The Zigzag Way: A Novel

The Zigzag Way: A Novel
Average customer rating:

Mediocre

A luminous novel set in Mexico

(3.5) "Tell her, if she wants to be queen she should have chosen better subjects."

ONE OF THOSE HARD-TO-FIND SMALL GEMS

Brisk, entertaining, evocative

The Zigzag Way: A Novel
Anita Desai
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Desai, Anita | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0618042156

Book Description

In her long, distinguished career, Anita Desai has focused her capacious vision on questions of culture and identity. Her mesmerizing new novel, The Zigzag Way, brings her fiction to an unexpected region of the world: mythical, lush Mexico. In this seductive landscape, a young American stumbles upon an unlikely path to self-discovery.
Eric is a newly minted historian just out of graduate school, unsure of his past choices and future options. With no clear direction, he follows his lover, Em, when she travels to the Yucatan for her scientific research, but he ends up alone in this foreign place. And so he pursues his own private quest, tracing his family's history to a Mexican ghost town, where, a hundred years earlier, young Cornish miners toiled to the death. With vivid sympathy, Desai conjures the struggles of Eric's grandparents and their community.
Now, in place of the Cornish workers, the native Huichol Indians suffer the cruelty of the mines. When he inquires into their lives, Eric provokes the ire of their self-appointed savior, Doña Vera. Known as the "Queen of the Sierra," Doña Vera is the widow of a mining baron who has dedicated her fortune to preserving the Huichol culture. But her formidable presence belies a dubious past.
The zigzag paths of these characters converge on the Day of the Dead, bringing together past and present in a moment of powerful epiphany. Haunting and atmospheric, with splashes of exuberant color and darker violence, The Zigzag Way is a magical novel of elegiac beauty.

Customer Reviews:

Mediocre.......2006-12-06

"The Zigzag Way" is a short book, almost novella size, without a great deal of character development. It does have a shifting cast of characters unified by the willingness to change the familiar for something new, Em being the exception, and also the one character with no real connection to Mexico. At the end the protagonist, unlike his father, still has not found what that something new will be. For a slim book, there was an historical dimension which was valuable, but it almost seems like Desai was also seeking a spiritual experience in Mexico which turned out to be disappointing. The concluding scene has some emotional power, but just doesn't add up to anything really significant. While Desai can create fine metaphors, there were times I felt they were inserted when no metaphor was called for, so that they simply brought attention to themselves. On a personal note, I was better able to visualize Em because I had recently seen the movie "Kinky Boots", and pictured the fiancée.

A luminous novel set in Mexico.......2006-11-03

Eric O'Brien is an uncertain and awkward young man, a would-be writer and a traveller in spite of himself. Happy to follow his more confident girlfriend Em to Mexico, he is overwhelmed with sensory overload and gradually seduced by the strangeness, the colour, the mysteries of an older world and its celebrations of the Dia de los Muertos. He finds himself in a curious quest for his own family in a ghost mining town, now barely inhabited, where almost a hundred years earlier young Cornish miners worked the rich seams in the earth. Until Pancho Villa and revolution came to Mexico.
A recording of this novel is available from BBC Audiobooks and Eleanor Bron's reading is truly breathtaking. Highly recommended.

(3.5) "Tell her, if she wants to be queen she should have chosen better subjects.".......2006-02-20

Eric is drifting in his chosen career path, writing a book on immigration with the help of a grant, an extension of his thesis, daily losing focus, caught up in an aimless cycle of wasted days. His highly motivated girlfriend is another matter, focused and engaged in her own work, soon to travel to Yucatan for extensive research with her fellow scientists. Clinging to the relationship and his angst, an ambivalent Eric grabs the opportunity to travel to Mexico with Emily, certain that a change of scene will invigorate his sagging self-discipline and commitment to his project. When they arrive in Mexico, Eric is stunned by the color and beauty of the area, the unflinching brightness of the days a sharp contrast to his native Boston. With Emily soon to leave for the interior, Eric walks the streets of the city, drinking up local culture and attending lectures he cannot understand with his limited knowledge of Spanish.

