Customer Reviews (1)

Supplied just what they advertised
This book was perfect. Someone had already signed it (the last owner) what can you do? They said it was a little worse for the ware, but in good condition, and they were right. After I received it, I headed over the Wonder Con in San Francisco, and has Peter S. Beagle himself sign it. If you get a chance to meet him, do. He's a sweetheart. ... Read more

Product Description
This classic, mesmerizing tale from the author of The Last Unicorn is a journey between the realms of the living and the dead, and the eternal power of love.

Michael Morgan was not ready to die, but his funeral was carried out just the same. Trapped in the dark limbo between life and death as a ghost, he searches for an escape. Instead, he discovers the beautiful Laura...and a love stronger than the boundaries of the grave and the spirit world.

Praise for Peter S. Beagle:

"Wit, charm, and a sense of individuality." --New York Times Book Review

"It's a fully rounded region, this other world of Peter Beagle's imagination...an originality...that is wholly his own." --Kirkus Reviews

"Both sepulchral and oddly appealing...[Beagle's] ectoplasmic fable has a distinct, mossy charm." --Time

"Delightful." --San Francisco Chronicle ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Not the book for me
My favorite author, Robin McKinley, has a comment on her website about how important it is to be able to distinguish between, "This book sucks bears," and "This book isn't for me." That is to say that some books may be well-written, but still not appeal at all to certain readers, even readers who otherwise enjoy that author. That's pretty much how I felt about this book.

On the one hand, it's written by Peter Beagle, who has a wonderful style that I love. He's a great author, and I haven't seen him completely butchering anything.

On the other hand, the book's premise left me cold. The main idea is that after you die you just kind of continue. Beagle decides to go against all of the major ideas about death: no heaven or hell, no ended existence, no nirvana, rebirth, or anything else. Instead, your spirit just kind of hangs around in the cemetery where you're buried (being unable to leave it) and you gradually forget life and being human. Eventually you more or less give up and lay down in your grave to "sleep" (the quotation marks because you can't do that either now that you're dead).

Enter two of the main characters, two people who have just died and are still in their "trying to deal with it and hang on to life" phase. As they hang out in the cemetery, they gradually get to know each other and eventually fall in love.

I think the main point here is that love can come anywhere and any time. There's also supposed to be something about how Michael and Laura are doing their best to hang on to each other and their love despite the hopelessness of their situation. It could probably be a fairly touching story, except that the whole blah-ness of existence after death turned me off. It had such a grey hopelessness to it. That was so strong for me that I couldn't enjoy the rest of the story. I've heard that same feedback from one of my other good friends, so I know I'm not the only one to feel this way. On the other hand, these reviews indicate that many people have loved this book; it obviously can reach people in significant ways. Hopefully this review will help you discern whether this book is for you or not.

Love trumps Death - some magic and nothing spooky
Peter Beagle is well known for his un-rivalled word magic. His highly regarded 'The Last Unicorn' is an absolute classic in its genre and he does it again in this wonderfully written story. It is simply a story of life and love and death (no spooks) and a bit of magic in a cemetery. No magic tricks, just a talking raven and the ability of one man to talk with the dead. So far, nothing that strains the ability to accept the story as presented. I had no such problem. Maybe my being a theoretical physicist is to blame for this. There are lines of un-common beauty in this book. Of the kind that make you think, I wish I could have said this. The story is original. You have never read anything like this. By the time you reach the end of this book only Love and some magic remain.
I've re-read this book, cover to cover, about 10 times. I've re-read sections many more times than that. I would'nt lend my copy to anyone.

Tattered, beloved, 3rd time to replace-
When I loan this one out, I am obessive about it's return.I have read this myself 5 times- and 3 times out loud to others.I wish I could find a new friend that needs to hear this book.The writing is poetry.One of my most beloved books ever.

(I read about 200 books a year.)Mary

Song from far away
Through the title of this book it's worth noting that it's optimistic. It is a story of people passing by life-not death; and lives passing eachother with very opposite and yet spiritually connected tones. Peter S. Beagle forms these lush characters together for the need of something greater than their individual stakes. The character's humanity is seen in the pages of thier eyes, hearts and spirits you will mistake for your own at times. Mr. Beagle has a musical quality to much of his work. It is not about the spirit world-quit as much as it's about the spirit's world- how clearly, we can feel in the most foreign situations.

