Book Description
With Scotland in the grip of a nationwide witch hunt, Isobel MacDonell is hiding in England. But when Sir Philip Kilpatrick arrives to escort her to her betrothed in the Highlands, Isobel must face a harrowing journey through a land of fear and suspicion. Soon, however, Philip grows reluctant to deliver Isobel to the noble intended she has never met. Isobel has charmed her way into his heart...and yet her determination to use her magic to solve the dark mystery of Philip's tortured past could destroy them both.
Download Description
With Scotland in the grip of a nationwide witch hunt, Isobel MacDonell is hiding in England. But when Sir Philip Kilpatrick arrives to escort her to her betrothed in the Highlands, Isobel must face a harrowing journey through a land of fear and suspicion. Soon, however, Philip grows reluctant to deliver Isobel to the noble intended she has never met. Isobel has charmed her way into his heart...and yet her determination to use her magic to solve the dark mystery of Philip's tortured past could destroy them both.
Customer Reviews:
MY WICKED HIGHLANDER.......2007-08-17
My Wicked Highlander: The MacDonell Brides Trilogy
I want to start off by saying this is the first time I've read anything by Jen Holling, and I must say I have another new author to add to my FAVORITES! I loved every single minute of, MY WICKED HIGHLANDER. Honestly, it was such a moving story, that I didn't want it to end.
Jen holling has a passion for Scotland that shows in her beautiful descriptions. She did a fantastic job of transporting me back.
Isobel MacDonell is a strong, proud and loyal woman. Sir Philip Kilpatrick is a brave, and honorable warrior whose focus is to protect the lady he's been asked to bring home after twelve long years spent in hiding. Both of these characters have demons, and the fact that Isobel is a WITCH, can't distinguish the flames burning between them. Only problem is, Isobel is betrothed to another, a powerful Earl who is rumored to have killed his first wife.
Sir Philip finds himself wanting more than her father's appreciation for being Isobel's protector, he wants her- especially since he fears for her safety at the hands of a possible murderer.
Isobel feels the pull also, but since Philip keeps her at arms length, she doesn't know what to do. She doesn't want to deny her father's dying wish by not marrying Nicholas Lyon, Earl of Kincreag, but can she deny her heart? Does Sir Philip manage to protect Isobel from the Witch hunts going on in Scotland? And will he turn Isobel over to Earl Kincreag once they return to Lochlaire?
You'll have to read it to find out!
This is an Excellent story that kept me turning pages late into the night. I couldn't put it down and it called to me whenever I did. I never wanted this story to end. The characters were written so well that I felt I actually new them. The sexual tension between Isobel and Philip sizzled!
I experienced so many emotions. I laughed, I cried- I had goose bumps and on more than one occasion a lump in my throat so large I thought I might stop breathing. This book is everything a Romance Reader, especially those with a passion for Scotland could ever want.
Kudos to Jen Holling for a job well done!
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars- *****
Now I can't wait to read, MY DEVILISH SCOTSMAN, the second book in the MacDonell brides series.
LOVED IT!!!.......2007-01-30
What a beautiful love story. This is the first novel I've read by Jen Holling and I have already purchased the two follow up sequels. 'My Wicked Highlander' is definitely a 'keeper'. Buy it! You won't be disappointed.
Great historical and dramatic romance!.......2006-10-17
This is my first book by Jen Holling and I simply loved this book! I was so annoyed at Philip at first, but I still loved how things were developing and in the end, it turned out great!
I must admit, I was holding my breath and getting scared towards the end! The story is touching, dramatic, funny, loving, adventurous, and even suspenseful! I loved every minute of it. The characters were so great, too! I loved Stephen and Fergus as secondary / supporting characters! My goodness, what good character development in this book.
The fact that the dialogs included the accents from Scotland or England made it that much more pleasant to read, because it really paints a picture and takes you there with the characters.