Yet in one lecture the names of places stimulate his unconscious, releasing barely remembered stories told in his childhood in Cornwall, England, tales of mining in exotic places, of hardship, revolution and loss. With little to go on but the fragments of his grandfather's tales of life as a miner in Mexico, Eric learns, albeit tangentially, that his familial ties to the region have remained dormant all these years, waiting to be rediscovered in this time, in this place. Left to his own devices, Eric uncovers a legacy that changes his definition of himself and the direction of his life. As the annual celebration of the Day of the Day approaches, Eric struggles with what he has learned in the Sierra Madre and his connection to the enigmatic Dona Vera, the Australian wife of a mining baron, who holds the key to Eric's past.

Desai's prose is evocative, the shy and unobtrusive East Coast scholar contrasted with the brilliant local color and lore of the Sierra Madre, a subtle intimation of darker personal histories buried beneath the veneer of modern civilization, the past powerful in the words of the eccentric widow who speaks the mellifluous names of Eric's memory. Stories buried in stories, the layers of years mute the voices that would tell of brutality and injustice; with Eric as her unwitting vehicle, Desai uncovers a time of turmoil and violence where turn-of-the-century Cornwall meets the harsh world of mining under the impossibly blue skies of Mexico, where sacred peyote grows at the surface of the earth's rich ores, all made real on Dia de los Muertos. Luan Gaines/ 2006.

ONE OF THOSE HARD-TO-FIND SMALL GEMS.......2005-11-27

My reading has declined by 75% this past year for the lack of finding books like this one. I learned more about Mexico in 160 pages than in 4 visits there. The author has an incredible ability to focus with lightning pace on both the thrust of plot and smallest details, but never through use of excess words. We start in an East Coast college where a young guy follows his scientist girl friend to Mexico and as they separate for her to do her work, the young man goes deeper into the mountains of Mexico and almost loses himself in the history he trudges up in the pursuit of the story of his Mexican grandfather. Many readers will say, Oh Yuck! and ignore books like this, turning to another James Petterson re-hash. Too bad, but that's freedom.

Brisk, entertaining, evocative.......2004-11-15

THE ZIGZAG WAY by Anita Desai is a success in several ways, most notably in delivering to the reader a Mexico of vivid sights, sounds and smells. The feel of the place -- its mountains, animals, flowers, foods -- is captured with a keen eye (and ear, and nose). Secondly, the structure, going back and forth in time and making connections along the way, is irresistible. Where she has not succeeded so well is in creating characters that achieve verisimilitude. The sometimes stilted dialogue doesn't help. And the story itself, for all its exoticism, doesn't rise much beyond the mundane. Still, THE ZIGZAG WAY is a quick, entertaining read worthly of a recommendation, though not an emphatic one.

The Zigzag Way : A Novel [Hardcover] by Desai, Anita

Average customer rating:

The Zigzag Way : A Novel [Hardcover] by Desai, Anita
Enid Blyton
Manufacturer: Pan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WF0D0A

Book Description

Everyone wants to be home for the holidays . . .

The Forgetful Bride
Caitlin Marshall's trying to go home to Minnesota, but at the last minute she gives her airline ticket to a stranded soldier. So Cait spends Christmas with Joe Rockwell, who was a childhood friend -- and is still a terrible tease, claiming that Cait's his wife. Oh, sure, they were "married" in a pretend ceremony when she was eight, but now Joe wants to make their "marriage" real!

When Christmas Comes
Emily Springer trades her Leavenworth, Washington, home for Charles Brewster's Boston condo. Then Emily's friend Faith comes to visit her in Washington -- and instead finds Charles, a complete stranger and a curmudgeon, to boot. His brother, Ray, meanwhile shows up at Charlie's place, only to discover Emily living there. But through all the mix-ups and misunderstandings, among the chaos and confusion, romance begins to emerge . . .

Customer Reviews:

Warm stories to delight the heart .......2006-08-02

Two very cute stories in 1 holiday package. Debbie Macomber has an excellent talent to create warm and lovable characters! "When Christmas Comes" had a charming plot and somehow very believable. "The Forgetful Bride" captured a lovely sense of humor! Debbie Macomber also has the knack to create a male lead with a WONDERFUL sense of humor. It makes for a very SEXY male!

Predictable .......2005-12-29

I love Debbie Macomber and her books, but I was disappointed with Home for the Holidays. Unlike most of her books, I didn't find the characters or the storyline believable. I couldn't finish either story. I wouldn't recommend this one, not even at Christmas.

