Twenty Questions: A Novel

Book Description

From the acclaimed author of Pretty Is As Pretty Does comes a startlingly beautiful story of guilt, deceit, and love that confirms Alison Clement as a major voice in literary fiction.

It seemed to June that she had the perfect marriage until the day Ronald Pruett was arrested for the murder of Vernay Hanks. Through her job at an elementary school, June knew both the victim's child and Pruett. Moreover, on the day of the murder, she had almost taken a ride from Pruett herself.

This connection with the murder becomes an obsession for June and leads her into a deceitful and increasingly complicated involvement with the dead woman's brother and her child. Pretending to have been a friend of the victim, June inserts herself into their lives and through this discovers disturbing things about her marriage and herself.

Sharp and full of unsettling twists, Twenty Questions is a gripping story that speaks of violence and betrayal, feminism, and reinvention. Above all, it speaks of the human condition to resurrect itself, whatever the cost.

Customer Reviews:

twenty questions.......2007-03-19

It is difficult to review this book without giving away too much but... June believes she escaped the clutches of a murderer and is led to learn more about the woman she thinks was murdered in her stead. She finds out more than she wants to know and learns her marriage isn't all its cracked up to be. In the process, she befriends, through a lie, the murdered woman's daughter and brother. When she learns her association with the child is more than the simple fact that Cindy (the dead woman's daughter) attends the elementary school she works at, she begins to unwravel the mystery.
I enjoyed the book, although I didn't appreciate the anti-war sentiments being tossed in for good measure. I didn't think they had anything to do with the story at all and were simply a means of the author making her opinions known.

READ THROUGH THIS NON STOP.......2006-08-11

I couldn't get away from this book. I live in New York City and normally do my reading on the hour-long trip to and from work on the subway train. This book is so engrossing I did not want the train ride to end so I could keep reading. I almost missed my stop a few times; it's that good. I genuinely wish it could have gone on; I wanted to keep reading about June Duvall! Hooray, Alison Clement!

What a Wonderful Book!.......2006-08-07

This has to be one of the best books I've ever read. The book description only scratches the surface of what it's about. It's an incredible story about a woman, June Duvall, and her relationships with other people and how she thinks and how she reacts to things that happen in her life, both directly and indirectly. Alison Clement is an immensely talented writer who has done an amazing job of developing the characters that make them seem so real, like you're getting to know them rather than just reading about them. Her use of dialog between June and the people in her life, combined with both subtle and vivid descriptions of June's thoughts and reactions, make this a book that's hard to put down. I also highly recommend the author's previous book, Pretty Is As Pretty Does. It's a completely different story, but just as enjoyable and well written.

deep character study .......2006-07-05

When she saw the newspaper, Oregon elementary school cafeteria cook June Duvall knew instantly how fortunate she was. Yesterday her car broke down and Ronald Pruett offered her a ride; she considered accepting it as she hates saying no, but declined anyway. Pruett has been arrested for the strangulation murder of Vernay Hanks, a waitress at Darnay's Hamburgers, who obviously said yes to his ride offer.

Though not sure why she cannot stay out of this tragedy, June, rationalizing it as survivor's guilt, befriends the victim's daughter, ten years old student Cindy, and her newly named guardian, her crotchety Uncle Harlan. Though she loves her spouse Bill as she always thinks of the Nyro-Fifth dimension tune, she finds herself spending more time with the grieving duo. This leads her to wonder what is lacking with her relationship with Bill, but soon a bigger puzzle surfaces when Cindy wears a bracelet that belongs to June's mother-in-law; other evidence surfaces linking Bill with Vernay as June, applying the kids' game TWENTY QUESTIONS, inadvertently begins to disentangle the circumstances that led to the woman's homicide.

Though the anti-war stance seems out of place, this fine drama makes strong cases that justice is myopic when it comes to the unfair treatment of the disenfranchised poor and on a personal scale to be honest with yourself and others in relationships. June is a terrific protagonist struggling with deep feelings of guilt that ignite inside her when she realizes Cindy attends her school. She knows her lies to gain access is wrong though her intentions are honorable. The amateur sleuth elements augment a deep character study of personal and often overlooked societal responsibilities to one another.

Harriet Klausner

Cable #3 : Twenty Questions (Marvel Comics)

Average customer rating:

Cable #3 : Twenty Questions (Marvel Comics)
Fabian Nicieza
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Marvel | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Antiquarian & Rare Books | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Batman | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

A very engaging debut novel

Impressive!

