Product Description
"A warm-hearted, readable story, crammed with lively incident and remarkable characters."
THE ATLANTIC
David Harper was an orphan, loney and impoverished. But his longing to embrace the world that abandoned him was stronger than the harsh realities. And even though he's a con man and petty thief at a carnival, he still dreams. For it was there that David learned about love and about women--all of whom taught him the riches of himself.
Here is a rich segment of American life--a magic blend of longing and wisdom, saltiness, simplicity, and compassion.
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Customer Reviews (11)

book review
It arrived quickly and in the condition described.We are happy with the purchase.

Early Michener pleaser
I read this book over thirty years ago, then again this month for book club, and found my impressions had changed over the years. But, even though I cannot skim so easily over the occasional insensitive and backward way women are treated, I kept in mind that this work was completed in the 1940's, and found that, for the most part, it truly held up over all these many years.Very different from Michener's later works in style and magnitude, the tone and sense of place is equal to any of his later works, in my opinion, and more succinctly accomplished.For me, the relationships early on were what stood out the most, and made me reflect on the author's life, as it paralleled his own experiences so closely; an orphan boy growing up in Quaker country who yearned to see the world, was fascinated with mathematics, and eventually becomes a writer.All very like the author.Young David Harper's interactions with the old men of the poorhouse are gems you want to hold onto forever.Michener shows us that there is love and beauty to be found even in the least likely of places, and I look forward to reading this again in thirty years!

Revealing Glimpses of an Earlier, Inner Michener...
Published in 1949 when Michener (who only began writing at age 40)was 42, "The Fires of Spring" is one of those epochal novels that all early writers seem compelled to write. It tells the story of David Harper (Michener, presumably)as he grows up in a Pennsylvania poorhouse, takes odd jobs as a teenager, goes to college and discovers literature and writing, and finally winds up as a struggling author in New York City. Along the way, he meets a wide variety of men and women who significantly help change his life. For those of you who are only familiar with Michener's later historical fiction epics, this book gives you a new awareness of Michener's earliest passions, his painful strivings and motivations as a young man, and his often lonely artistic aspirations and observations. Prepare to be deeply moved, surprised, andrichly rewarded!

A quaint read
a really nice read that was done in the 40's that really stands the test of time.

Priapic Vision of a Young Man
Even though Michener wasn't exactly young when he wrote THE FIRES OF SPRING, he could remember very vividly what it had been like, and nowhere in all his succeeding work was he able to recapture the first ferment of youth as he did here.The book also takes us back to pre-war times, to the early part of the American century, the part that was stifled due to depression and national disunity.

David is a great character and, like many of Dickens' heroes, he's born in an orphanage and raised in the poorhouse.Like 30s social realism, we discover that actually life raised communally isn't all that bad (see the kibbutz lifestyle promoted by Michener's contemporary, Leon Uris, in EXODUS) because of the parade of colorful characters, some nasty, mostly loveable, that people David's life with wisdom.

And then when he reaches puberty, his body awakens, and between his legs burn the fires of spring!And here Michener brings us a gallery of different kinds of women with different attitudes towards the body and towards sexuality.In some places rather risque, even by today's standards, THE FIRES OF SPRING is an astonishing and heartrending book.One of Jim's best. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Michener's Hawaii
Hard to find copy.This book helped me complete my Michener library.Old, but still readable. ... Read more

Product Description
The challenges and rewards faced by older adults and their families is the subject at the heart of this provocative new novel. Set in a Florida retirement center called the Palms, the book follows a group of unforgettable residents over the course of a year as their humorous, triumphant narratives unfold. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Recessional
This book deals with many aspects of the kind of life that faces the older generation. Mr. Michener has written not only a wonderful story with sometimes ordinary, sometimes eccentric characters, but has touched upon some of the problems that are endured because of age. It decries the use of the term "nursing home" for any and all retirement communities. It denounces the attitude that because a person having reached a certain age and/or with some physical disabilities, must also be mentally deficient and unable to make intelligent decisions. It tells of the love and devotion of a man whose wife is suffering with the final stages of Alzheimers disease. It touches on the questions of living wills and on pro-life groups that use unscrupulous methods for interfering with legally written and expressed wishes of those facing the final stages of life. It also tells of the loving care and deep concern that the staff of the retirement community in which the story unfolds feels and expresses toward all the residents. This book, although written in the early nineteen nineties, is in my opinion, one that should be read by everyone, whether in the age bracket known as the older generation, or has a parent or relative of advanced age, or simply comes in daily contact with those who don't think of themselves as being old and should not be considered just old folks. Alma Winter, Author-ONCE UPON A TIME TALES.