FUN CHRISTMAS STORIES!!.......2005-12-09

Well, I'm not sure what all the low reviews are for, because I thought this was a fun book. It's an easy to read lighthearted book to read on the these cold snowy days. Something to relax by the fire with and laugh without getting into something too serious and deep. I think they are both warm with lots of laughter and a nice romance, perfect for getting away from it all. We have enough serious in our lives and it's nice to unwind with any of Debbie Macombers books. If you want deep and thought provoking material, then read an Opera book.

lighthearted fun.......2005-12-01

Forgetful Bride

I gave Cait the benefit of the doubt that she's a 28 year old, who is a hopeless romantic, blind to every indication to the obvious (I just took a random guess at the pairing and it turned out right) and sensitive to the littlest joke. With that mind frame, I managed to enjoy the story, which is how she gradually comes to her senses and starts thinking of other people, rather than herself. There was something way too simple about the writing style and characterization. Joe is shallowly drawn (as in there's no real depth to his character, no insight to how he switches from obnoxious to loving, hard hat construction worker to suave romeo. He just does and we're expected to roll with it). The best friend is too passive. The childhood marriage joke gets old pretty quickly.

When Christmas Comes

This was a straight comedy of error, reminding me of my favourite movie, "The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath". Basically Emily switches houses with Charles. Faith flies across the country to be with Emily, only to find Charles, and Ray goes to look for Charles only to find Emily. Throw in a hysterical mother, a belligerent daughter, and her biker boyfriend. As the characters started to be developed and brought together, laughter could be heard echoing off my walls; I just couldn't help it. I laughed at what I read, I laughed in anticipation; I just laughed. I don't know if it was supposed to be that funny.

Anyway, the romances that were developed are shallow. The comedy of errors was hilarious, but immediately there were too many characters for a romance to develop in any depth. At best, I could find strong friendships. We didn't really get to see the couples fleshed out, their motives, concerns, and hopes really developed. With just a couple cookies and christmas trees, or a sleigh ride and dinner, they have fallen in love. In a way, I hand their restraint to the age of the couples, 30s- 50s, but that only goes so far. If this was a full length novel, where we were able to see the full two weeks they spend with each other, then it could have been an excellent romance. But it wasn't, and is therefore rather shallow.

These are two great stories that I would recommend to friends. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and read them in one sitting. My criticisms stem from the fact that I wish I had more, especially more depth. But such is the situation with lighthearted novels.

An ok christmas book but predictable at every turn.......2005-11-21

This is my first romantic comadey book to read but I wanted to read an x-mas book but all of them are romantic comadeys. I found this book to be pretty good. The book has 2 stories and the first one was ok and the second was good. The first one I found the charactors to be anyoing at first the main girl was to mean and the guy was to kidish. As the story went on i liked the chemistry between the two charactors. The story was good but predictable and it draged on at times. The other story is a mix up holiday story which I found fun. The story was funny but predictable but fun. Overall the book was a good x-mas book but still needs lot of work.

Home for the Holidays : The Forgetful Bride When Christmas Comes

Average customer rating:

Home for the Holidays : The Forgetful Bride When Christmas Comes
Debbie Macomber
Manufacturer: Harlequin Enterprises, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NXXWPO

Home for the Holidays: The Forgetful Bride/When Christmas Comes; 'Tis the Season: Christmas Masquerade/Snowbound; Angels Everywhere: Season of Angels/Touched by Angels (Three Christmas Romance 2-in-1)

Average customer rating:

Home for the Holidays: The Forgetful Bride/When Christmas Comes; 'Tis the Season: Christmas Masquerade/Snowbound; Angels Everywhere: Season of Angels/Touched by Angels (Three Christmas Romance 2-in-1)
Debbie Macomber , and Lisa Jackson
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000Q9B6Q2

General Practice: A Sector General Omnibus
Average customer rating:

Simply too cool

General Practice: A Sector General Omnibus
James White
Manufacturer: Orb Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0765306638

Book Description

James White's popular novels and stories of 'Sector General,' the vast interstellar hos-pital that treats humans and aliens alike, are inventive, affecting, and addictive. For decades, these dramas of humanity and humor have commanded a following among science fiction readers. Now, in a single omnibus, the seventh and eighth volumes of the series-Code Blue: Emergency and The Genocidal Healer-return to print. Along with the previous two 'Sector General' omnibuses from Orb (Beginning Oper-ations and Alien Emergencies), plus the Tor editions of White's final four 'Sector General' novels, means the entire series is now in print.

