space suit. He loved the idea of "running back to Momo" and getting tucked into bed. "What is outside the window?" we ask him on the last page. "Did you fly a plane to the moon? And did you jump so high that you were flying like the plane?" "Yes!" he says, with delighted conviction. We just read the library book, but I am about to order a copy of our own for my second son's birthday, hoping that his first "flight" will be as magical as his older brother's was.

Average customer rating:

Captivating
For flyers and non-flyer alike
This book is a prize for the whole family.
Pilot in Houston
A delightful read

FLIGHT OF PASSAGE: A TRUE STORY
Rinker Buck
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786883154
Release Date: 1998-05-27

Amazon.com

Writer Rinker Buck looks back more than 30 years to a summer when he and his brother, at ages 15 and 17 respectively, became the youngest duo to fly across America, from New Jersey to California. Having grown up in an aviation family, the two boys bought an old Piper Cub, restored it themselves, and set out on the grand journey. Buck is a great storyteller, and once you get airborne with the boys you find yourself absorbed in a story of adventure and family drama. And Flight of Passage is also an affecting look back to the summer of 1966, when the times seemed much less cynical and adventures much more enjoyable.

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Captivating.......2007-08-26

There are so few good aviation stories on the shelves. Most have a military focus or are technical in nature. Either are fine. However this story is beautifully written and at times, a laugh riot. Imagine two teens restoring a Piper Cub from the frame then flying it across the country. Rinker Buck recounts his experiences as a son and brother so well. I felt as if I was with them.

I'm a student pilot and the book resonated with me and would for most pilots, I hope. However, I loaned it to a non-pilot and she was equally charmed by the story. Flying became the back story to a growing bond between brothers, conflict between a father and his sons and avacodos falling to the ground like little green bombs.

For flyers and non-flyer alike.......2007-05-13

One of the best all around books I'v read in a long time. It's a personal family story as well as a flying story. As a pilot I loved it. My wife, a non pilot enjoyed it also.

This book is a prize for the whole family. .......2007-03-14

First, everyone in our family, teens and adults loved this book. Then I began lending it out to friends, who lent it to friends, on and on, because they loved it so much! It's a miracle I got it back.
It's a true story of family, adventure, and what "following a dream" actually looks like. The subplot about the "water bag" captures beautifully that funny tension between knowing your parent really doesn't fully get what your life is about and the knowing that even so they love you.

Pilot in Houston.......2006-12-10

Having grown up not far from the Buck's and learning to fly at an early age with the help of a family member, I found this book to be not only well-written, but also very personally meaningful. Buck does a wonderful job of bringing the reader into the experience and describing the detail though his own eyes as a teenager. If you are are a pilot (and even if you are not) it may well inspire you to get your hands on a Piper Cub and traverse the country.

A delightful read.......2006-09-25

This was a book that I bought in a bargain section and it turned out to be quite the bargain. It is a heart-warming tale with adventure and humor for everyone. The language at times was a little much and for this reason I would not recommend to young children. I don't think the author was necessarily attempting to make this book a comedy but he had me in stitches several times. I don't usually re-read books but this is one that I am looking forward to reading again and again in years to come.

Average customer rating:

Further Adventures of the Formerly Flat Stanley
Stanley in Space ROCKS!

Stanley in Space (Flat Stanley)
Jeff Brown
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064421740
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Book Description

A Far-out adventure!

The President of the United States has chosen Stanley Lambchop and his family to become the first humans to fly in the Star Scout, a new top-secret spaceship.

Stanley's most exciting adventure is about to begin. He'll meet the Queen of England, have a birthday party in outer space, and save a whole planet of aliens from danger. Oh, that Stanley!

Customer Reviews:

Further Adventures of the Formerly Flat Stanley.......2006-04-15

Stanley Lambchop has already had adventures: first he was flattened by a bulletin board and helped stop a museum burglary, then he and his brother found a magic lamp with a wish-granting genie inside. Still, his parents muse at the beginning of the book, it's nice to have an ordinary day without any tiring adventures. Then the President of the United States calls looking for a boy who has adventure experience for a special mission, and the entire Lambchop family goes on a space adventure!

---------------------

While the book assumes the reader has already read "Flat Stanley" and "Stanley and the Magic Lamp", one could read this book first with no loss. The references are quick and complete, and the story line of this book does not rely on them.