Used book in very good condition
I ordered this book for a customer who had a lot of trouble finding it and she was very happy with the product

A year in the life
As the novel opens it is December 31st and a young doctor, Andy Zorn, is on his way to a meeting, a job interview.A raging snow storm is making his trip more like an artic wilderness trek than a usually pleasant stroll along Michigan Avenue in Chicago.Dr. Zorn is anxious to get the job, to leave behind his former life and career, to move on to anywhere or anything other than Chicago.Zorn gets the job, that of director, but not medical director, of a retirement community in Tampa, Florida.Within hours the doctor is on the road south.

The various stories of the residents of the retirement home, The Palms, comprise the remainder of the novel.We learn about the various residents of The Palms, how they came to live there, and what transpires for them there during the next year.

This is reminiscient in some ways to classic Michener style in that it has a huge cast of characters that the reader follows over an extended period.Stories that start out isolated eventually become entwined with others often after being seemingly forgotten.In other ways though this is a departure from Michener's usual style, instead of being transported to an exotic locale we are taken to Florida.Instead of the vast timeline Michener is noted for, spanning many decades and generations, RECESSIONAL takes place in the course of one calendar year.

This is darker overall than much of Michener works, although it is not without the usual Michener theme of the triumph of the human spirit despite adverse circumstances.Also Michener's various agendas are more prevalent in this one than is his usual style.Still, fans of Michener will enjoy this one even though it is not quite the sweeping epic that he is known for.

Still contemporary story about life in a retirement community
I've read many of James Michener's books, but for some reason,
RECESSIONAL had never crossed my path . . . perhaps it had been
because of the subject manager; i.e., life in a Florida retirement
community.

Yet now that I find myself contemplating such a possibility, I
was fortunate to come across a book on tape version of this
tale when in my local library . . . though it was written in 1994, I
still found it very contemporary based on my visits to several
such locales.

RECESSIONAL follows the story of a doctor who becomes
the manager of the Palms . . . I quickly became interested
in his life, as well as in the lives of the memorable characters
he serves who have no intention of "going gracefully" . . . the
subplot, involving a woman whose life seems over when she
is in a terrible accident, was touching . . . that said, I won't tell you
any more for fear I'll ruin the joy you'll have in finding out for
yourself what happens.

The ending is just right, including this line: "We're all
passing--honorably--away" . . . it was delivered with eloquence
by Len Cariou, who did a marvelous job with the entire narration.

A wonderful read
While I have read a great number of his other books and enjoyed most of them thoroughly, this book touched me like no others. I have two grandmothers living in similar retirement communities to that in the story and this gave me some great insight and understanding to their lives in there. It felt like a true story based on their lives and those of their friends, one thing I will always remember is dont mess with the Ice Cream machine!!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Alaska by James MIchener
THis book is toatlly enthralling to me and my husband - we are reading two copies of the same novel simultaneously.Gail ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Voices of Asia
This was an interesting Michener book, especially because he evaluates the cultures of the different Asian nations AND their current and potential future relationships with the U.S. Some of his observations haven't held true, but others were quite accuate. His fear of Communism's take over of the weak nations proves untrue (perhpas because of the Vietnam War; Korea was in motion) His observations about the power of Muslim and Chinese cultural movements in the South Pacific Island nations are accurate. ... Read more

Product Description
"Astounding...Fast-moving, Intriguing...James Michener is back in huge, familiar form with MEXICO."
LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
Here is the story of an American journalist who travels to Mexico to report on the upcoming duel between two great matadors, but who is ultimately swept up in the dramatic story of his Mexican ancestors. From the brutality and brilliance of the ancients, to the iron fist of the invading Spaniards, to the modern-day Mexicans battling through dust and bloodshed to build a nation upon the ashes of revolution, James Michener weaves it all into an epic human story that ranks with the best of his beloved, bestselling novels.
A MAIN SELECTION OF THE BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB
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Customer Reviews (41)

Michener Gold. Read This Book To Know Mexico And Her People.
Detailed explanations of the subtleties of bullfighting are just the starting point for this wonderful novel. Almost everything about what makes a good bull, and a bad one. What makes a good matador, and a bad one. The life of the bull, the life of the matador, in delicious detail, leaving the reader with a feeling that even if they will never be an aficionado, they will at least understand what they hear and read about bullfighting in Spain and Mexico. "In Mexico, bullfighting is not considered a sport, but an art" and "When there are men, there are no bulls, and when there are bulls, there are no men." These are points made in the book to describe the Mexican love of and frustration with bullfighting. The history of the major Indian cultures, their gods, their fears, triumphs and failures. The changes in Mexican culture when the Spanish brought their own culture. The blending of the two cultures, what was similar and different between them, and how the blending gave us the Mexico of today. A beautiful book full of beautiful people with the wonderful stories of their lives.