Customer Reviews:

Simply too cool.......2003-12-12

I've been a raving fan of the Sector General books for many, many years. These novels by James White are so full of fun ideas and quirky plots that I'm sure anyone will be tempted to read them more than once. The human protagonists are likeable and you can't help but enjoy the many different kinds of aliens that are the staff and patients of this incredible hospital.
White's stile is light and entertaining. These books run the gamut from xeno-medical problems that are utterly weird and wonderful to much more introspective and thought-provoking explorations of the psychologies of other alien species and societies. This is the kind of story that Star Trek should have been, and the Monitor Corps is a better version of Star Fleet with cool aliens of all sorts. Seriously, how many stories will include aliens that run the gamut from radiation-eaters to telepathic dragonflies to the elephantine Tralthans to the insectile Melfans to chlorine-breathers and gigantic armored sentient fish and many others... the list could go on for pages. Truly worth exploring.

Customer Reviews:

Getting close to God ..........2004-11-16

This book is illuminating, concise, insightful, and inspirational. It is exceptionally written. It poses hard questions, and answers those questions from a godly perspective using the stories of Biblical characters and the words of Christ to answer. It synthesizes both Old and New Testaments in answering questions such as "What is God Like?" But most importantly, Lloyd explains the answers not just from a platform of righteousness, but also in the context of man with his human sufferings, inherent weaknesses, fear, pride, doubt, and distrust. Lloyd offers a rich distillation of the Biblical principles and deals directly with those hard questions which people face.

Great! It addresses all the questions we ALL want to ask........1999-08-26

Great!! This book takes all the hard questions, and gives us clear answers that don't leave us wondering 'how does this translate to real life.' The chapter on 'What Can I do with My Moods?' really helped me. Buy 2 copies one for yourself and one to share with a friend!

Average customer rating:

ASKING GOD YOUR HARDEST QUESTIONS
Lloyd J. Ogilvie
Manufacturer: Harold Shaw Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GSPT6G

Book Description

Exploring Antiques in Britain is a guide to some of the best areas in Britain for shopping for antiques and collectibles. From Scotland to Wales, London to the Cotswolds, this book includes 25 routes around Britain, providing locations of specialist shops, general antiques dealers, auction houses, and details of fairs and antiques centers. Associated places of interest such as museums, galleries, and historical sites are also included, allowing the visitor to gain the most out of each area. Historical information and anecdotes, route maps, internet resources and road directions are included, making this the ideal guide for anyone hot on the antiques trail, whether a dealer, collector, or visitor to Britain.

Book Description

Create a custom-made look for a fraction of the cost. . . .

From simple Roman shades and ethereal balloons to sumptuous Austrian blinds, in Make It with Style: Window Shades you'll find stylish solutions for every window in your home. Easy-to-follow directions offer the kind of decorator secrets that ensure a professional-looking result every time. Included are . . .

directions and patterns for making more than 20 custom designs that can be adapted to suit your personal style
dozens of detailed full-color illustrations
decorator tips on mounting and installing treatments
helpful information on choosing and caring for fabrics
guidelines for working with trims and notions
glossaries of technical terms and techniques

. . . as well as more than 50 full-color photographs of stunning window treatments that are sure to inspire your own creativity.

Book Description

With this unique book you can create your own wonderful, opulent tassels at a fraction of the cost of commercially bought trimmings, and in the style and colors of your choice.

Customer Reviews:

second softcover reprint of Anna's original book.......2001-12-01

FYI to all you tassel makers out there who are already fans of Anna Crutchley's wonderful original hardcover book "The Tassels Book"... "Tassel Making", which came out in Sept 2000, is a softcover reprint of that original title. "Tassels for the Home", which was just released in Nov 2001, is another (second) softcover reprint of the same book. It is in a smaller size, which accounts for the slightly smaller price. It's still a great book, if you don't have either one of the first two. A huge disappointment though, for those of us who adore Anna and were salivating at the thought of a wonderful new book from her.

Amazon.com

The more you learn about Stanley Donen, the more he appears to be the Orson Welles of the film musical. Like Welles, he produced his greatest successes at the very beginning of his career, going on to create daringly original films that did not fully satisfy critics and audiences. Born in 1924 in Columbia, South Carolina, he befriended Gene Kelly early in life, became a choreographer for MGM Studios in the 1940s, and rose quickly through the ranks. Before he was 30 years old, he had directed On the Town, Royal Wedding, Singin' in the Rain, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. His later experiments with his medium yielded cult classics such as It's Always Fair Weather, The Little Prince, and Movie Movie, as well as the nonmusical Charade and Two for the Road.

