Uncomplicated Northern man's take on life.
938958
Writing from the heart an insight into the post war child's experience of manhood in the latter half of the twentieth century and the new millenium.
2954061
Henry Lightcap is an honest man from West Virginia. He was raised by a stubborn father,Joe Lightcap, from the sticks with Native American descent and an intelligent mother, a Holyoak, who's family did not approve with their marriage. Out of all of his sibling's the one he is closest to is Will, he respects will and in many ways aspires to be like him.

In this book Henry is on his way to his home in Stump Creek, West Virginia.  Elaine, his third wife, has left him and he feels the need to go back home.  He has not set up his life to be the easiest in the world.  He likes a challenge, something that is going to make him work every day whether physically or mentally. He has traveled the world and is a very intelligent man. He was a philosophy major, but he purposly flunked his orals because he wanted to live philosophy not just sit around and talk about it.

This is what leads to his initial troubles.  Henry loves women.  He likes WASPS, or white-Anglo-secy-Protestants. Your first impression of henry is that he is a very superficial type of guy.  All of the women in his life are beautiful, though most are not highly intelligent.  He never has enough money to support them because he does not commit to things very well and they expect him to change who he is. They want him to get a job working nine to five so they can have the All American dream of a house two kids and a nice car.  That is not what Henry wants he likes his old pick up truck, working for six months out of the year as a park ranger and collecting money from the government for the rest of the year so he has time to do what he wants, and just figuring out life as things happen.

Myra and Elaine definately want Henry to have this nine to five lifestyle, but Claire was different.  She was intelligent and beautiful. All of them were too young. She loved Henry for who he was from the beginning. You can see a different side of Henry when he was with Claire. He actually does care about some people. This was probably his best relationship. He is not a very faithful husband to his wives though. His little black book always seems to be around. He actually tries hard for these women to make them happy, but his sarcastic wit usually gets him in trouble.  They are all artists with their own ideals which really doesn't help much.

As he talks about the past and the women he loved he passes through places he has been before and stops by to see old friends of his.  It seems like he has been everywhere but the only place he actually wants to be, home.  For Henry his home is where his heart is.

I love this book so much!  It is my new favorite book.  His honesty is so refreshing and they way that he describes everything and makes subtle jokes all along the way makes this book a great read.  This is the only book that definitely will not be going back to the book store.
1846913
A quietly moving tale of one man's almost accidental trek across England to save his old colleague from cancer.

It is amazing how Rachel Joyce not only convinces the reader of the feasibility of such an improbable quest, she also manages to inspire him/her to actually root for Harold Fry, the newly-retired teetotaler (from a brewery, no less). He walks out one day to post a reply to Queenie Hennessy, who has written to tell him she was dying of cancer in a hospice all the way up in Berwick-upon-Tweed (as North as it is South in Kingsbridge, where he is from). But instead of posting the letter, he keeps on walking, and inspired by a garage girl, who tells him about her own aunt with cancer, and that "if you have faith, you can do anything", he resolves that as long as he is walking, Queenie will live (nevermind that he left his phone at home and is wearing yachting shoes).

Interwoven into this journey is Harold's reflections on his estranged marriage to Maureen, and the tenuous relationship with his son David, whom Maureen confides in, when her discovery that her husband has embarked on this ridiculous pilgrimage turns from bewilderment, to anger and despair. An unintended consequence of all that time in the wide open country as he treks treacherously by the side of motorways is the opportunity for Harold to confront and wrestle with the ghosts of his past.

Joyce paints a rather poignant picture of Harold, and shows his struggles when the normally reticent man has to explain his quest to complete strangers: "He took a deep breath. If he heard the sound of words coming from his mouth enough times, maybe he would feel like the sort of person who could get up and do something about them." The failure of communication in his marriage is also rather efficiently summed up in these lines : "Sometimes her words sliced down on his before they had even reached his mouth."

Harold the child had also had to deal with disapproval from the string of aunts his father takes up with when Harold's mother abandoned them: "'He's awfully tall,' his Aunty May had said of him once, as if this was something you could rectify, like a leaking tap."

Not only is her desription of characters sharp and insightful, Joyce is a skilful writer who comes up with such beautiful lines of prose, you just want to read them over and over again, like this afternoon scene just after heavy rain: "To the east, the cloud tore open and a low belt of polished silver light broke through. Harold stood and watched as the mass of grey split again and again, revealing new colours: blue, burnt amber, peach, green and crimson. Then the cloud became suffused with a dulled pink, as if those vibrant colours had bled through, merging as they met. He couldn't move. He wanted to witness every change. The light on the land was gold; even his skin was warm with it. At his feet the earth creaked and whispered. The air smelt green and full of beginnings. A soft mist rose, like wisps of smoke." The reader's senses are totally engaged in the picture Joyce paints.