An Inept Title
Despite my affection for Michener, I have to say I was disappointed in this book. It has the wrong title, is too long and he fictionalized in areas where I felt truth would have made it a stronger novel.

As I noted in my review of his My Lost Mexico, I don't know how or why I neglected this book in the past. In My Lost Mexico Michener explains how he began the novel, abandoned it for 30 years and then returned to write what became another of his bestsellers. I don't think the end result was the book he originally intended and it probably became a bestseller on the basis of his popularity rather than the novel's merits.

Don't misunderstand, the book does have merit. The characters--especially Norman Clay, Leon Ledesma, Mrs. Evans, Victoriano and Gomez, to name a few--are engaging. And the plot is interesting and entertaining.

But the novel is not a "history" of Mexico as the title and his past works might suggest.

It's not my novel. If it were, I'd have eliminated all the history on Clay's family, retaining just enough back-story on them to explain his split nationality. I don't understand why Michener felt it necessary to invent the Altomecs when the Aztecs would have made a truer story. Likewise, the invention of Gurza when there were so many real characters of his type to draw from.

I would have centered on the festival and the bullfights, which are the real focus of the novel. Michener does an excellent job of explaining the intricacy of the corrida. Here the real themes of courage, persistence and optimism are emphasized and give the novel its soul.

James Michener, good as always
Fun, entertaining, typical James Michener. He writes like he has lived there all his life. Has done his research well.

Telefono?
I like Mitchener.I love Mexico and I love bullfighting.I've even written novels on the Conquest of Mexico...so why didn't I like this book?

I don't even know but it didn't hold my attention and his rivalry between the "classic" matador and the bullfighting hotdog was laughable.To be certain, I hate it when the matador [killer] demeans the bull by taking liberties with the supposedly subdued animal.Tricks like touching the animals horn or kissing it on the nose are only to be deplored.A "telephono" stunt would cause most of the aficianados to lynch the [...].

I found the early Mexican period unconvining...I just didn't buy it.This is, perhaps, surprising in that Michener, himself, regarded "Mexico" as his best book.Maybe it was but I don't see it that way.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God" on the Conquest of Mexico

The Majesty of Mexico
Forty-five years ago, James A. Michener walked away from a novel he was writing about Mexico. He had "run out of steam" and decided that some time away from the work would be beneficial. In July of 1992, his notes and manuscripts were rediscovered. Keeping the core of his original work, Michener completed the novel that was published as "Mexico".Although not perfect, it was a very entertaining and extremely interesting 672 pages.

The story involves Norman Clay, and American journalist of Mexican ancestry who has been sent to Toledo, Mexico (the fictional city of his birth), to cover the 1961 Izmiq Festival for a New York magazine. Expecting a spectacular bullfight on the third day of the festival, Clay fills his thoughts with childhood memories and a history of the city as seen from the perspective of his forebears.The landscape of Toledo, dominated by an ancient pyramid and a 16th century cathedral, provides the colorful setting for Michener's often sentimental journey into Mexico's past.

"Mexico" draws the reader into a universe where time is fluid and events that happened 1400 years ago seem just as current and relevant as the contemporary Ixmiq Festival.This idea of connection is Michener's central theme.Early in the book, Clay says, "I could look nowhere without seeing the handiwork of someone in my family, stretching back for more than a thousand years, tied to the harsh red soil of Mexico."The land, its history and its people are the chords that bind life in Mexico together.

Michener has created this historically based world, and filled it with characters who speak and react as real people do for a dual purpose.The technique creates an environment in which the reader can enjoy beautiful sunsets, the grandeur of a proud and ancient civilization, or the intricacies of the bull ring while Michener explores historical, sociological and human issues in an unassming and entertaining manner.

The son of a Mexican mother and an American father, Norman Clay personalizes and symbolizes the ancient and ongoing struggle of opposing forces in Mexico.Clay's need to rediscover a sense of purpose and belonging in his life is an important thread that weaves through the novel.

Michener's descriptions of the fictional civilization of the Drunken Builders, who constructed the pyramid at Toledo is one of the strongest parts of the book.As a result of their excessively comfortable and peaceful existence, the Drunken Builders eventually lost their connection with the things and ideas that gave value and purpose to their lives.

As the Builders' culture declined, they became aware of an enemy that threatened to destroy them, and yet they did not prepare for defense.Instead, they "began to speculate on what life would be like if the invaders triumphed".When they were finally invaded by an aggressor inferior in both numbers and character, they meekly accepted the destruction of their once proud and powerful society.