Stephen M. Silverman, the author of this biography, is enthusiastic about Donen's work to the point of ferocity. He defends almost every film Donen himself believed in as a masterpiece and belittles Donen's rivals at MGM, particularly Vincente Minnelli. But Silverman's passion for his subject is infectious and his approach lively. He narrates much of Donen's life by looking at it through the eyes--and the commentary--of the people who knew him. Particularly engaging is his account of how Singin' in the Rain was made. It is full of juicy commentary by Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Cyd Charisse, Donald O'Connor, and Donen himself. Audrey Hepburn's warm introductory appreciation is one of the last pieces she wrote before her death.

Book Description

93 photographs in text

Customer Reviews:

Just like a Donen movie.......2002-10-05

Stylish, all-star (the author was able to track down primary sources, from Audrey Hepburn, to George Abbott, to the great Kay Thompson -- all before they died), and entertaining -- and beautifully researched. (Not sure what book the previous "reviewer" wrote about .) the chapter on "Singin' in the Rain" alone is worth the price of admission. And Richard Avedon offers some brilliant insights into the making of "Funny Face," and, perhaps, settles once and for the the differences between Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

A waste of time.......2002-07-03

Full of contradictions, this book seethes with poorly
researched data, questionable "facts" and is, in a word or two, a Donen Diatribe.
Using repetitive jibes at such greats as Gene Kelly, both the writer and his subject utilize 3/4 of the tome blaming others, fault-finding and whining that Donen was not THE mentor, THE legend, THE venerated ONE.
How sad that a life or life's work is so pitiably sprinkled into one chapter of 28 presented, and that the author found himself compelled to throw in almost 40 unnecessary pages at the end to fill up the otherwise laborious vituperation.
I'm so glad I got a library copy instead of having purchased this waste of good time.

Average customer rating:

Stanley Donen
Joseph Andrew Casper
Manufacturer: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Direction & Production | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Media Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0810816156

STANLEY DONEN / GLENN DICTERO / CARTER BERY- NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC PLAYBILL - SEPTEMBER 2007

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STANLEY DONEN / GLENN DICTERO / CARTER BERY- NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC PLAYBILL - SEPTEMBER 2007
JOHN (CONDUCTOR) WILLIAMS
Manufacturer: LINCOLN CENTER
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WEPZ0O

Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly: Cantando sotto la pioggia (Universale/film)

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Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly: Cantando sotto la pioggia (Universale/film)
Franco La Polla
Manufacturer: Lindau
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

All Italian Books | Italian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 8871801482

Average customer rating:

Stanley Donen.
Joseph Andrew Casper
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M4BR9C

The Apollo next door.(DANCE MAGAZINE RECOMMENDS)(Video recording review): An article from: Dance Magazine

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The Apollo next door.(DANCE MAGAZINE RECOMMENDS)(Video recording review): An article from: Dance Magazine
Allan Ulrich
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000T906W4
Release Date: 2007-07-05

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Dance Magazine, published by Thomson Gale on April 1, 2007. The length of the article is 906 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: The Apollo next door.(DANCE MAGAZINE RECOMMENDS)(Video recording review)
Author: Allan Ulrich
Publication: Dance Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 81 Issue: 4 Page: 66(2)

Article Type: Video recording review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

Damn Yankees
George; Donen, Stanley - directors Abbott
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KZ7ICI

Dancing on the Ceiling: Stanley Donen and His Movies (ISBN: 0679414126)

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Dancing on the Ceiling: Stanley Donen and His Movies (ISBN: 0679414126)
Stephen M. Silverman
Manufacturer: Alfred A. Knopf Publ.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LC76IG

Guía para ver y analizar : dos en la carretera de Stanley Donen (1967)

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Guía para ver y analizar : dos en la carretera de Stanley Donen (1967)
Agustín Rubio Alcover
Manufacturer: Ediciones Octaedro
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 8480636157

Singin' In The Rain, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debby Reynolds

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Singin' In The Rain, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debby Reynolds
Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen (directors)
Manufacturer: MGM
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SJ5RCY

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