Such beautiful, and at times heartwrenching prose would be pointless without a compelling story. Joyce has achieved that rare feat of meeting both criteria. At the end of the day, it is the pronouncement: "But maybe it's what the world needs. A little less sense, and a little more faith", that makes this tale such a powerful one.
2085576
I love stories about ordinary people, and Tommy's Exodus is one of those. Author Robert Hobkirk's writing reflects the same simple, forthright style of the protagonist himself. Tommy is a regular guy, a bit down on his luck but young and with plenty of time in life to overcome that predicament. Tommy leaves LA to return to Sacramento, where he is from. It is a journey that normally would take only a few hours, but Tommy has no car or money and must hitch hike. Thus begins his adventures. From one harrowing situation to another, Tommy maintains an honest and endearing way of analyzing his various predicaments. Tommy has a good heart and I found myself rooting for him all the way through. The story's religious aspects didn't overwhelm.
3248642
The modern audience is made up of a wide range of readers: some interested in social history, others looking for romance, and yet others seeking further insights into what they see on television. So what will they find here? Well, they are unlikely to find romance... and the heroes will not be drawn from Game of Thrones  rather it will be about those unsung warriors who put on a cheerful face while doing the laundry in sheeps' urine.

Nicely told, the chapters of this "little book" (it's slim but packed with detail) recount the facts of life in a country impoverished by volcanic eruptions and famine, ruled by adherence to a harsh religion (no, not Nordic paganism) and a foriegn kingdom, but true to its cultural roots. The book draws its material from well researched records examined by the author through her interactions with peers and tutors at Iceland's major university. An easy writing style means the Book of the Icelanders in the Old Times can be digested comfortably by those who do not have English as a first language (other language versions are available, however)...  and hence this is an excellent primer for tourists intending to go to this island in the North Atlantic  or those wishing for more once they return home.

The Little Book is a fine tribute to those who created the modern Icelandic republic. It shows their fortitude without being a series of cloying essays of romantic nonsense. It is not a heavy social treatise either. Rather the Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days is that rarity in "destination literature" a thoroughly readable insight into a resiliant people's march through dark times to a better future.
3572537
Kjartan the Gentle is a fascinating look at early Britain when Norse and the native cultures have finally come to a tentative accommodation. The story picks up after Kjartans grudging welcome back into his community after saving the village from being ransacked by invaders. Hes settled with a new wife and a child on the way, but his place in the social order is anything but clear. He is admired and feared, and given his past history of violence theres a level of mistrust thats hard to overcome.

One man who is unafraid of Kjartan is the glass-maker, Lini, who forms a bond of friendship first, keeping his feelings for the warrior secret as best he can. As their friendship blossoms into more, it is the slow stutter steps borne of curiosity and mutual regard that leads Kjartan into accepting, and finally acting on, his own confused attraction.

Both men take great pains to avoid overstepping the letter of Danelaw which has very specific conditions under which the act itself may and may not be permissible. Both men have much to riskwives, children, their place in the social orderyet they find it impossible to set aside their feelings and need for each other.

In such an insular community, it is inevitable that this relationship be discovered, and the consequences for the men is harsh and immediate. How the village responds to the discovery, the ways in which shaming and disapproval are expressed, how the two cultures (Norse and British) react, is an intriguing exploration of how the legal and the social interact to inform each persons place in the social structure. That it culminates in an act of violence is not unexpected, and the final denouement rests on Danelaw and its interpretation.

Kjartan the Gentle is a tale delicately woven, told with honesty and attention to detail, and transforming a time and place few of us are familiar with into a landscape populated with compelling characters and the richness of everyday life during a time when survival meant fitting in and conforming to the communitys needs.

The one quibble I had was the resolution to the mystery (no spoilers here) and how the final act played out. Other than that, this is quite a good read, one I can heartily recommend to history buffs and lovers of a romance told with respect and restraint. Kjartan the Gentle is a solid Four Star read.
1978340
Jon has a nice easy storytelling style that draws you in. I am from the same town as the author so there are many familiar things about his story. If you know nothing about wise guys or "dah guys" you will still have an enjoyable read. I recommend this book.
140390
You do not have to be a fly fisherman to enjoy this book.

I found it to be a heartfelt story of a man's search for meaning in life.  The characterization was very well rounded without weighing down the pace of the book. At times the descriptions of casting technique were a bit plodding and hard to follow, but they did reinforce the theme of pursuing one's ideals and dreams.

True to the title, I felt more at peace with the world upon finishing the book.
1018148
This is a wonderful coming-of-age novel about a young Icelandic man, Arnljtur.  He doesn't want to go to university, hates the work he's been doing on fishing boats, and decides to follow his dream.  He takes his savings and a few cuttings from the rose of the title (grown in a greenhouse by his mother, who has recently died) to a country to the south.  There, the abbott of a monastery in a remote town has agreed that Arnljtur can set about restoring the monastery's medieval rose garden from the plans in the old manuscripts.  Arnljtur sets off via plane and then a rickety old car, navigating some surprises on the way.  He leaves  behind his father, his autistic twin brother, and his seven-month-old daughter, the unintended product of a one-night stand with an old school friend, Anna.  Not for long:  father and brother stay put, but Anna and the baby show up again, and our hero calls upon the wisdom of a monk with a monumental knowledge of world cinema to help him think through the situation.  Unsentimental, funny, thoughtful.  A great read.
2727633
Christophe wrote an honest look at his life. He doesn't sugar coat anything, apologizes for mistakes and shows that he has learned and grown into a man who takes care of himself in every area. This is not just a story about battling a baffling disease, but a very modern coming of age story. As noted by others there are some spelling and grammatical mistakes that can easily be updated for the next printing.
102631
This book is about a guy to walks to both the North and South Poles.  He returns to Antartica and has found that in the interim global warming and human contamination are wreaking havoc on the environment.  He wants to do something to stop that.  He wants us all to be green in our energy use and clean up after ourselves generally to preserve what we have for future generations.