Michener is very skilled at bringing characters to life, that when the invaders simply walk into the city and conquer it without a struggle, the sense of tragedy, waste and foolishness is almost palpable.

"Mexico", although not perfect, did strike a deep chord. Michener clearly sees and delineates the need to be in some way connected, somehow a part of something more important than ourselves.History is the backdrop on which the mosaic of life gains its value and permanence.Michener uses the past as both a tool and a foundation; his characters gain greater understandingof themselves through knowledge of the past.

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Product Description
Space. It is the object of dreams and daring of countless men and women who have made it the last, great frontier of human endeavor. James Michener has brought the human touch to that exciting exploration by bringing to life six men and women. Their dedication to the space experience defines its complexities and fascination as no other writer can.
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Customer Reviews (44)

Space - an exemplary read!
I had a copy of this book from when it was originally published, but because of some recent interest in the history of the Apollo program, I wanted to re-read this wonderful yarn.While it does not reflect the actual history of the development of the space program within the United States, it does represent most of the major developments very well, and is a true account of the types of events that marked this monumental effort.I particularly appreciated Michener's humanization of the political and technical struggles that were the hallmark of this phase of our history.

Another epic Michener adventure
SPACE opens in the final days of WWII and introduces the reader to four very different men, a young engineer on assignment in Europe, a courageous Naval Captain on duty in the Pacific, an American high school football hero with his eyes on the stars and thirty-seven year old German mechanical genius working at a top secret rocket installation.As the novel progresses these individuals paths begin to cross as each is drawn into the American space race.Michener follows his usual style of following a particular plot line for a few paragraphs or pages and then shifting to another set of charactersfor a bit and then on to another, gradually telling a massive story that covers decades and dozens of characters.Michener's fictional characters and locations are mixed in with real people who took part in the events in the novel.Most of the events described are actual ones, although he did add a mission to both the Gemini and Apollo programs.

Fans of Michener or epic novels in general will definitely enjoy this one.He has definitely captured the spirit of this exciting period in American history which faced both the challenge to reach out to the stars and the changing social landscape back on earth.Does this author or genre lend itself to deep psychological insights into superbly crafted characters?No, absolutely not, in fact this entire genre is the antithesis of the 'great novel', it is a huge story, populated with character known more for their quantity than quality and taking place over a vast expanse of both time and space.And it is a type of story telling that no one does better than Michener.

Michener is known for the extensive research that he invests in his novels which are full of detail and SPACE is no exception. It is also interesting to note the number of fictional events that either occured in the novel or were predicted that have now come to pass.

Out Of This World
This was my 10th or so Michener book, and it was jarring (and not because there is a fictionalized state of Freemont, either...really, of all the things to whine about, people!) for it was the first story of his I was able to COMPLETELY lose myself in the narrative.Having read all of his books (except for the snoozer Chesapeake), this shares the Top with "The Source".

While carrying on the tradition of Epic Novels where disparate story-lines collide with stellar effects, Michener manages to take well placed time-outs to give easily understandable surveys of complex theories.Anyone who hears about inertial navigation, ablative surfaces, or the like and feels their eyes go out of focus should pick this tome up.There is even a section of how computers represent pictures (ie. megapixels).

Not only is the development of the space program given historical perspective, the reader leaves with a strong general understanding of the incredible intellectual advancements required to take man from steam power to space travel in 25 years.A cracking good yarn that builds grey matter.

Fascinating
Michener often takes hits for shallow character development and other arguable flaws.There's a bit of that weakness here -- but this book is so strong in the area of research and homework by the author, that the informational goldmine in this story pulls this novel up to a 5 star level in my opinion.

The story takes us from the WWII era birth of space flight all the way to Earth-Mars manned travel.Personally, I am a space travel skeptic.I perceive it to be a self-serving grand waste of money and human life.I can't really name any concrete benefits reaped (except Velcro). A 21st century "Tower of Babel", if you will.Nonetheless, the physical challenges and responses to them are some of man's most fascinating achievements.

Michener presents, understandably and accessibly, all of these obstacles:navigation, radiation, rocket propusion, the distance, the vast vacuum.There are challenges you may never have even imagined.The ones that you have are larger in scope than you thought they were.Michener researched this well (his usual style) and it is just fantastic stuff.There is enough of a fictional human story around the space travel technicalia as to make this an engaging and rewarding read (and I found the "character development" to be certainly adequate).Many shadows and allusions to real life space program personalities.

The build up to, and finally, the trip to the moon is awesome.A great exercise of the imagination, especially for those of us that sat as children on the living room floor and watched it taking place on the family TV.

Much of this book will stick with you.Worth the time, I think.