This story will leave you wanting more, as it is also the first in the MacDonell Brides trilogy and leaves several open-ended issues to be addressed in the following books! I truly recommend this book! :)
Action packed and riveting.......2006-07-31
This, I think, is the first book of a trilogy about three sisters who are gifted with psychic abilities. My Wicked Highlander is Isobel's story. She is the oldest of the three and is a seer. When Isobel was a little girl, her mother was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Fearful for his daughter's lives, Alan MacDonell, chieftain of Glen Aire, packs up his three daughters and hides them in separate parts of the country. At the age of twenty-four, Isobel is summoned home to tend to her dying father and to meet her betrothed, Nicholas, the Earl of Kincreag. Phillip Kilpatrick, one of Alan's most trusted friends, travels with two others to escort Isobel home.
Their travel through England and Scotland is not without its adventures for Isobel can't help but use her gifts to help others. Her good deeds, however, come back to haunt them later on. By the time they reach Glen Aire, Phillip and Isobel are thoroughly besotted with each other. However, despite Phillip's pleas for Isobel to marry him, she is determined to follow her father's wishes and marry Nicholas. Phillip leaves Glen Aire believing that he's lost Isobel forever.
This was an excellent read. It was fast-paced, action-packed, and full of juicy plots to keep you riveted to the last page. I look forward to reading the second book of this trilogy.
An entertaining highland romance with a bit of magic.......2006-07-19
Set in 16th century Scotland, this is the first book in the MacDonell Brides Trilogy, featuring the oldest sister who is a powerful seer.
Twelve years ago, when their mother was burnt at the stakes for witchcraft, Isobel and her two sisters were sent away for their safety, each hidden from the world and from each other. But when their father is struck with an ailment, the three sisters are finally summoned back to Glen Laire for their upcoming nuptials.
Now living in England, Sir Philip Kilpatrick is sent by Alan MacDonell to fetch Isobel. While he knows that her mother was accused of witchcraft, he never thought that the rumors about the MacDonell sisters are true. Yet as they journey back home to Scotland, he sees signs that tell him of Isobel's true powers. But uncovering her gifts is the least of his concerns, not when he realizes that the witch has wormed her way into his heart.
I've always enjoyed medieval novels and thought I would try something with a twist. The concept of three sisters with magical powers seemed fun, and I thought I would give this author a try. The story started well. We are introduced to Isobel and given a background on the nationwide witch hunt that was happening in Scotland. Isobel is a charming heroine, strong-willed and a little bit of a hellion. I liked how she handles herself with someone so complicated like Philip. As for Philip, his past lends some drama to his character, the way he blames himself for his sister's loss. While their journey back to Scotland dragged a bit, the byplays between the main characters are entertaining. Throw in some fun secondary characters such as Stephen whose cheekiness is quite a delight, and we get a fun read overall. Although I found some parts were slow, the story certainly picked up once they reach Scotland and we are introduced to Isobel's sisters. Oh, the wickedness of those three delightful witches!
MY WICKED HIGHLANDER is a fun and light story about romance, adventure, passion and magic. The other two books are MY DEVILISH SCOTSMAN and MY SHADOW WARRIOR.
Book Description
Blayne is strictly business-a stuffed shirt working for his father's company to develop the next men's razor. Ben is out of work and out looking for a good time. He's trying to forget his troubles and get over a past he can't even remember. When they meet in a coffee shop one afternoon, Ben gets a lot more than a job. And when they start working together, nothing can keep them apart-not amnesia, not secrets, not Blayne's father, not even Blayne's wife!
Customer Reviews:
Razor Burn (A Romentics Novel) by Scott & Scott.......2007-09-14
Ben and Blayne (what a pair of names) meet in a coffee shop in a lazy afternoon. Blayne is not searching company, at least is what he says, but he is in a gay quarter and in a gay local, and so Ben is a little pushy.
Ben manages to bring Blayne home and then in bed. But then Blayne flies away: he is married and he is straight! Not a believable excuse. Leaving he says to Ben to send him his resume: Ben is unemployed and maybe Blayne could do something... It's a joke but Ben sends the resume and Blayne's father, Garret, chooses to assume him. And so Blayne and Ben, with Todd and Emily, two friends, find themself to a side of a barricate and in the other side there is Garret and Jeanette, Blayne's wife. The war is about the launch of a new product for Mandatory, the Garret's firm: a new razor.