Hey Scot, It's me again.

Verry nice job Scot

This is a great book!
The Chimes of Yawrana (The Snowtear Wars)
Scot R. Stone
Manufacturer: Behler Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Ice Shadows of Arna (The Snowtear Wars, Book 2)

Hollows of Candlewick (The Snowtear Wars Book 3)

Shadowplay (Shadowmarch, Vol. 2)

The Innocent Mage (Kingmaker, Kingbreaker)

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, Day 1)

ASIN: 1933016426

Book Description

A significant prophecy is about to unfold in the fertile kingdom of Yawrana with the arrival of a small group of voyagers aboard the gallant flying ship The Star Gazer. The Elders, visionaries, of Yawrana, warn of downfall and destruction as the two civilizations meet.

Oreus Blake, one of eight members aboard the ship, discovers he is the key to the prophecy's outcome. Within days of their arrival, a deadly illness befalls several members of the Yawranan Royal Court, and all parties present fall under suspicion, including the voyagers themselves.

The only known cure lies within the limitless healing powers of an ancient flower referred to as the snowtear. Having no other choice, Oreus must gain the trust of the Yawranans as they embark on a quest to retrieve the protected snowtears through many inherent dangers, including a mythic race of warriors known as the Lazuls.

Customer Reviews:

A very engaging debut novel.......2007-07-20

The Chimes of Yawrana by Scot R. Stone is the first book in the Snowtear Wars. The second book is titled The Ice Shadows of Arna (The Snowtear Wars, Book 2)and is available now; the third book titled `The Hallows of Candlewick' will be released in early August, 2007. Mr. Stone is a relatively new name in the fantasy genre and a name that most fantasy fans may never have heard of before. Do not allow the unknown cloud your judgment; with this book Mr. Stone adds a solid addition to the fantasy genre.

Being that this novel is the first of the series, readers can expect there to be a reasonable amount of world building. There also is an introduction of characters and races. However, at no time while I was reading this book did I feel overburdened by the amount of information being presented. The prose found in this novel reads like a conversation, in that it flows smoothly and is easy to understand. Mr. Stone does not throw excessive words around in a grandiose manner. It seems that every word is chosen for a reason and there is very little, if any, fluff in this novel.

The plot of this novel is actually several plots woven together to create an engaging story. The first plot is that of a group of heroes who find themselves trekking across the land to find the fabled Snowtear that has mythical healing properties. There is also a companion plot of a pending war between the humans and a race known as Lazul. These two plot lines take up much of this novel, however, Mr. Stone still finds a way to weave in a couple sub-plots as well just to keep things interesting. One of the sub-plots is that of the Voyagers who appear in the land of Yawrana from across the sea and discovering just what motives they have for their trip. Another sub-plot is that of a plot to unseat the royal family and the methods used to both carry out the plot, as well as to discover who did it (and why). It is obvious from the start that Mr. Stone has poured a tremendous amount of energy into the plot, it's tight; well though out, and succinct. Every event that occurs has ramifications in several areas of the novel. This is certainly an engaging plot that I think man fantasy fans will enjoy.

The characters of this book are as equally engaging. There is a wide array of characters within this novel. Mr. Stone does a good job of defining each character as their own entity by actions and dialog. There are characters that are obviously good guys, there are characters that are obviously bad guys, more importantly, there are characters that are grey the reader is unsure which category they fall into until key events occur. Characters such as Oreus, Noran, and Rygor will surely endure themselves to most readers. I won't get into other characters, because further discussion may lead to small spoilers and I would hate to spoil any part of this novel for anyone. I will leave it at this; almost every character in this book elicited some type of reaction from me, both positive and negative. That to me is a mark of good solid characters, and a definite positive of Mr. Stone's work.

I do have two minor criticisms about this book. One being, at times, the character Oreus seems to act in a too `adult' fashion. He is a 19 year old kid and some of his dialog and decisions didn't seem to fit him at times. I realize there are 19 year olds in the world who are very grown up make adult decisions, but it just seemed `off' to me at time. The second thing is that times the perspective of the book shifts between paragraphs without warning. Most books, including this one, have symbols or some way to let the reader know there is going to be a shift. For instance, there are instances in this book where three ~ ~ ~ separate two paragraphs to denote this. There are times, however, those are not present, and it catches the reader off guard. I realize this is something minor, but I think it still needs to be brought up as the first few times it was rather jarring to me.