Our Last Frontier
Having both a great deal of science and politics, Kyle and I found it easy to like this book. I enjoyed the problems and discussions that went into launching our first rockets. Even the political side of this book flowed smoothly and brought the story together for the reader. 'Space' tries to get all of the viewpoints of the space race while maintaining Michener's ideas and thoughts on what should have happened. It is always nice to be able to look on the past to see where we went wrong. This books tries to do that along the way of telling somewhat accurately what really took place. Looking back on the book, I wouldn't be able to pinpoint a slow part or a chapter that I could have done without. I also liked how Michener intertwined the religious perspective. Ironically, we read this book just before the space shuttle Columbia burned-up in the atmosphere. The book did not predict this tragedy, but it did talk about the problems that took place in starting of the shuttle program and the possibility for error. At times I did have problems figuring out what parts were true and which were fictional. Yet, it only spurred interest to check out a textbook to see what actually occurred. I was also comparing this book with the movie 'The Right Stuff' which tells the story of the pilots who eventually became astronauts. This book filled in the holes where 'The Right Stuff' left off. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Source by James Michener ...
ALL OF MY RECENT PURCHASES I RATE AS EXCELLENT.ALL EXCELLENT: PRODUCT, SERVICE & EASE OF ORDERING.

book
I bought this book because I thought it was a history book, rather than a novel.Nothing wrong with a novel, just disappointed.

The Source
The Source: A Novel

I read this many years ago when it first came out, and I thought it was a wonderful book then and in the years since I have not changed my mind.It is about a small section of land and starts in the caveman days and brings it up to more modern times, telling about the different people and families who lived there and what they did.Very interesting.Very long but oh so good, it makes you forget just how long it really is.

The Source
I read this when it was published in 1963. A great book and it's just as good as I remember it. It expands on the theme of how the various faiths are so intolerant and how people suffer because of it. ... Read more

Product Description
"A good, old-fashioned, sink-your-teeth-into-it story...Suspenseful."
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
James Michener turns the creation and publication of a novel into an extroardinary and exciting experience as he renders believable the intriguing personalities who are the parents to its birth: a writer, editor, critic, and reader are locked in the desperate scenario of life, death, love, and truth. As immediate as today's headlines, as close as the bookshelves, THE NOVEL is a fascinating look into the glamorous world of the writer.
Selected by the Book-of-the-Month Club
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Customer Reviews (25)

Doesn't come close to others by Michener
I have read many of Michener's books and loved most of them.This one doesn't come close - boring

This book inspired me to change my name
When I read this book, I was inspired by the editor. She always hated her name, as did I. One day, she decided to go to the courthouse and change not only her last name, but also her first name (p.179). When I read this, I started researching how easy it is to change your name, and I did it too! My name went from something I despised, to a nice name I like.

While I've read many books in my day, none has had a more lasting impact than that!

Great read, interesting story.

"...what a novel really is. It's sixty thousand carefully chosen words..."
I expected more from this book, having recently enjoyed Michener's Caravans. But the story was more about the relationship between four interconnected persons in the world of novels than the process of writing, editing and publication of novels (which is what I expected). The four characters are: a diminutive dogged writer of books on the Pennsylvania Dutch; a female editor loyal to her "little Dutchman" (even the reference bothered me), a (male) book critic, and an (female) avid reader and fan. Unfortunately, it doesn't get any more exciting than that. Michener does provide some excellent information on the Pennsylvania Dutch and certain aspects of their life, but the story is otherwise a bit dated, dull, and so long (446 pages) as to be tedious at times. Better: Caravans by James Michener and Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman.

I found much to reflect on in this novel about novels...
This is a book set in the 1980's and 90's and it's written in 4 voices: the writer's, the editor's, the critic's and the reader's.
I had to stop and think at several points in this novel and even read passages to my friend in order to discuss further what the meanings were.It was startling to read the description of America in it's founding days.A place of peace, land to farm, freedom from taxes and oppression.Wow, look at us now.

The writer...what a lot of work to accomplish a feat that I merely pick up and read.I get to take it for granted, read it and move on.

I loved the 2nd voice the most...how the editor came to be and the power she owned.If she hadn't owned her power and if she let herself be swayed, look what wouldn't have happened.I love that power and seek for it in myself.As with most successful people in the novel, I noticed with longing that they were mentored at critical points in their lives, in guidance, advice, financial, and key opportunties in order to turn out so well.Oh to have had those same experiences in my life.It made me think of a podcast I listened to where a man was saying that we need to nurture our children ... every one of them... because we are missing so much in this world had they lived up to their potential in their later years.And I selfishly ask, what about me?Who could I have been?

And then the voice of the critic...It had me coming and going.So many viewpoints to consider.Is pop culture the doom of our society?Could we make it without poets and true artistic thinking?Is that the human force behind our societies?