The book is interesting, a good mix of romance and story. Maybe also a little of suspence, even if, clue by clue, you can manage to unveal the truth way soon before it's unveiled by the story.
A story begins like a flirt ends in a love me forever feeling. When I read about this book, strangely I have ever had the feeling it was much more hard. Sex is not the main aspect and not the only reason to substain the plot. Maybe also the original print cover gives you that impression. I really like more the ebook version cover.
At this point I can say that I will be glad to read also the other stories this duo, Scott & Scott, have already written.
An enjoyable Romance.......2007-07-21
I love romance novels and was looking for something different when I bought this one. I was hooked from the very beginning. The plot of the story may sound like something from a cheesy made-for-TV movie, but I found myself drawn into the story, anxious for Ben and Blayne's happy ending. Intriguing characters, a page turning mystery, surprise twist near the end, delightful secondary characters and a heartfelt romance.
The romance between Ben and Blayne was hot and passionate, their love sweet and tender. Ben's vulnerability and confusion was heartbreaking, hid well behind his indifferent attitude. Blayne's determination to be free from his father's control and domineering wife was inspiring. Their story brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.
Very well written. I'm looking forward to my next Romentics novel.
Really Nice!.......2006-11-27
Nice surprise. Interesting homosexual (major) and heterosexual (minor) romances going here. This book kept my attention almost to the very end. The ending was just a mess, but no big deal. Will I try another in this series, no, I don't think so, but I really liked this one. Four solid stars.
Wonderful STory! Terrific Ending!.......2006-11-09
This story had a great element of unsolved and unresolved questions that kept you reading to the end. The ending was an unexpected surprise which I appreciate in a book. The characters were well-developed and I loved that they had different personalities. I loved that Blayne was so introverted, soft-spoken and completely dominated by his father. You were therefore waiting for him to take a stand. I loved that the tension during these moments was palpable. This is the first book I have read of Scott and Scott and have ordered two more. The writing is fluent, the story moves along with great plot and character development. Fantastic ending!!
Surprised, but not excited.......2006-03-14
The appeal of a novel portraying a romance between two guys is very bewildering, that mostly because of how rare it is to find such. I had great expectations towards this, and it was reached to a reason.
Though at times, it appeared less than believable, and more often to me it appeared no more than something I could simply find off a on-line domain for fanfiction/original stories. A letter missing from a word here and there, but overall the plot line took my mind off this.
Would recommend this book for any person looking to add to their collection a delicious plot line, the allure of romance - so on so forth.
Araki
Book Description
Supported by more than one hundred candid interviews with top law partners across the United States, this best-selling law practice management book reveals how law firms can become marketing giants by learning a new conceptual foundation behind professional service marketing, advertising, and most importantly the secrets behind delivering great client service. This book promises to unlock revenue potential, bring marketing goals into focus and bolster confidence for law firms of all sizes.
Customer Reviews:
A Fresh Approach.......2006-11-03
I enjoyed this book. Dahut brings a fresh approach to have the reader think outside of the box when it comes to creating a differentiated new approach for the law firm, and the lawyer or lawyers within.
It's All About Service for Clients.......2006-11-02
This book is a must read for legal marketers, attorneys and those who provide marketing consulting services for law firms. If you take the time to not only read the book but also, seriously think about what the author is saying, and then incorporate those ideas into your the culture of your practice or the firm's practice, you will be rewarded.
Dahut's book is definitely not typical of the books one finds in the legal marketing area that tell you how and what to do. Rather he presents a powerful case that attorneys and law firms need to become client centered and to do so by changing their way of thinking to the perspective of the client. Further, Dahut believes that "... most of marketing is about providing superior service within the context of the client's specific needs and wants."
Attorneys and law firms need to become client centered and provide service that meets the client's needs. So, go buy a copy - read it -- then go implement it.