Overall, this is a very good book. It's a solid debut into the fantasy genre by Mr. Stone, I am looking forward to continuing on with this series. I think most fantasy fans will enjoy this book, it has much to offer. If you are looking for a book with political intrigue, this will sate your thirst. If you are looking for a book with large scale battles, this book has what you are looking for. If you are looking for solid world building, with new creatures, races etc., give this book a chance. I quite enjoyed reading this novel, and I can already imagine myself recommending this novel to other fantasy fans. This is one of those books I would encourage others to take a chance on, I don't think you will be disappointed, I know I wasn't.

Impressive!.......2004-07-19

This story was a blast to read. Rarely does an author make me feel like I'm a part of the adventures of their story, rather than a passive observer. Mr. Stone's descriptive style brought the scenes of this story to vivid life. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the Snowtears saga!

Hey Scot, It's me again........2004-06-03

Hmmmmm. Hey Scot, We seem to have had a malfunction. I wrote a review on your book, which I loved, but when I submitted it, it came up as three starts rather then five stars where I rated it. I really enjoyed your book and gave it a five star rating. SO!! Anyone reading this review, You will love this book, and I fully recommend you get yourself a copy.

Verry nice job Scot.......2004-05-26

All I can say is WOW! This is an excellent book! An author of fantasy myself, I know a best seller when I read it, and this is one is well on it's way to that goal.
Very well written, with many twists and turns that left me wondering what was going to happen next, but not able to guess at what it would be.
The characters, creatures, and details of the story are vividly brought to life, playing as I read the pages, like a movie in my mind. I found myself reading well into the morning several times, not wanting to put it down. Then forced but the late hour to do so, but lay with the story still running through my mind.

This is one of the best fantasy books I have read in a while. Again Nice job, I can't wait for the sequel to come out.
James Berry

This is a great book!.......2004-04-13

I really enjoyed this book. I read a lot, and this is one of the best books I have ever read. I enjoyed it more than Harry Potter. I really liked the dragul. They were my favorite animal in the book. I also enjoyed the battle scenes and this book has a really great ending. I would like for my school library to get this book so all my friends can read it too. It is great!

Customer Reviews:

Steele writes gritty science fiction.......2001-06-06

I love the short stories of Allen Steele and the stories in this collection were where I was first exposed to him. Steele writes hard SF in a voice that reminds me of Tom Clancy, Bob Seger songs, and Heinlein.

Buy this book if you can find it!.......2000-02-29

I think the other reviewer summarizes the essential points quite well. Simply buy the book. There is no filler material here, all the stories are absolutely amazing and thought-provoking. In fact if you enjoy this collection of short stories you should also get the other two collections: "Rude Astronauts" and "All American Alien Boy".

Emotional, hard sci-fi without "hoped for" gadgetry........1999-06-30

This is a thoughtful, spectacular collection of short stories and novelettes. Having never read Allen Steele before and not knowing what to expect, I am now waiting on pins and needles for his next collection or full-length novel or novellete. These are stories which are driven by technologies of the near or foreseeable future. Fission drives, fusion drives, trips to the outer planets of the solar system measured in terms of months and fractions of years, human colonization of familiar planets and moons, and commerce and an economy exacted over a range of A.U.'s instead of continents. No warp drives or adventures on strange, unknown planets around distant suns, or fantastic aliens threatening physical or sociological upheaval. The stories in this book, written over a period of time and placed in chronological order by the author, give depth and meaning to characters who, over the course of the 21st century, are the true explorers, adventurers, and inhabitants of humankind's expansion into the solar system.

All of the stories show a total range of the emotions which would accompany the human condition into a new frontier, and make the reader feel what it might be like to be one of the pioneers of "near-space" in the next century. Some of them, notably The Weight, The War Memorial, The Death of Captain Future, and Zwarte Piet's Tale, will dazzle the reader with not only an exacting detail of near-future technologies but also with descriptions which describe to the reader the beauty, grandeur, and at the same time, danger of a newly conquered solar system. Also, in these same stories, the detail of the human condition, those traditions, mores, and values which were brought from an incubator planet (Earth) to an exciting yet dangerous new frontier, are succinctly described.

My favorites have been Asimov, Andersen, Bova, Niven and Pournelle, Crichton, Aldiss, Benford, and Haldeman. I most certainly have to add the name of Allen Steele to this list.

