Bombeck (When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time to Go Home, 1991, etc.) is in top form here, detonating snappy one- liners throughout this account of her 40-plus years of marriage. And there are some unusually serious moments as well: the death, at age 33, of a close friend—the first intimation for Bombeck and her husband that life is finite and for real; a late-life and much- wanted pregnancy that ended in miscarriage; the pathos of reversing roles as the author cared for her aging, ailing mother; Bombeck's breast cancer and mastectomy. The author married Bill Bombeck in the 50's. They had three children, and family life was both satisfying and something of a letdown: ``I hid my dreams in the back of my mind. It was the only safe place in the house.'' The dreams were of writing, and a lecture in the 60's by Betty Friedan galvanized Bombeck to ask her local newspaper if she could write a column. Syndication followed, then bestselling books, and, suddenly, the equilibrium of the Bombeck marriage shifted, as Bill, a teacher, held down the home front and Erma jetted off to talk shows, book tours, and speeches. How did the couple survive such a shift? Bill, in his 50s, found something (marathon running) to excel at independent of his wife, while Erma found that ``when the applause died down....I had someone real to go home to.'' The trials of raising teenagers; of grown kids coming home to freeload in order to afford a fancy car; of offspring delaying marriage and childbearing into their 30's, much to the exasperation of prospective-Grandma Bombeck (``If it doesn't happen soon, my grandchild and I will be in diapers together'')—all are described with the author's trademark wit. A few jokes misfire, a few phrases are repetitious. Overall, though, this is as light as a feather—and could float to the top of the lists. (First printing of 500,000)
Pub Date: Sept. 29, 1993
ISBN: 0-06-018322-5
Page Count: 256
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1993
BOOK REVIEW
Journalist Dannen (Hit Men, not reviewed) and Hong Kong film maven and collector Long take a look at one of the world's most vital cinemas, one that's facing an uncertain future under its new Chinese rulers. The Hong Kong cinema is one of the world's most prolific and energetic. Recently, two of its most majestic figures, actor-director Jackie Chan and director John Woo, have successfully made the transition to working in the West. Many others—actor Chow Yun-Fat, directors Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark—are following in their footsteps, filled with hope. Dannen went to Hong Kong for a New Yorker article to see how the industry was facing up to this summer's handover to China of the former British colony. The result was a typical New Yorker piece, which is also the first section of this book: exhaustively reported and handsomely written but somehow superficial, delivering rather less than promised and geared for a readership of tourist-voyeurs. The remainder of the book consists of very brief interviews by Dannen, with numerous directors, producers, and actors, accompanied by filmographies; capsule descriptions by Long of some 300 key Hong Kong films; and recommendations from a dozen critics. Dannen's essay touches briefly on a number of issues worth exploring in greater depth: onerous working conditions, low budgets, and shoddy production values; the huge market for Hong Kong films throughout Asia; the language problem (Mandarin versus Cantonese), which is only going to get worse now that the Mandarin-speaking mainlanders are in charge; the role of underworld figures whose presence permeates the film industry. Neither Dannen nor Long is able to convey the energy and inventiveness that make the best Hong Kong films so entertaining. Producer Peter Chan tells Dannen, ``We don't have a clue why you Americans like [our films] so much.'' This book won't tell you, either. (50 b&w photos)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-7868-6267-X
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1997
Attractive photographs highlight a succinct, no-nonsense resort guide.
This eloquent photographic guide from Resorts Magazine editor Ovidio Guaita includes reviews of 100 of the best resorts on the planet.
Palatial surroundings, warm beaches and natural habitats set the tone for this 2009 guide, which begins at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Alberta, Canada, and ends at the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and Spa in French Polynesia. Each resort runs the gamut of luxury and relaxation, from the oasis setting of the Amanbagh resort in India to the natural qualities of Bali’s Amandari. International regions are assigned elementary color codes, lending to the book’s overall simplicity. This lack of complexity is evident throughout the guide, which is an appropriately relaxed read. Richly illustrated with photographs, the book offers readers a pleasing glimpse of splendor with each listing. While some photographs capture a mood, such as one of a cozy stilt cabin captured after sunset, others merely hint at what can be found within a retreat–the book offers only an exterior shot of the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London. Unlike other travel guides, which can often overwhelm with verbiage yet lack quality photographs, Top 100 lets the images speak for themselves. Brief descriptions keep the book elegantly spare and offer insight that a camera can’t capture. Each locale is judged from a distinct set of criteria, including design, environment, health, rooms, service, cuisine and spa accommodations. While the last element is part of the overall rating system, some resorts offer very little in the area of spa treatments and are rated accordingly. Resorts such as the Four Seasons Resort at Landaa Giraavaru and the Four Seasons Resort Langkawi are ranked highest, while others like Chief’s Camp (Okawango Delta) and the Kichwa Tembo Bateleur Camp (Masai Mara) are rated far lower, due primarily to their lack of spa amenities. Those seeking rejuvenation, light cuisine and spa treatments, no matter the cost, need look no further for a handbook.
Attractive photographs highlight a succinct, no-nonsense resort guide.Pub Date: March 17, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4392-3136-4
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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