Not for the solo lawyer; not about marketing, except for the author.......2006-08-25
I was disappointed by this book. I am a solo litigation attorney, and I read the book to get ideas on marketing. It gave me some ideas. Perhaps the most valuable idea was to focus more on customer service; Dahut has an interesting discussion about exactly what that means and how we can do it better. By and large, however, this is a book by and for big firm attorneys. It is about big firm angst and how it can be combated by hiring experts such as Dahut to do extensive consulting work for your firm. Dahut does not acknowledge, and does not care, that most attorneys are solos or work in small firms, and that we have very different issues than agonizing over whether we have lost our soul by conforming too much to dead firm culture.
Strong ideas - useful and inspiring.......2006-06-26
This work is really true to its theme - it offers new perspectives on how to see business development and because of this new perspective, it makes the process very managable. I stongly recommend this book to anyone who is really serious about growing their practice.
An OK effort.......2006-03-20
the book was a quick read. after a few chapters, the message becomes repetitive.
Customer Reviews:
A clash of cultures.......2004-08-06
This third installment of the "King of Ys" saga is the most gripping yet, with the conflict between the King and the gods growing, with increasingly devesating results. The tension builds as we watch the King struggle to balance the demands of his god (Mithras) with those of the gods of Ys. The gods are demanding that he marry his daughter, which is forbidden by his religion. While the King struggles to preserve his kingdom, others are plotting his demise. Meanwhile, the Roman Empire is occupied by its own internal struggles, and the barbarians sense an opportunity to attack. Filled with the same rich historical detail as the first two books, this book is a wonderful mixture of history, legend, and fantasy.
Great story.......1999-07-20
Dahut is the daughter of Gratilonius, the hero of King of YS. A fabulous book.
Book Description
Christendom is dying and needs to be removed from its life-support system. Starting with this frank assessment of the current church, Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch present an alternative model for ministry in todayÂ's postmodern world. Instead of mourning the demise of the Western church as the center of society, the authors explain how the church can be reborn through incarnational mission, messianic spirituality, and apostolic structure. Church leaders who heed the authorsÂ' call will see death turned into new life through the creation of a vital, missional church.
[Frost and HirschÂ's] contribution brings an in-depth theological reflection as well as providing a broad scope informed by their extensive reading in theology, culture and mission as well as their on-site visits to missional churches in the USA and the United Kingdom.
—Eddie Gibbs, Donald A. McGavran Professor of Church Growth, Fuller Theological Seminary
This book is a bountiful multi-course meal, each serving presented with charm and class. It will satisfy even eclectic appetites, and please the most discriminating palates. Four Stars.
—Leonard Sweet, Drew Theological School, George Fox University
Customer Reviews:
A important work on the missional movement.......2007-08-12
This is a major work in the missional library. The book is deep and insightful to church culture and postmodernity. The book is rich because it deals with more than five steps to be a missional church, but rather teaches the reader to think missionally. Anyone who is concerned about the future path of the church should read this book. It is not a easy read, but must read. Some of the stories are excellent, the insight is fantastic, and the theology is thought provoking. There is some that a reader will disagree with, but overall there is too much good material to pass up not reading this book.
Missiology Unbound.......2007-08-03
After getting a degree in missions, this is one of the only books I read about missions. Most books out there now are someone's scant expressions written down quickly before they could forget their organized thoughts on the matter. These guys are extremely well-researched, experience-proven and communicative in a precise yet descriptive manner.
They effectively overhaul the current thinking in church, but they don't leave it there. While it would be easy to merely criticize and leave the reader hopelessly wondering how to react, they propose solutions - something that few emergent church leaders do.
This book is not for new Christians or for people who don't like big words. It's thick, wordy and sometimes scandalous. I read and reread it, and I use it to train leaders who are facing the onslaught of postChristian culture.
Read it, but remember that this isn't the Bible.
Ge This Book !!!!!!!.......2007-05-21
If you are involved in any lkind of ministry-which means working with people. Get this book. It will help you come to terms with the world that you are walking in. The one you went to seminary or university is gone-bye bye. Get on your knees to find out what this book has to say to you in your situation.