Which person/voice most resonates within myself? The writer, the editor, the critic or the reader? What would it be like to have had this kind of education and surroundings in my life? I was heartsick at the editor's boyfriend.So much talent wasted because he couldn't analyze himself enough to find a way to make a difference.He wanted to write the novel and yet he was more of a teacher and critic.Same with the critic, Karl Streibert.Publishing houses are inundated with wannabe writer's works who have yet to learn what their real role/strength is in the literary world.Writing seems so easy in a naive kind of way, but read this novel and then decide. There are many wonderful ways to experience the written word as this novel shows.

It was a pleasure to vicariously taste of it all in this book.THANK YOU Mr Michener!

A novel novel about a novel
After having seen James Michener's thick books with single-word titles in my local library for years, I thought it was about time that I acquainted myself with this author.I'm not sure why I picked this book among the dozen or so that were on the shelf, and in hindsight I'm sure it wasn't his best work.Frankly, it was a rather strange book in many respects.Although I'm not altogether disappointed in the book, I doubt it is highly representative of Michener's work in general.This book struck me as an anomaly, even though I haven't read anything else by him to compare it against.Frankly, if all his books read this way, I doubt seriously he would have garnered much popular appeal.

In "The Novel," Michener gives us a fictitious novelist by the name of Marcus Yoder who is in the process of publishing his eighth and final novel after honing his craft over the better part of his lifetime.Yoder recounts in first person narrative format his slow and often uncertain rise from obscurity to worldwide fame writing novels about his own people, the Pennsylvania Dutch.Parts 2, 3, and 4 of the book provide a similar perspective of Yoder's work and career, but as told in their own words by his editor, a critic, and one of his readers, respectively.Michener also links the four main characters to one another through personal relationships, not just Yoder's novels.It all makes for an interesting read, but certainly nothing I could characterize as "riveting."

I don't know if Michener's over-arching purpose was to provide aspiring writers with an inside look at the publishing industry, but that's certainly part of what is imparted here.But I also got the strong sense that the main character in the book - Yoder - was modeled somewhat after Michener himself: an unpretentious fellow who is more concerned with giving his money away than in making more, and who writes because that is "what he does" rather than as a purely utilitarian way to put food on the table.Thus, I suspect that if someone wants to know about Michener the man, not Michener the novelist, this would be the appropriate book - short of a biography.

I suppose maybe I was expecting a book more along the lines of an Alex Haley novel like "Hotel," but Michener gives us something here that moves much slower, without only sparing amounts of drama and action.Nothing wrong with that, but just not what I was expecting.I don't think that it is a stretch to imagine that Michener has given us his own thoughts in this book about what a novel should be.I imagined not Marcus Yoder or the other characters in this book imparting their lifetime of wisdom about publishing, but Michener himself.Michener clearly gives us his imagination in this book, but I think that he has given us at least an equal measure of his own thoughts.The result was an education in the publishing industry without the drudgery or condescending voice of a tutorial.

Another thing worth mentioning: Michener was 84 years old when he wrote this book and it shows.Not in the way you might expect, however.He displays a razor sharp mind as well as a keen observation of people in general and the publishing industry in particular - there's simply no hint here of a man waning in his intellectual prowess. Instead, where I saw his years betraying themselves was in the dialog he gave his characters.The only ones that rang true were the 60-something Yoder and his wife, along with the matriarchal "Reader" we're given in section 4 of this book.All the other characters were 20-, 30-, and 40-somethings who talked like they'd stepped out of some time warp when FDR was in the White House. It was quite comical, really.I imagined college kids and campuses as they were when Rudy Vallee was crooning - not Madonna.

Without question, the book bogs down in section 3 where we're given "the critic's" view of the world in general and Yoder in particular.This is the part of the book where Michener's intellect came through most tellingly - he wouldn't have been able to create a credible character without a grasp of the world as viewed through the rarified air of critics and their circle of intellectual elites.But it was also the part of the book that tried too hard to impress us with Michener's cleverness and mastery of world literature.It was also in this section, as well as section 4, that Michener gave us numerous glimpses of his own rather well-known liberal political leanings based on the way he crafted certain characters and cast them not as snobs but as the truly enlightened.

In the end, the characters in the story I found most worthy of our respect and emulation were Yoder and his wife.Simple people, telling simple stories, that simple people can enjoy.I was left wondering whether Michener identified more with Yoder or the critic.I've concluded that he was basically a Yoder, but wanted to show us in this book that he has the mental horsepower of the critic and brilliant academic.

