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Original Essays | November 5, 2009

John Buntin: IMG Notes from the (Bibliographic) Underground



For more than 60 years, Los Angeles's origins, its underbelly, and (yes) its blondes have fueled the imagination of writers and directors from... Continue »
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1 Burnside Self Help- Memoirs

More copies of this ISBN:

The Patron Saint of Used Cars and Second Chances: A Memoir

by Mark Milhone

The Patron Saint of Used Cars and Second Chances: A Memoir Cover

ISBN13: 9781594868238
ISBN10: 1594868239
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
All Product Details

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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In the course of one nine-month period, filmmaker Mark Millhones youngest son nearly died from birth complications, his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his mother had a heart attack and passed away, a freak illness claimed the life of one of his friends, and his career imploded. As a result of his membership in what he calls the “tragedy-of-the-monthclub,” his marriage also began to fray. Millhone responded to the chaos as many men might: Late one night, he logged on to eBay and bid on a vintage BMWhis fantasy car, but not exactly what the doctor ordered when it came to his familys finances. As if sharing the news that he'd won the auction with his already-peeved wife weren't bad enough, it turned out that he had to travel from New York to Texas to collect the car. His estranged dad joined him, and together they embarked upon a dysfunctional road tripa comedy of errors that would lend Millhone the perspective he needed to save his marriage and to understand what was really important in his life: his family. Acerbic and hilarious but with heart, this memoir will appeal to readers of Chuck Klosterman, David Sedaris, and Nick Hornby, as well as readers of Millhones “Guy Wisdom” column in Mens Health. His male perspective on a troubled marriage, raising children, coping with loss, and rejuvenating a relationship with a parent will appeal equally to both sexes.

Review:

"Millhone, an NYU professor and columnist for Men's Health, writes about family crises, stress, anxieties and what he calls 'our year from hell' when his son nearly died shortly after birth, his father was diagnosed with cancer, his mother died, his dog bit his oldest son in the face and his marriage was crumbling. Millhone felt he had 'a subscription to a tragedy-of-the-month club,' so his solution was to buy a car and travel with his dad. On the road, there are flashbacks to old songs, childhood toys, his marriage and his mother: 'Mom had a black belt in backhanded compliments.' As for the trip itself, chapter headings are misleading: the 'Vicksburg' visit takes place inside an Applebee's and 'Katrinaville' offers only a two-paragraph glimpse of New Orleans from the freeway. Millhone occasionally delivers a funny line amid many strained and strange attempts at humor, such as calling the scattering of his mother's ashes 'The Sprinkling.' More often, in a curious contradiction, the tragedy cancels out the comedy, and vice versa, while the road trip reads like a postcard scribble." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

Traveling from New York to Texas to collect a vintage BMW, Milhone and his estranged dad embark upon a dysfunctional road trip--a comedy of errors that lends Milhone the perspective he needs to save his marriage and to understand what is really important in his life: his family.

About the Author

MARK MILLHONE is an award-winning filmmaker, Mens Health columnist, and screenwriting professor at NYU Film School. He won an Academy Award in 1997 (Best Student Film, for Christmas in New York). His first major motion picture, Serenity Falls, starring Omar Epps, is set to start filming soon. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

ISBN:
9781594868238
Subtitle:
A Memoir
Author:
Milhone, Mark
Author:
Millhone, Mark
Publisher:
Rodale Press
Subject:
Marriage
Subject:
Fathers
Subject:
Personal Memoirs
Subject:
BIO026000
Subject:
Fathers -- United States.
Edition Description:
Trade Cloth
Publication Date:
July 2009
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
192
Dimensions:
8.76x6.30x.81 in. .77 lbs.

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