This is a good beginning chapter book, as are all the books of the series that we've read so far. Chapters are quick and mainly to the point. While I thought the discussion between the President and the parents was a bit long the remainder of the book entertained my six-year-old son enough that he never mentioned any slow parts at all. In fact, he originally took this book out from the library and was incredibly excited when he was able to get His Own Copy of the book a short time later.

A fun, imaginative little book!

Stanley in Space ROCKS!.......2004-01-09

My friend ... let Me borrow Stanley in Space. I read the Whole Book in one day. It's about a kid named Stanley Lambchop. He goes on this ship called the Star Scout. That's all I can tell you. But if you want to hear more then BUY THE BOOK.

Average customer rating:

Another Great Anthology
Only a few good ones
Fun to read--very enjoyable
Taking Flight

Flight, Volume Four

Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

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ASIN: 0345490401
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Book Description

A full-color graphic anthology of short stories by some of the hottest creators in the field, FLIGHT, Volume Four is the newest addition to a great success story in graphic novel publishing.

Since 2004, when the first Volume of Flight burst on the scene, the publication of subsequent volumes has become a highly anticipated annual event. Artists are constantly contacting Kibuishi (the editor of the Flight volumes and himself a contributor), asking to be included in the next volume of Flight. So it's no wonder Flight has ascended so rapidly in the graphic novel universe, becoming a fan favorite and developing a rabid following. Each contributor's story in the anthology represents a labor of love, and that fact shines through in the overall quality of the series.

“With truly stellar art from masters of the field, this fantasy anthology is a must for comics connoisseurs and a delight to readers who like pretty stories.” Publishers Weekly on Flight, Volume Three (Starred Review.)

Customer Reviews:

Another Great Anthology.......2007-08-24

I think this might be my favorite Flight book so far, overall. As in the previous volumes, the stories and art styles vary dramatically. Each story is very short, but these comics are worth reading slowly or more than once to enjoy the excellent artwork and all the imagination involved.

These aren't traditional comic book-style comics, and they aren't newspaper-style comics (though I think that some belong in the same general category as older newspaper comics such as those by Winsor McCay). It just seems clearly evident that the artists in these books love what they are doing, and I hope that the series continues to be successful so that more will get a chance to do so in this ideal format.

Only a few good ones.......2007-08-23

Not sure this is worth the price.
Scott Campbell's piece is by far the best in this anthology.

Fun to read--very enjoyable.......2007-08-01

Flight 4 is the fourth book in the flight series. These books are anthologies of stories told through the use of comic format. Each of these collections showcase young, innovative artists, with the intent to create stories that are fun to read for both the seasoned fan of comics, and those readers new to the format.

Flight 4 continues this tradition. Out of the series, the stories in this anthology really make the reader think about their storylines, and are quite introspective. The short stories included cover a wide range of subjects that are varied in style and tone. The book contains twenty-five stories by twenty-six talented artists and storytellers.

A few of my personal favorites from this Flight collection are: Food from the Sea by Amy Kim Ganter, The Window Makers by Kazu Kibuishi, Dinosaur Egg by Raina. Each of these stories plays with the ideas of the power of imagination, the joy of finding your own strengths and weaknesses, and the fun of discovering new things and ideas.

I've been a fan of the Flight collections since reading Flight Volume 3. I'm most impressed with this current collection and look forward to future flight collections.

Because, as the folks over at Flight Comics believe, reading comics should be fun and Flight 4 is defiantly a fun and thought provoking read.

The artists who contributed stories to the book are: JP Ahonen, Graham Annable, Neil Babra, Bannister, Vera Brosgol, Scott Campbell, Pascal Campion, Joel Carroll, Cleo Chiang. Phil Craven, Ryan Estrada, Michel Gagné, Amy Kim Garter, Thomas Herpich, Azad Injejikian, Kazu Kibuishi, Jon Klassan, Sarah Mensinga, Fabio Moon, Ovi Nedelcu, Andrea Offermann, Lark Pien, Dave Roman, Israel Sanchez, Raina Telgemeir, and Joey Weiser.

Armchair Interviews says: Check out all 4 in the series.

Taking Flight.......2007-07-10

Flight is one of those great reads. They have become a regular appetite of mine since they were created 4 years ago. Book your flight today, because this volume is a bang for your buck. The greatest known and unknown comic illustrators are here. This tome is a keeper in any bookshelf.