Tim Wright
A must read for serious Christians.......2007-05-15
Reading this book is an eye-opening experience from beginning to end. I have been mired in the politics of the Christian faith for 50 years. The average Christian church today has no resemblance to the ministry of Jesus, nor the first century church that His Apostles established. This book helps to reveal the hypocrisy of our present day church leaders, who are running their organizations like corporate businesses, rather than missions seaching for lost souls. Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch are to be commended for the outstanding way they not only outline the problems of the present day church, but by offering solutions of how to return to the mission that Christ and the Apostles intended for us.
Ancient / Postmodern Christianity at It's Best.......2007-05-15
This book paints a beautiful picture of the emerging western culture that stands on thorough biblical exegesis, theological reflection, historical precedent, and cultural insight. It's required reading for any student seeking to gain a better grasp of the nuances and opportunities of contemporary culture and Christianity. BUT BEWARE!!! After reading it, I found myself personally convicted that I could no longer continue on in the institutional context of parish ministry that's defined my vocation for more than a decade. It wrecked me in the most liberating of ways and I hope it does the same for all who read it.
Book Description
Classico is the leading premium pasta sauce in today's marketplace. Each authentically Italian sauce is created using only the finest ingredients resulting in a delicious made-from-scratch taste. By using this sauce as a starter, you can create exciting and delicious homemade meals in only minutes.
Featuring more than 100 recipes,
The Classico Pasta Sauce Cookbook contains a variety of recipes which showcase Classico's red, Alfredo and pesto sauces. These recipes are not only for pasta but for an impressive array of dishes and meals. From chicken and pork to seafood and countless vegetarian entrées, this cookbook gives you everything from appetizers to complete meals. But we have not forgotten the pasta lover and have included more than 20 pasta recipes. The combination of Classico sauces and these great recipes will ensure outstanding results every time.
Some of the delicious recipes featured are: Hearty Vegetable Soup, Tuscan Chicken with Garlic and Capers, Baked Stuffed Zucchini, Pesto-Topped Salmon Kebobs, Easy Pot Roast, Cheese-Filled Tortellini with Fresh Basil, Golden Cherry Tomato and Pesto Tart, Vegetarian Chili, Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Mushrooms.
More than 100 recipes for exciting and delicious dishes
Full-color photography throughout
Wide variety of red, Alfredo and pesto sauces featured
Cooking tips and techniques
For novice and experienced cooks alike
Creative meal ideas for entertaining
Classico takes great pride in the premium ingredients that go into its carefully prepared pasta sauces. The results are unique, authentically Italian sauces that allow you to experience the made-from-scratch taste you've come to expect from Classico.
Book Description
In more than one respect, Ertl, long the most celebrated name in diecast toy tractors, is much like Tonka: both were founded shortly after World War II in the basements of enterprising Midwesterners. Although Ertl, also like Tonka, has produced countless toy trucks, this book will focus solely on the Iowa toymaker's true bread and butter: toy tractors produced from 1945 to present. Two hundred color photos depict Ertl's 1/16- and 1/64-scale tractors, up close with theater-gel backgrounds, diecast implements, and the sort of plastic injection-molded farmers and livestock with which Ertl has often packaged its tractors. Accompanying the is the story of how this Dyersville-based company grew by leaps and bounds, including founder Fred Ertls' first licensing of some of these companies' names and actual designs in 1945 , the family-based assembly line he and his wife established in their home, Ertl's renowned commitment to quality, and the incredible detail that goes into today's precision-made scale models.- Most collectible toy tractors available today are produced by Ertl- The truly American story of how an unemployed immigrant foundryman licensed the designs of ag giants I-H and J-D, melted surplus aluminum aircraft pistons in his basement furnace, poured the slag into hand-made sand molds, and put his five sons to work assembling and painting the tractors at the kitchen table- New 1/16 scale Ertl tractors typically sell in the $60 price range; most highly collectible vintage examples in the mid-three-figure range- WalMart is the #1 customer; followed by Farm & Fleet- Ertl, celebrating its 60th Anniversary, is the 900 pound gorilla in this categoryAbout the AuthorPatrick Ertel is the publisher for Antique Power magazine. Catherine Lee Phillips provided the photography for the book. They both live in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Average customer rating:
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Ertl and toy tractors
Robert Zarse
Manufacturer: Printed by Cascade Pioneer-Advertiser
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006YSU1Q |
Book Description
For accenting scrapbook and memory book pages — 439 charming illustrations depict floral bouquets, rosy-cheeked youngsters, holiday images, butterflies, seashells, pets, lush fruit, decorative fans, and dancing figures. Category headings include Memories, Birthday, Friends, Special Day, Travels, Wedding, Baby, My Garden, and 38 other topics.
