Customer Comments

A wide-ranging collection of short stories that are at times brutally frank and incisive. Berlin will bring to mind the work of Lydia Davis and Deborah Eisenberg, with a hint of Clarice Lispector. An excellent collection to spend the weekend reading.

Astonishing in scope, this is one of my top reads of the year. If you're seeing hype about this book, it's for good reason. Gilbert hits a grand slam, writing a top-notch account of fathers, sons, and all of the messy tangles they pull each other into. Great book!

Excellent book about breakdowns, both statistical and mental. If you liked Tom McCarthy's "Remainder" you'd do well to check this book out.

In Currie's latest, a writer named Ron Currie, Jr. fakes his own death and his unfinished novel skyrockets to fame - until the hoax is revealed. Currie writes convincing, engaging explorations of mortality with a sprinkling of magic realism and a big helping of Vonnegut-inspired cultural dissection. A great read.

Great sports story - think Lance Armstrong, minus all the doping controversy. John Tarrant was barred from long distance running due to a technicality, right at the start of his running career. When attempts to overturn the ban through reasonable channels failed, Tarrant began sneaking into long-distance races, running without a number and winning race after race. Fascinating tale of a dedicated runner and the changes his insistence on competing brought to the sport.

Intelligent consideration given to use of technology - rather than a piecemeal approach, throwing it all at the wall and seeing what sticks, James Paul Gee suggests we move forward with it in a way that draws on the differences in forms of technology to find the best application in the classroom.

Great photography that does more than just look wonderful (though it does that) - it also inspires, and the essays and recipes all tie in nicely together. A great resource.

Wonderful book for kids - my five-year-old loves these simple, unadorned adventures of Jenny and her friends.

An exceptional book - a breath of fresh air in a congested sea of self-help books. Burkeman writes about historical precedents for a more balanced outlook on optimism and pessimism. Fans of Burkeman's column "This Column Will Change Your Life" will find plenty to sink their teeth into here.

Excellent novel by young writer Munoz - he pulls apart the shower scene from "Psycho" in a way that gives a new appreciation for Hitchcock (no small feat) and for the possibilities of noir. Highly recommended.

Short stories crafted in a traditional, never-mind-the-postmodern straightforward way. The novella deals with a writer who pushes too far in mining his own life for material. A great first collection.

This is absolutely the best gift you could buy for the "Lebowski" loving family member or friend. The range of these essays is vast, fully exploring every nook and cranny of the Dude's world.

"Slightly obsessive" but wholly fascinating. A welcome look into the history of an important and controversial book. The insights into the relationship between Strunk and White are great.

Whether or not the film adaptation floats your boat, this new edition of Yates's "Revolutionary Road," "The Easter Parade," and "Eleven Kinds of Loneliness" brings together some of his best work in one nice-looking edition. And some of the best work of Yates is some of the best, period.

Adrian's voice is clear and strong - some of these stories feel like companion pieces to "The Children's Hospital" and "The Changeling" is the best thing I've read about September 11, period. This collection is excellent.

Insightful dissection of modern marketing - Walker has done his research, and lays it all out here. The "modern consumer" thinks they're immune to marketing - Walker knows better, and the kicker isn't just a lack of immunity, but complicity with the marketers. A great read.

Is it too early to celebrate next January? Designed to look, feel and smell like the original (no, really) "Goodnight, Moon" and full of surprises. Certain to be on the gift lists of many this December.

This movie has been delayed in home release for many years. You can see some of the early themes of "Mullholland Drive" in Pullman's insistence on remembering things the way he wants. A great movie, and it's got Gary Busey.

Another excellent entry in the 33 1/3 series. An in-depth look at one of the most important albums in rock & roll - and what better time to read it, with the band reuniting?

Sharp, sharp writing on office "life" and how it unravels. Remarkable assured for a debut. Great read.