That in itself is an okay reason to read the book.  His arguments are fairly convincing if not compelling.

The interesting part of this book is what you can learn from him.  He decided what he wanted to do, which was to hike to the South Pole.  Then he proceeded to do what it took, surrounded himself with doers and managed to make it happen.  He did the same with the North Pole trek and several other projects.  It is fascinating to me to read about a guy who could accomplish so much just by never giving up the idea that it could be done.
1869408
Light, easy to read novel about the extraordinary life of an average man.  Like Forrest Gump, the hero finds himself always in the right (or wrong) place at the right (or wrong) time. Enjoyable read, slightly educational, funny at times, the author deserves kudos
1777910
I like his way of approaching life's lessons and takeaways. No preaching, just real stories that are so relatable and educational. Thank you Alan.
377433
An engagingly amusing account of simple uncomplicated folk coping purposefully with life within an unfamiliar (for the reader) social and cultural context. Absorbing to note the differences and similarities of Inspector Chopra in Mumbai and Inspector Singh in Singapore.
4750237
Life in a remote northern Ontario community for a family held together more by circumstances than by love and care. Both the mother and the father are damaged individuals and the only daughter is the glue which holds them together. She is surprisingly given the option to escape and she uses it  and her past willpower and comittment to hard work to gain experience and an education, on the job, which is to prove to be her salvation - and that of the family itself. We cheer for her and her ability to support and lead her family to future success. Self reliance is a hallmark of those who live in the north and our heroine has it in spades.
1442731
Interesting description of life in a sub zero environment for someone who lives in a warm climate with minimal cold weather
1108914
Three hundred fifty years ago Izaak Walton wrote of the curious blend of inner peace and giddy excitement which the amateur naturalist finds at streamside. He invites us to stroll with him through the countryside, discussing the mythology, superstition, and the science of England's aquatic fauna.  It is an unrushed journey, though we often arise at sunrise, and the author introduces us to many of the local inhabitants.  Indeed, if our fishing is successful, we might exchange our catch for the song of a pretty milkmaid.  The Compleat Angler is a brief book, and Walton's intent is to hook the reader, and encourage him to try fishing for himself:  "I do not undertake to say all that is known...but I undertake to acquaint the Reader with many things that are not usually known to every Angler; and I shall leave gleanings and observations enough to be made out of the experience that all that love and practise this recreation, to which I shall encourage them."  Interestingly, Walton starts off on the defensive, since the fisherman's passion was even then caricatured.  By the end the reader has joined the "Brotherhood of the Angle," making artificial flies and enjoying the poetry of fishing:  "The jealous Trout, that low did lie, Rose at a well-dissembled fly."  To the modern ear Walton's literal belief in naturalists' old wives tales may seem humorously anachronistic, and it comprises a remarkably large part of his affection for his subject.  We are also frequently reminded of the book's timeline with comments such as "...the Royal Society have found and published lately that there be thirty and three kinds of Spiders," while we now know that there are thirty thousand species of Arachnids.  And the Brotherhood of the Angle is a genuine fraternity to Walton, "...I love all Anglers, they be such honest, civil, quiet men."  The prospective reader must also be disabused of the misconception that Walton was a purist for artificial lures; he strongly recommends worms, minnows, and live flies.  In Walton's watery world there is no dry humor, only fresh.  Following his description of the twelve most effective artificial flies he says, "Thus you have a jury of flies likely to betray and condem all the Trouts in the river."  And here he compares the beautiful coloration of a living trout to...well, you'll see: "Their bodies [are] adorned with such red spots, and...with black or blackish spots, as give them such an addition of natural beauty as, I think, was never given to any woman by the artificial paint or patches in which they so much pride themselves in this age."  At the risk of taking some of the surprise out of the book, I here present a sample of Walton's fishing secrets: "Take the stinking oil drawn out of Polypody of the oak by a retort, mixed with turpentine and hive-honey, and anoint your bait therewith, and it will doubtless draw the fish to it."  I would guess that Walton wasn't much of a cook, however, and I do not recommend his recipe for eel (partially skinning it, packing the viceral cavity with nutmeg and anchovy, cutting off the head, slipping the skin back over the body, and sewing it together where the head formerly was, then barbecuing it on skewers).  Walton's affection for fish and fishing extends beyond the aquatic nobility of trout and salmon, to the often ignored commoners: gudgeons, sprats, bleaks, herns, tench, roach, umber, loach, and sticklebag.  And as for the importance of fishing in Walton's world: "I envy not him that eats better meat than I do, nor him that is richer, or that wears better clothes than I do; I envy nobody but him, and him only, that catches more fish than I do."