Average customer rating:
Sex and Violence in Zero-G
Allen M. Steele
Manufacturer: Meisha Merlin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1892065134

Average customer rating:
Zero tolerance for victimization of students: the implications of House Bill 267 on juvenile offenders.(Florida): An article from: Florida Bar Journal
Joseph G. Jarret
Manufacturer: Florida Bar
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008FC42E
Release Date: 2005-07-30

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Florida Bar Journal, published by Florida Bar on May 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1754 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: Zero tolerance for victimization of students: the implications of House Bill 267 on juvenile offenders.(Florida)
Author: Joseph G. Jarret
Publication: Florida Bar Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Florida Bar
Volume: 76 Issue: 5 Page: 54(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Sex and violence in zero-G: The complete "near space" collection

Average customer rating:

Sex and violence in zero-G: The complete "near space" collection
Allen M Steele
Manufacturer: Meisha Merlin Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Average customer rating:

Growing grapes made easy

Touches on the important points

For general information only.

great book

The Backyard Vintner: An Enthusiast's Guide to Growing Grapes and Making Wine at Home (Backyard)
Jim Law
Manufacturer: Quarry Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Wine & Winemaking | Wine | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

From Vines to Wines: The Complete Guide to Growing Grapes and Making Your Own Wine

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The Way to Make Wine: How to Craft Superb Table Wines at Home

ASIN: 1592531989

Book Description

Anyone who ever wanted to have homemade wine and never thought they had the space or ability to make it will love this book. The Backyard Vintner is a handy guide to at-home wine making that teaches readers the tips and tricks of the trade. It is perfect for those who want to bring the feeling of wine country right into their own backyard.

The Backyard Vintner teaches readers how to start and maintain a vineyard, providing vital information on topics such as planting, trellising, and proper pruning techniques for grapes; which grape varieties will grow best in every climate or region; and the wines that can be made from each variety. Basic recipes for wines, and advice on topics such as bottling, storing, and serving wines, are also provided.

Customer Reviews:

Growing grapes made easy.......2007-07-28

This book provides usefull and pertinent information all the way from the grape planting process to the wine making process. He walks you through every step carefully, but does not suggest a robotic structure for making wine, he leaves open oppertunies to show your own creativity.

Touches on the important points.......2007-07-26

I've purchased several "how to" wine books and this one is good, but not great. I would not rely on it as my only reference. Rather, it makes a very good companion for "From Vines to Wines."

For general information only........2007-07-11

The Backyard Vinter presented only general information about wine making, not specific enought for an individual wanting to learn how to make wine.

great book.......2006-02-17

Very comprehensive and thorough. Good reading and runs one through the basics and beyond. All good.

Average customer rating:

A New Owner's Guide to Great Danes (New Owner's Guide To...)

Excellent Owner's Guide

Very Informative

First time Dane Owner

Good, Compelling Breed Info but 1/2 Book Was Too General

A New Owner's Guide to Great Danes (New Owner's Guide To...)
Jill Swedlow
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Breeds | Dogs | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Care & Health | Dogs | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Dogs | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Training | Dogs | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Guide to Owning a Great Dane: Puppy Care, Health, Feeding, Training, Showing, Breed Standard (Re Dog Series)

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Great Danes

Great Dane: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet

Great Dane: Model of Nobility (Howell's Best of Breed Library)

ASIN: 0793827647

Customer Reviews:

A New Owner's Guide to Great Danes (New Owner's Guide To...).......2006-02-28

My wife wants Great Danes and this book was a great place to get insight,and if she could handle these big, but gentle dogs. The book even as small as it is has every aspect of the Danes good and bad. Instead of one my wife now wants three! That's how informative this book is.

Excellent Owner's Guide.......2005-09-15

Jill Swedlow has written an excellent and informative book for the first-time Great Dane owner. Not only does it explain in great detail the responsiblities of the owner, but also tries to discourage those who may not be prepared for the demands of this "Gentle Giant." If you are purchasing a Great Dane for the first time, or just need a "refresher" on the care of your "best friend," this is the book for you. I always have my copy handy. I truly enjoyed it.

Very Informative.......2005-08-14

I am a wannabe Dane owner and have just been researching before I purchase - this book has a lot of good information for individuals in my position.

First time Dane Owner.......2000-02-05

Very well written book, easy to understand and you could tell written by someone with years of experience with this breed of dog. Examples of behavior set forth in this book I could easily see in my dogs. Great Help from Great Book.