Average customer rating:

very funny, both the story and the illustration
Brown Scores Direct Hit with Kids Humor
Refreshing and funny...highly recommended!
Just Ducky... or Penguiny in this book!
What a Fantastic story!!!!

Flight of the Dodo
Peter Brown
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316110388

Book Description

When Penguin gets pooped on by a goose flying by, he doesnt just get angry, he decides to do something about it. Determined to prove the world wrong, Penguin and his other flightless friends set out to build a flying machine that will give them the birds eye view they have never had. Flight of the Dodo is a hilarious and heartwarming story about the search for adventure and the persistence needed to make dreams come true. This book has the perfect balance of gross-out humor paired with a wonderful story and message, and Peter Browns distinct and striking paintings are filled with fun details and unique perspectives that will capture the readers imagination.

Customer Reviews:

very funny, both the story and the illustration.......2006-11-14

My 5-year-old son and I read this book together one night and we both laughed from the beginning to the end. The story was fresh and the drawing was detailed. We couldn't help read it one more time. Then my son read it with my wife. The next morning, he was reading it again while having his breakfast. A very nice book!

Brown Scores Direct Hit with Kids Humor.......2006-08-12

If you can't enjoy a little potty humor now and again, well, poo on you! I recently watched this book read to a crowd of kids ages 3-7 who were bent over with the giggles. Many of them had never been pooped on by a bird, but they were imagining the humiliation and ick factor with a great deal of glee. Underneath the humor is a well delivered message that revenge is not sweet--but cooperation is. The illustrations are FABULOUS! I cannot wait to see what Peter Brown drops on us next.

Refreshing and funny...highly recommended!.......2006-07-26

This is an entertaining book for audiences young and old. The story is humorous and original. The artwork is just amazing.

Just Ducky... or Penguiny in this book!.......2006-07-26

Peter Brown is not just an amazing artist, he can tell a great story about a bunch of poop! The beautiful landscapes and fun birds really create the emotions as the story goes along. When birds are stuck high in the air and the storm clouds come it shows what true "friends" will do for one another and that in the end we can all learn from one another. I really look forward to Peter's next book and find it amazing anyone should not find this book charming, even with the underlying currents of poop! I hear there's a great interview with Peter about this book online at the WMPG radio site too!

What a Fantastic story!!!!.......2006-07-24

I absolutely adore this book!!!!!!! My family LOVES "Flight of the Dodo" . It possesses a hilarious yet endearing message about being greatful with who you are and where you came from. That we are all truly unique and special in our own way! The illustrations are FANTASTIC and creative, i almost want to frame every one of them. I highly recommend this book and know you will enjoy and cherish it as my family has. We love Peter Brown!!!!

The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky: A True Story

Average customer rating:

There's nothing I can say that will do this justice
Excellent book!
Pure narcissism
Misses somewhere
I Wanted to Like This Book

The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky: A True Story
Ken Dornstein
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375503595
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Book Description

In this stunning, emotionally charged memoir, Ken Dornstein interweaves the moving story of his own coming-of-age with the promise of greatness his brother never lived to fulfill. The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky is a heartbreaking but profoundly hopeful book about finding beauty in the midst of tragedy and making sense of it.
David Dornstein was twenty-five years old, a handsome, charismatic young man on the verge of becoming an extraordinary writer, when he boarded Pan Am Flight 103 from London on the evening of December 21, 1988. Thirty-eight minutes after takeoff, he died, along with the 258 other passengers and crew, when a terrorist’s plastic explosive ripped the plane apart over Lockerbie, Scotland.
David’s brother, Ken, was nineteen, a college sophomore home on winter break, when the call came. All his life Ken had looked up to David, confided in him, followed where he led. David’s death left Ken with a void that both crushed and consumed him. What were his brother’s plans when he died? Was David really carrying home a draft of the great novel everyone knew was in him? Was he in love with the woman he was living with overseas? Ken Dornstein needed to learn the truth about his brother’s life and death. In this harrowing and affecting memoir, he records what he found out.
It was years before Ken could bring himself to confront the stacks of notebooks and letters David left behind, but once he began to read he was drawn deep into his brother’s world. From David’s early obsession with writing down his every thought to his misadventures on the streets of New York, from an unraveling love affair in Israel to a devastating childhood secret, piece by piece Ken assembles a complex, disturbing portrait of an artist struggling to find a voice for passions that often threatened to tear him apart. Then, by chance, Ken runs into David’s college girlfriend on a train and everything changes once again. He starts to question his motives and his memories, and finally sets off on a complicated journey to finish the book that his brother started.
As haunting as a dream, as electrifying as the day’s news, The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky is an incandescent and unforgettable account of one man’s struggle to find inspiration in his brother’s life and create a life of his own. What begins as a tragedy turns into a love story of deeply affirming power.