Personally, when it comes to books, I'd much rather read the Yoders of the world - little critical acclaim but fun to read - than the snobbish "critically acclaimed" stuff.This book was probably somewhere in between those two extremes - surely not Michener at his best, but Michener trying to make a statement.As such, it isn't for everyone.I'm a better person for having read it, but had this been the first book he authored, there was little here that would have kept me coming back for more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Michener, the eternal optimist
Michener's description of Afghanistan in the late'40s and his hopes for its future are gripping and, in the light of history, depressing.Perhaps Afghanistan could never have been what he foresaw, but the reality of today would appall him.His characters are less wooden than usual and his descriptions of the country are enthralling.

Caravans by James Michener
This is an excellent story and unlike many of Michener's other books where he describes how the mountains were formed, he writes an exciting tale of a young U.S. Embassy worker and his many travels in Afghanistan.We now have military in this country, and this will give us an overview of how this ancient country hasn't changed many of its customes in two or three thousand years.I would recommend the book to anyone of any age and will be giving it to my grown grandson so he'll know just what it's like to live or travel in this country.

I ordered this book through Amazon.com and received it in good time. I've found that Amazon.com provides the best and easiest way to purchase a book. The cost is always less than retail and it is delivered directly to your home, thus saving a trip to the local book store.

Great Value
The book arrived quickly and in great shape.Just what I wanted.Good book at great price. ... Read more

Product Description
With his genius for research and his mastery of many cultures, James A. Michener cuts to the heart of the issues that threaten to fragment and undermine America today: racial conflict, the widening gulf between rich and poor, the decline of education, the inadequacies of our health care system. Then he offers a detailed program that will help America sustain what he terms its "outstanding success."

Thought-provoking, opinionated, infused with the wisdom and passion of a lifetime, This Noble Land is at once a wake-up call for our troubled times and a blueprint for our future greatness.


From the Trade Paperback edition.Amazon.com Review
James A. Michener, the writer of epic, meticulously researchednovels, including Centennial, Alaska, and Hawaii, claims tohave lived and worked in 102 foreign countries. Bolstered by this wideexperience and his status as a writer, he has decided to put on paperhis analysis of the state of his country and its many afflictions. Hewrites about race relations, health care, education and the decline ofthe family in the United States, offering cogent and forthright views,and his own rather general solutions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

brilliant
michener was a brilliant man. he had tremendous insight. this book is great. he hoped america would continue her legacy of greatness and not sell the poor and middle-class down the river.

Liberal Nonsense
James Michener is a fine author no doubt.Politically, he's a socialist / communist.

The tape gets real old listening to him praise our communistic income tax system and our redistribution of wealth.It is wrong to steal and it is no less wrong if our government steals from its people.

He's for affirmative action and quotas.I believe people should be judged on the content of their character, not the color of their skin.

He's opposed to the death penalty.

He's for socialized health care.After watching our government run the post office, do we really want them running our health care?

He likes the status quo two party system which offers the America people no choice.

He says he's opposed to euthanasia, but then he makes an argument for it if a person's life becomes meaningless (who will decide that?)

Don't waste your time.

Very nice read
Michener offers some compelling insights into what he considers to be the most critical problems facing our country today,it may seem simplistic at times, but life is simple if you let it be.

Not too bad, but definately biased
In the beginning chapter of "A Noble Land" by James Michener, I thought I might actually enjoy the book. I found it interesting to read about his life experiences, such as his living conditions and the elections he's participated in. However, starting with the next chapter, I found my self completely bored. Not only was it like torture to continue on with the book, I thought that it was based on his biased opinion as an older conservative man. Also I thought that his opinions were outdated. His views on current family situations, education and our country in general were very harsh and didn't show his alleged "patriotism." As a high school student and a child of divorced parents, I thought that he was really steriotyping my entire generation and the United States in general. I was really appalled by some his remarks, like his recommendation to allow teenagers aged 14 and over to drop out of school legally.

Although I definately didn't agree with most of his points in the first 150 pages of the book, it improved towards the end when he actually made some valid points and thoroughly supported them.

Overall I thought that the first part of the book, was pretty much worthless, but it did make me think and reaffirm my some of my opinions that he disagreed with. But several parts are definatley worth reading (like the first chapter and chapter 8 to the end).

MICHENER'S VISION AND HOPES FOR AMERICA
James A. Michener endeared himself to readers everywhere with books like Hawaii, Tales of the South Pacific, Centennial, and Chesapeake.His writing style and concise, comprehensive research was at the foundation of books that have become American treasures.

In This Noble Land Michener takes a different approach, though one not entirely unexpected from an author who, it is evident, loved America deeply. The book takes a hard but, I feel, honest view of America, where it has been, what it is now (the view of things in 1999) and where Michener believes it is headed.