Book Description
Small and awkward spaces are a perennial decorating challenge, but House Beautiful has the solution. This follow-up to the popular Window Workshop demonstrates countless ways to make everything from tiny alcoves to stair landings function well and look fabulous.
Every house has them--the forgotten corner, the wasted room, the unwieldy entryway that never gets properly decorated. But House Beautiful has great-looking, creative approaches for making these tricky areas work, because every square inch counts when you're trying to keep things organized and comfortable. Photo after magnificent photo showcases different kinds of spaces and solutions. Learn how to use color and lighting effectively. Implement clever storage ideas. Create the illusion of space with floor and window treatments. Think about flexible furniture that folds up and stows away when it's not needed. There's an analysis of, and a design scheme for, every room in the house. A Selection of the Homestyle Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
Make Better Use of Your Space.......2006-04-01
Even if you have lots of space, there are some ideas to make better use of it. I love the ideas for tucking storage into unexpected places. Find new space by making use of an awkward alcove or breaking into the attic to make living space.
Decorating ideas for making the space seem not-so-small include slimmer furniture pieces and making color change the feel of the space.
Amazon.com
In a world packed with visual clutter, white space rules. From the classic Doyle Dane Burnbach ad that marooned a tiny Beetle in a huge expanse of blank paper to the all-white cover of the January 1995 issue of Wired magazine, white is an unparalleled attention grabber. Graphic designers prize white space for its connotation of elegance, for the clarity it lends to the printed word, and for the dramatic way it sets off photographs.
For White Graphics, Gail Deibler Finke assembled work by 61 graphic design studios in the U.S. (several of them in cities remote from the trendy coasts), Canada, Mexico, and Europe. While exemplary uses of white space (in projects ranging from annual reports to wedding announcements) make up the largest part of the book, she also devotes sections to white employed as a second or third "color" and the use of white in three-dimensional projects (packaging, airplane graphics, a TV studio set).
A few projects are conceptual standouts, like R&M Associati Grafici's poster for the France '98 World Soccer Championship, in which a field of colored dots (representing spectators in the stadium) forms the outline of the white silhouette of a soccer player. But most of the work shown on these pages is firmly in the mainstream--clean, bright, contemporary solutions that appear to satisfy the clients' needs and make the most of what are often described as small budgets.
Finke's nuts-and-bolts approach will be familiar to readers of HOW, the graphic design magazine to which she is a contributor. Too bad she didn't provide a more focused and historically minded introduction to such a fascinating topic. Happily, Stolze Design's inviting layout for the book sets off each project with plenty of white paper. --Cathy Curtis
Book Description
White is a constant challenge for graphic designers. Creating a balance between clean, striking, and eye-catching can often pose a conflict between clients and designer: a conflict that is often solved by a good designer's ability to effectively use white, white space and negative space for dynamic effect.
White Graphics is a unique collection of current design work which will inspire designers and clients who are afraid of white, as being lackluster or boring, through its stunning presentation of innovative graphics which use white as a central design element.
Customer Reviews:
White Gaphics Book.......2005-07-24
well, i think it's just an ok book for me, because there is not so much to see inside
breathing room for your work.......2004-11-14
This is my current favorite resource for page layout, and I've been taking visual notes from it about how I want to lay out my portfolio. So much of what I did in studio was trying to cram as much information as possible onto presentation boards. I find this book refreshing, with much white space for some breathing room. I think that's important when somebody's sitting, pausing to hold your work in their hands, rather than standing and trying to ingest it quickly in a field of other boards trying to vie for attention.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on November 1, 2003. The length of the article is 812 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: White Graphics: the Power of White in Graphic Design.