Customer Reviews:

There's nothing I can say that will do this justice.......2007-10-01

I kept coming across this book on bookstore shelves and failed to pick it up each time. Finally after searching the library shelves for hours, I gave in , therefore making on of the better book choices I've made in years.

I was sucked into the story and didn't stop until I reached the end. I turned back to the beginning and re-read it again. It's a story of love, siblings and ultimately finding oneself. It's made me appreciate my own siblings a bit more. I've recommended this book to all of them and hope that they can gain what I have from this compelling story of brothers.

Excellent book!.......2007-04-03

Wonderfully written, touching "memoir" about a brother's love and finding a way to honor that love and life when it is gone.

Pure narcissism.......2007-01-11

For those who enjoy rambling, narcissistic screed. In an unintentionally amusing chapter, the author Biblically rationalizes his attempts at shtupping both of his deceased brother's girlfriends, which is truly an innovative way of coping with grief. The brothers shared narcissism as a trait, but at least the deceased one had an undiagnosed mental illness (bipolar) as the potential cause.

Misses somewhere.......2006-12-27

The premise of the book was interesing...a man finding himself through the exploration of his brother's life. But it lost my attention somewhere. I put the book down for a couple weeks and then finally finished the last chapter. The beginning of the book was compelling and moving. However, by the end, I just didnt care about the outcome. The author, in my opinion, while he tries, did not fully convey how he was able to move on.

As others have stated, i tried to like this book, but couldnt.

I Wanted to Like This Book.......2006-10-05

As the saying goes, "I wanted to like this book." A brother's attempt to reconstruct the life and genius of a sibling killed in the Lockerbie bombing should have made compelling reading. Yet the real tragedy of David Dornstein is not his death on Pan Am 103, but the years of agony he endured with untreated manic depression.

The cyclic unraveling of a life is painful to witness. If you find that fascinating, read this book. I am left wondering why David went undiagnosed and untreated. Were there no interventions, or was everyone lured into the myth that only tortured souls can produce great art?

We can only wonder what a functioning David might have contributed to the world. Might he have worked in a soup kitchen or tutored someone in English? Instead we are left with another set of narcissistic ramblings from the young and grandiose. Is there a real parent in this book? What a tragic reminder of the mindless price untreated mental illness exacts.

First Flight: A Mother Hummingbird's Story

Average customer rating:

Unbelievable
Fascinating
BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE, BEAUTIFUL BOOK
Noriko and Don Carroll have done it again.
Delightful!

First Flight: A Mother Hummingbird's Story
Don Carroll , and Noriko Carroll
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0740757075

Book Description

When Noriko and Don Carroll moved from New York City to suburban Las Vegas, they found a tiny nest on a clothesline on their back porch. As the Carrolls settled into their new home, so did a female hummingbird they named Honey. For weeks, the Carrolls watched in fascination as they witnessed an event few humans are privy to-the birth and growth of two hummingbirds.

First Flight is the beautifully photographed story of Honey and her two chicks, Ray and Zen. In over 50 stunning, full-color close-ups, it captures the grace, the beauty, and the simultaneous strength and fragility of one of nature's tiniest birds.

Professional photographer Don Carroll's images of his tiny housemates are woven throughout with Noriko's charming narrative describing the mother bird and her developing brood.

Not just for bird enthusiasts, First Flight is a magical mix of hummingbird field guide, personal story, and new life taking flight. Readers will be captivated by the inherent drama as it unfolds in miniature, and they'll cheer as babies Ray and Zen make their own first flights out into a bright new world.

Customer Reviews:

Unbelievable.......2007-05-10

We enjoyed this picture-story of a mother hummingbird. Excellent photographs and clear text. A book every (humming)birdlover will enjoy.