Good, Compelling Breed Info but 1/2 Book Was Too General.......2000-01-07

I have been considering a Great Dane for a while now and want to read up before making that huge leap. Jill Swedlow's name was on 3 out of the 5 Great Dane books I found.

The part written by her about the breed is wonderful. It is clear she loves the breed but also points out why Danes are not the breed for everyone. She knows her stuff and conveys it in a manner that is friendly and compelling.

The main problem was that almost half the book is a generic dog guide. It relates to training and other issues, but it does *not* specifically address the problems with a dog that is as big as you are.

I hope Swedlow writes a comprehensive Dane book. I would buy it in a second.

Book Description

Ten years ago author Lisa McAllister teamed up with John Michel to bring collectors the definitive guide to collecting American yellow ware, then produced a second book in 1997. Now she presents an all-new volume in her series, Collector's Guide to Yellow Ware, Book 3, which contains over 300 photographs with no repeats, and new information vital to collectors in this field. Filled with fresh facts on yellow ware, the book contains marks never before seen, many figural pieces, flower pots, urns, pitchers, and storage pieces of all sizes and shapes. In addition, there is an entire section devoted to bowls, one of the greatest categories of interest for yellow ware collectors, which includes photo, origin, sizes in which the piece was made, and value for each bowl. As in McAllister's two previous books, potters and their marks are included, as well as a glossary and bibliography. Anyone who takes a look at this book will be amazed at the variety of forms of yellow ware, an early nineteenth century whimsey that grew into a twentieth century utilitarian object. AUTHORBIO: In 1992 Lisa McAllister co-authored her first volume of the Collector's Guide to Yellow Ware with John Michel. That book has been brought back into print with updated information and current market values. She has also produced two more volumes on her own in that series, as well as the Collector's Guide to Feather Edge Ware. REVIEW: This book is invaluable for yellow ware collectors. Hundreds of color photographs and a useful marks section are included. The colorful pages add to the beauty of this book.

Average customer rating:
Antique Quilts Recreated
Leisure Arts
Manufacturer: Leisure Arts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Making Antique Quilts

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Hard Times, Splendid Quilts: A 1930s Celebration of Paper Piecing From The Kansas City Star

Fons & Porter Presents Quilts from the Henry Ford: 24 Vintage Quilts Celebrating American Quiltmaking

ASIN: 1574863479

Book Description

Take a trip back in time with 18 to 20 gorgeous quilts and accessories in classic antique patterns: Pinwheel Star; Colorado Quilt; Antique LeMoyne Star; Sunshine Aster; Aunt Pauline's Antique Quilt; Anne's Basket; Bow Tie; Double Wrench; Zigzag Basket Quilt; Grandma's Old Quilt; Lost Children; Broken Dishes; Migrating Geese; Double Pink Kaleidoscope (on cover); 1930's Path to the Stars; Mother's Handkerchiefs; Postage Stamp; Dresden Heart Valentine Quilt; Northumberland Star; Checkerboard Old New.

Book Description

The Design Secrets series brings the reader inside the creative process, unlike other design books that only show the final design. Each design project selected is illustrated in detail from concept to completion and all the stages in-between and includes the designer's insights and inspirations. Promoting a greater understanding of design, this book presents 50 real-life office design projects with a behind-the-scenes look. Uncovered are the creative process, the challenges, and the solutions that produced the innovative end-result. Original plans, sketches, visuals, interim drawings, and presentations each accompanied by informative text and captions show how designers present their ideas and solve problems.

Customer Reviews:

Architecture magazine-esque writing.......2001-12-20

.
This book does not meet the standard set by at least one other
book in the series ("Trade Secrets of Great Design: Retail
Spaces"). The "Retail Design" book provides intriguing
stories behind the design of the spaces presented, including
interactions with clients and problems that were encountered.

In contrast, the stories in this book on offices spaces are
merely superficial and redundant descriptions of what you can
see for yourself in the photographs. There is little if any
discussion of the design and construction processes. The
book is no better than your typical architecture magazine
article (and no wonder---the author is an architecture magazine
contributor).

I would highly recommend the "Retail Spaces" book by Stafford
Cliff instead.