Author: Ginny Hudak-David
Publication:
Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: November 1, 2003
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: 50
Issue: 4
Page: 642(2)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Amazon.com
"I had a funny thought: What if Ed Sullivan were tortured? And when I say tortured what I mean is, what if steel needles, say six inches long, were plunged into Ed's eyes? I think it would go something like this...[several minutes of horrible screaming and thrashing]."
Now that the National Lampoon is virtually defunct, and Saturday Night Live has turned into just another late-night network cash cow, you can be excused for forgetting about Michael O'Donoghue. But back in the glory days of the 1970s, O'Donoghue gave both their distinctive edge of viciousness, death, and celebratory mayhem. Even though O'Donoghue died (prematurely) in 1994, his legacy in American comedy is still strong. Dennis Perrin has done a boon service by bringing this American original out of the shadows.
For the devoted fan of O'Donoghue--you're likely either one of those, or nothing--Mr. Mike is often more tantalizing than completely fulfilling. Though his life and career are described in welcome detail, the author's attempts at analysis are less sure. For example, Perrin lets O'Donoghue off much too easily when discussing the sinister elements of his work: Was his obsession with Nazis--one of his tried-and-true comic devices--anti-Semitic? What was his fascination with S&M, mutilation, and torture all about, and how much did the readers really connect with it? Was O'Donoghue a self-made artist in the right place at the right time, or did the culture around him create his distinctive double-dark worldview? Since O'Donoghue himself was highly intellectual and analytical regarding his feral art, one expects answers to these questions, but they are not forthcoming.
Gaps in analysis aside, fans of American humor owe Perrin big-time; for better or worse, O'Donoghue remains as unique and seminal as ever, and Mr. Mike goes an awfully long way towards ensuring that its subject doesn't fade into literary obscurity, at the very same time that the style of humor he created becomes more and more mainstream. --Michael Gerber
Book Description
Michael O'Donoghue's widely influential style of humor spared no one's feelings or sensitivities. John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, P.J. O'Rourke, Buck Henry, Doug Kenney--all these great comic minds and many more were affected by the acid wit of Mr. Mike. Now, critic and humorist Dennis Perrin examines the times that formed this singular sensibility and the outrageous creative work that constitutes O'Donoghue's legacy, from his early days devising confrontational theatre pieces and the brilliant underground comic Phoebe Zeit-Geist to an unprecedented string of famous and infamous pieces in National Lampoon, from O'Donoghue's breathtaking stint as the key founding writer of Saturday Night Live to his tumultuous adventures in Hollywood. Here too is never-before-seen O'Donoghue material, some of it censored by editors or TV executives, made public here for the first time. This is the unvarnished story of a towering figure in American popular culture, the prime artistic force behind an entire generation of humorist and satirists. Here is the singular, sinister Mr. Mike.
Customer Reviews:
Not exhaustive enough but will do.......2004-09-27
If for nothing else, MOD is to be cherished for a song lyric called CANCER FOR CHRISTMAS: "Santa's bringing sacks of morphine. And some cigarettes." And I almost croaked when I read about MOD's screenplay wherein astronauts get attacked by a flying horde of macaroni-&-cheese platters. On the other hand, I'm profoundly bored by a lot of MOD's theater-of-cruelty shtick. He had a perfectly good talent for silliness but insisted on flaunting his comedic machismo as if it were a form of good-for-you psychodrama. (Although better that than what someone once referred to as "good-for-you Shakespeare".) MOD used to gripe about the Greek polarization of drama into comedy versus tragedy. ("As if there's any effing difference.") And I'd be curious to read the MODwerks (if & when they ever get published) to see how MOD might have accomplished an amalgamation.
Detailed Portrait.......2003-01-07
In my younger days, I found O'Donoghue fascinating. After reading this book, I feel that I now have a good understanding of the man and of what he was doing.
Perrin covers each phase of O'Donoghue's career in depth and detail, and reveals O'Donoghue to be a performance artist working in comedy moreso than a comedian (as is, for example, Al Franken who O'Donoghue reportedly despised). This book is not a pleasant read, as O'Donoghue was devoted to offending and disturbing people. If you want to understand him, or his "art", this is the place to go.