Fascinating.......2006-11-10

This is a great book - I bought it for my mom and dad as they have lots of hummingbirds. But I had to check it out before I gave it to them. LOVED IT!!

BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE, BEAUTIFUL BOOK.......2006-09-24

This exquisite book is about loving and caring for what one loves. The Carroll's masterpiece springs from their love for Honey the Hummingbird as they daily devote themselves to watching her from her return from wintering in Mexico, the laying of two eggs in a nest on a clothesline which she had previously built and inhabited, the birth of her babies, which the Carrolls named Ray and Zen, and her nurturing of them until and after their fledgling flights.

Everything about this book is done with devotion and great care. The text, written by Noriko Carroll, is a perfect accompaniment to what seems to me genius level photographs taken by Don Carroll. There are special lighting effects as a background to many of the photographs, and Mr. Carroll explains in an afterword called "Photographics Notes" that a mirror reflecting parts of his flower garden was used to create these stunning effects. I plan to order another copy of this book, take it to a framer and request that several of the photographs be removed and framed, to be hung on a wall of my home.

The description on the inside of the book jacket cover is even unique. It is not the standard patois one usually reads. It is done with great care, depth and intelligence. It is the finest of its kind I have ever read.

You will learn a great deal about hummingbirds, and if you have a backyard feeder, you will find out the proper and best way to maintain it. You will become more aware of the hummingbirds in your yard and in your life. And, unless you have a heart of stone, you will end up loving them, if you do not do so already.

I heartily thank the Carrolls for their magnificent undertaking of introducing us to the life and ways of this wonderful bird and her offspring. It is their artistic skills, their intact sense of wonder and awe (which so many tend to lose in adulthood), and their capacity to love which has brought this book to us. Quite a gift!

Noriko and Don Carroll have done it again........2006-06-20

First, a wonderful memoir of their cat, "Happy Birthday", and now an even more surprising story, an example of patience, persistence, perception and love. The adventures of hummingbirds, an entire life cycle in vivid beautiful color, and amazingly intimate details (this from a new Yorker whose only contact with bird life is pigeons). I think you'll be as delighted as I was.
- Jay Maisel

Delightful!.......2006-05-13

A touching family portrait of hummers that is a feast for the eyes. I marveled at the technical wizardry of photographer Don Carroll and the simple prose by Noriko that did justice to this little wonder of nature. This book definetly stays on my coffee table!

Average customer rating:

just as good as the others!
Good idea

Flight, Volume One

Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

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ASIN: 0345496361
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Book Description

Originally published by Image Comics in 2004, Flight, Volume One launched this graphic novel series with a resounding bang. Since then the Flight series has steadily increased in popularity–and now all of the Flight backlist will be coming to Villard!

Flight, Volume One received a great boost when graphic novel hero Scott McCloud praised the quality and artistry of the book in an afterward entitled THE YEAR COMICS TOOK FLIGHT. Little could readers know at the time how prosaic McCloud’s words would prove to be.

“Regardless of where it’s shelved, this book belongs in every library.” — Library Journal on Flight, Volume One

Authors included in Flight, Volume One are: Bengal, Bill Mudron, Catia Chen, Chris Appelhans, Clio Chang, Derek Kirk Kim, Dylan Meconis, Enrico Casarosa, Erika Moen, Hope Larson, Jacob Megraw-Mickelson, Jake Parker, Jen Wang, Joel Carroll, Kazu Kibuishi, Khang Lee, Neil Babra, Philip Craven, Rad Sechrist, and Vera Brosgol.

Customer Reviews:

just as good as the others!.......2007-08-27

this first anthology is just as great as the later ones... it's just a bit smaller. when i first saw this in the library i had to check it out! it was thoroughly enjoyable and inspirational to me (as an artist). the later ones pack even more stories into them, but this one is just as worth your money.

Good idea.......2007-05-07

This whole flight project is a good idea. A bunch of talented artist get together and show off a story of theirs, something about flight. I enjoyed some of the stories in here. Some are weird. Some are great to look at.

Overall I think this book is okay. However, the later books (flight 2-4) just keep getting better and better. I guess with time the artists grew and so does their artworks. There are also more and more artists joining in. I highly recommend getting the later books. If you do, you need to get this one too...to complete the collection of course.

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