Michener addresses the political problems facing us and what it will take, in his view, for Americans to continue their past record of greatness.He speaks of morals, of ethics and of integrity--from the standpoint of what we were as a country to the backsliding nation that we have become.

In my favorite chapter of the book Michener tackles very eloquently the problem of America's love affair with professional sports, the unfortunate decline of the morals of many sports figures, their poor example to America's youth and the sorry fact that we would, as a nation, gladly pay top dollar for tickets to any sporting event while refusing to acknowledge the plight of America's poor.

Taken all in all, whether you like This Noble Land or not will depend entirely upon how closely your views agree with those of the author.For me, I felt that Michener's vision as expounded in This Noble Land was 20/20.The book is already four years old at this review but I feel that it will have merit for decades to come.Hopefully we will have the sense as Americans to change things for the better.

Douglas McAllister ... Read more

Product Description
In a career writing fiction that spans more than 40 years, James A. Michener has refined the art of telling an engrossing story while presenting massive amounts of factual information. His narratives are characterized by an acute sense of place and important themes such as human tolerance, the relationship between human beings and their environment, and the value of human courage and hard work. This study is the first to assess and analyze his fictional work in more than ten years and discusses his recent fiction, as well as his important historical fiction. The work features a biographical chapter, an overview of his fictional works, and close, critical readings of nine of his most noted novels which will be of special interest to students of American history. ... Read more

Product Description
Norman Starr is stunned to learn that he's wanted for questioning by the Senate Investigating Committee on the Iran-Contra affair. Agonizing over whether or not to testify, he summons the proud fighting history of his distinguished family and makes his own personal and painful decision. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

A very informative history within a very good novel
James A. Michener is a superb writer of history. After extensive research, he incorporates interesting and informative historical facts into a very readable work of fiction. His Hawaii and his Source are great examples. The first recalls the history of Hawaii and the second of Israel. This volume tells about eight fictional generations of American heroes, men and women, who helped mold the United States from its beginning until the time of the Iran Contra controversy.

A well decorated soldier, the scion of a marvelous group of ancestors, is accused by the US Congress for misbehavior regarding Iran. His friend, a lawyer, plans to defend him in several ways, including putting his family's history, the history of the United States, before Congress.

But there is a surprising ending brought about by a man from another country.

Book Arrived
The book arrived new as stated but with water stains, although still acceptable.

Shipping was extremely slow. Seller did not correspond or reply to inquiries.

Michener Light
Written to commemorate the bicentennial of the US Constitution, the book tells the story of descendants of a family who variously contributed to the creation, the writing, the interpretation, and the defense of that uniquely American document. Framed in typical Michener style as a grand epic novel, and likely planned as one, Legacy lacks the author's usual attention to minutia that provide the context for his characters' actions. In other words, it's short. So short that it, seems incomplete, unfinished, more like an outline than the real deal. Nonetheless, in my view, even Michener Light is far better than most of today's crop of non-story tellers. It's certainly a story worth the read.

A moving and profound . . .
. . . look at American Constitutional history by one of the 20th century's premier storytellers.

I'll freely admit it.I've been a huge fan of James Michener for at least 25 years -- but, up until now, have never reviewed one of his novels.

When I picked up "Legacy", I honestly didn't know what to expect.Written in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Constitution of the United States, Michener uses a fictional American soldier, caught up in the very real politics of the 1980's, and uses that soldier's musings about his own distinguished ancestors -- and their participation in many key moments of American history -- especially those that relate to the formation and subsequent development of the Constitution.I found these reflections to be a moving and effective way for Michener to make his point.

And what is that point?That for all its flaws, the Constitution of the United States has stood the test of time as one of the greatest political documents ever conceived by mankind.Originally, I felt that the inclusion of the text of the Constitution at the end of the novella was "padding" -- and readers of my other reviews know how I feel about "padded" books!

But upon concluding the story, I found myself re-reading the text of the Constitution -- and spending time in reflection.

I suspect that Michener would have approved.

My highest recommendation.

Michener for everyone!
Wonderfully quick historical fiction about early American History and the framing of the US Constitution.I use it as the class novel for my 10th grade American History class (I'm a teacher).It's relatively short, easy to follow and fun when you already know the history! ... Read more

Product Description
In this magnificent novel, James A Michener skillfully combines fact and fiction to present our riches, most expansive and most diversified state. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

michener texas hard 1&2
only very few sellers mention that they are pricing one volume only in the hardback version and the customer is astonished when he receives only volume one in the mail although he believed to have bought the whole book/vols 1$2. paperback is in one volume. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Book!
I have always enjoyed James Michener's works, but this has got to be one of my favorites!Really good reading! ... Read more