Bland.......2000-10-21
It's strange to find that a bio of a chap so flamboyant as Mr. Mike would be so hard to get through. The context is pretty narrow, too. Better to have put the man in the framework of his times, contrasting him with his contemporaries and past wits he admired. But all that aside, to get so few laughs from a book about such an inspired satirist is disconcerting. Couldn't we just have all his scripts and poems by themselves, instead?
We Need An O'Donoghue Anthology.......2000-08-27
Problem is, this book isn't funny in its content, or even witty in its execution, let alone its overall appreciation of a master. Give us Michael by Michael, an anthology of the man's own work!
Behind the scenes with Mr. Mike.......2000-07-19
I first encountered O'Donoghue's work on the back page of SPIN Magazine (being too young to see his Saturday Night Live work live, or hear his National Lampoon work). His short pieces were caustic and bleak, black as night but as funny as death. They had me alarmed, intrigued, and in fits of hilarious tears. And then he died.
"So who was Michael O'Donoghue," I asked myself. It was not till several years later, when I found his devilish visage staring at me from the cover of this book (brandishing a butcher's knife, no less). I wanted to learn about Mr. Mike quite badly, so I bought the book. I'll make a strange comparison here. Please hear me out. The "character" of Michael O'Donoghue that emerges from Perrin's biography reminds me a lot of the "character" of John Bonham who emerges from the Led Zeppelin bio 'Hammer of the Gods'. Both are brilliant artistic geniuses (once again excuse the hyperbole... justified as it may be) who, at the drop of a hat, turn into beasts akin to the Incredible Hulk in a particularly foul mood. It says something about the need for extremity in the artistic mind. O'Donoghue is the little, balding, bespectacled shnook, who, if tangled with, will uncoil his cobra-like wit and gnash your eyes out. He is quite an intriguing character.
Perrin does a fine job recounting the history of this character, from birth to death. He also does well to include transcriptions (and sometimes reprints) of some of O'Donoghue's more seminal works. His work for the Evergreen Review is here, best represented by 'Phoebe Zeit-Geist', which I don't entirely enjoy but can still marvel at its audacity and prodigiousness. It's like something R. Crumb would do after being severely tortured by a group of radical feminists. His National Lampoon days helped launch that magazine, as did his days at Saturday Night Live. Throughout he is morbid, meticulous, and menacing, never letting good taste get in the way of a great comic moment. He leaves no sacred cow unslaughtered. I admire that.
O'Donoghue is a good indication of the heights that the bipolar artistic mind can fly to. Perrin does well capturing that quality.
Books:
- Offensive Football Strategies (American Football Coaches Ass)
- Owlknight (Valdemar: Darian's Tale, Book 3)
- Pobre Ana: Una Novela Breve y Facil Totalmente en Espanol (Nivel 1 - Libro A)
- Polite Sex: A Novel
- Pretty Birds: A Novel
- Rasputin's Revenge
- Road Dawgz
- Robert the Bruce Trilogy: The Steps to the Empty Throne; The Path of the Hero King; The Price of the King's Peace (3 Books)
- Rule of the Bone: Novel, A
- Rules of Prey (Lucas Davenport Mysteries)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- River Thunder
- Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens
- Introduction to Biophotonics
- History: Fiction or Science
- Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach
- Lazarus and the Hurricane: The Freeing of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
- Hup!: Training Flushing Spaniels the American Way
- Brick in the Landscape: A Practical Guide to Specification and Design
- High Gothic the Classic Cathedrals of Chartres, Reims and Amiens
- Purple Dots: A Novel
Occult
| Horror
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
My Devilish Scotsman (Macdonell Brides Trilogy)
My Shadow Warrior
Tamed by Your Desire (Brides of the Bloodstone)
Tempted by Your Touch (Brides of the Bloodstone)
Captured by Your Kiss: Brides of the Bloodstone
![*Signed* the King of Ys: Roma Mater, Gallicenae, and Dahut [3 Vol Lot]](http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/21z%2Bowt4llL.jpg)