Couldn't Put This Down.......2001-12-15

I love this book! Frankel has gathered so many interesting, appealing, and exciting office design ideas in an attractive, colorful layout, that it's hard to put down. Her pithy comments are fun to read along with the multitude of contemporary ideas that appeal to the homeowner, businessperson as well as interior designer. Don't miss this one!

Excellent.......2001-07-02

The book is a revelation. Is a beautifully done, very good photographs, not over designed and the selection of the interiors is a bit specific but all the selected are very interesting. The only thing that bothers me is that almost all (the firms) office spaces are of same type of business most of .COM's and advertising firms. Almost all of the designs are placed in rather large renovated industry halls, so diversity isn't the key here. But all in all I'm satisfied.

Excellent.......2001-07-02

Book Description

At the time of Marcus Dupree's birth, when Deep South racism was about to crest and shatter against the Civil Rights Movement, Willie Morris journeyed north in a circular transit peculiar to southern writers. His memoir of those years, North Toward Home, became a modern classic. In The Courting of Marcus Dupree he turned again home to Mississippi to write about the small town of Philadelphia and its favorite son, a black high-school quarterback. In Marcus Dupree, Morris found a living emblem of that baroque strain in the American character called "southern."

Beginning on the summer practice fields, Morris follows Marcus Dupree through each game of his senior varsity year. He talks with the Dupree family, the college recruiters, the coach and the school principal, some of the teachers and townspeople, and, of course, with the young man himself. As the season progresses and the seventeen-year-old Dupree attracts a degree of national attention to Philadelphia neither known nor endured since "the Troubles" of the early sixties, these conversations take on a wider significance. Willie Morris has created more than a spectator's journal. He writes here of his repatriation to a land and a people who have recovered something that fear and misdirected loyalties had once eclipsed. The result is a fascinating, unusual, and even topical work that tells a story richer than its apparent subject, for it brings the whole of the eighties South, with all its distinctive resonances, to life.

Customer Reviews:

This book is not about football.......2007-02-14

This book is about the South and northern places in the mid 60's-80's. To be sure it is about a gifted black athlete having to survive a white society that wants somehow to be with him in his quest for greatness. Much more than that, this book is about racism at its core, promise, insecurity, and reluctant goodness, and we should hope that Morris's honest and understandable "sorta" autobiographical dissertation on his homeland Mississippi will compel us to take another look at where we are as a society. We should not let Pete, Willie's mid-life dog, be the best of what we can be.

Dupree a Phenomenon.......2005-09-03

This is a must read-especially for the young athletes of today. This man was a legend! Hands down the best running back in the country during his era!
Having met him, he's a modest, humble man who loves football and loves his hometown. Would love to see this made into a movie!
Get it, you won't be disappointed!

Excellent story line.......2001-10-09

I recently read "The Courting of Marcus Dupree" and found it to be exciting and spell binding. My entire family was caught up in it. The book is an excellent tale of the birth of a young Black male in a troubling time for the South. The way Willie Morris related Marcus' birth and powerful strength to the struggle of his town and state was awesome, he should be the Mayor of Philadelphia or the Governor of Mississippi. I expected the book to be totally about football but it proved to be much more. It made you laugh and cry at times because of the tremendous pressure on Marcus Dupree, the 17 year old athlete that was blessed with such miraculous skills. The book made you feel like you were at the games when he made some of the beautiful plays. It was so intense that you wanted to get to the next page, but never wanted the book to end. I wish it was reprinted.

An Interesting Tale of Football and the South.......2001-07-16

I read this book again recently and it was better than I remembered. It was so interesting to see how one 17 year old boy could dominate one small town's conversations. I expected this book to be a tale of a high school football star and his recruitment, but I got more, much more. Willie Morris examines the importance of football in Mississippi and how Marcus brought blacks and whites together with his play. He had insight in to Marcus that nobody outside of his family and high school coach could have had. Overall, a great read.

A great read even if you are not a football fan.......2000-11-10

As an OU fan and a person who remember Marcus Dupree light up Norman during his brief time, I was very excited to have a little bit more background on this fascinating person.

The book hits several different topics. Obviously his recruitment of many football schools at times take center stage. But much of the book also discusses the effect of a black athlete becoming a state hero in Mississippi and gaining fans of all races. The foil of Dupree's time to that of two decades earlier when three cival rights activists were brutally murdered by the Klan. And the author, Willie Morris, contrasting and comparing his life with what he sees around him while following Dupree.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a great personal account that takes you back to 1981 Mississippi, civil rights, and the power of football.

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