Ghosts?
I didn't like the concept of this book, consequently didn't like the book. Sorry about that. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

This is the story of a journey we would all like to take.
Beagle paints a vivid picture of the motor scooter journey he and a friend, Phil, took from New York City to California in the early 60s.These are characters you quickly learn to care about.This is a book you want to hurry through to discover what adventure lies over the next hill while at the same time you want to read slowly to savor every paragraph. My only complaint is that the book is too short.

Magic realism.
When I ran across I see by my outfit at a used bookstore i was I only pickecd it up becuse it wasa P.S. Beagle book I didn't have.
It was a simple eonough plot to follow, two college student's, two mopeds, and a goal of leaving their city.
What was capticating was the way the story unfolded. The journey that continued every day for the author is put down on paper so we may look into a world of magic realism.
The flow of the story is amazingly even, as events are dotted along the road side which come up and pass like highway signs.
The flaw the book has comes from trying to be too personel straight from the start. From the first chapter onward there are words from secrest languages that encode the content of the writng making it sometimes incomprehensable.
Still somthing of the book lingers in one's mind, like a residue left from seawater. Sotries and characters stay with you, simply becuse you feel you've met them before.

Beagle's first, Beagle's best
I bought this book in the late sixties and it sat on my shelf until the early nineties.At 16 or 17 it would have been wasted on me.Now it was a revelation.This is not Beagle writing about somewhere and somebody, which he does well enough.This is about him, young, uncertain, riding across America; writing to save his life, figure it out, find himself. It doesn't quite end like a novel.But it ends as a memoir should (especially when written very soon after the facts) as a gift of sharing the wisdom thus far. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

There is such beauty in this book
The photographs are stunning and the message clear and compelling.To the person who reviewed this and called Pat Derby and Ed Stewart hypocrits, you really missed the point.They have provided an amazing sanctuary for these animals and others.They do not promote keeping animals in capitivity, they simply are caring for those that are unfortunetly, already captive. They are providing a wonderful place for them to iive out their lives with the hopes that there will not be a need in the future to provide sanctuary for any others, though sadly, that seems to be only a dream.

THE PHOTOS ALONE ARE WORTH IT!
This is a sweet little book with wonderful photos of these elephants "71" and Mara growing up and finding contentment at PAWS in galt CA. The photos are so touching. It's more of a picture book...a documentary told in beautiful black and white photos...I loved it! the photos alone areworth the price!

Support this cause
In defense of this book, I am compelled to support the spirit of its purpose.Yes it is published by people with captive elephants, but the elephants in this book are now as free as they can be, at the home of PAWS,(Performing Animal Welfare Society) where "abandoned or abusedperforming animals and victims of the exotic animal trade can live in peaceand contentment." They may be visited in person at their Galt,California sanctuary.Kudos to an organization that does not glorify thehuman entertainment of training wild animals to perform unnatural acts.

Don't be fooled
This is a book full of pictures of elephants, NOT a Peter S. Beagle book. He wrote a few paragraphs of an introduction, nothing else. In terms of the rest of the book, it is bland and hypocritical; the authors bemoan the fact of captive elephants, while keeping captive elephants. The pictures are poor quality as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Beautiful story that never leaves you.
Reading this book as a freshman in high school, I could never forget bits and pieces of this unique novella. The only problem, though, is getting a copy of this rare out of print book. Searching for years, I finally found this copy and treasure it. The story is beautiful and it stays with you.

An allegory more than a love story
Very worthwhile reading!I read this book yesterday, dipping in and out throughout a restful day until I finished it. To me, this book is more about an artist's struggle to live in the material world and still be true to his creativity than being a love story.The "love" Eben, the protagonist of the story, has for Jennie, is akin to Don Quixote's love for Dulcinea, a woman mostly of Quixote's imagination who provided the inspiration for his good deeds. Of course, Cervantes was mocking romantic novels of his times, whereas Nathan is showing the beautiful relationship between creativity and our deepest feelings of love and trust in its divine nature - by "divine" I mean that timeless quality.That Jennie first appears as a child is important in that Eben realizes his feelings have a connection to the romantic realm, which for grown men and women in the material world means sexuality becomes involved.Nathan addresses this by having Jennie be a kind of time traveler so his feelings don't seem creepy. This brings Lewis Carroll to mind, whose muse Alice was a child. This book also made me think of Death in Venice by Thomas Mann, another great work that questions how our creativity fits, or doesn't fit, into the material world.

Read the book..... Watch the movie
I watched the movie several times. Even bought the video. Then I read the book. I suggest that you do it the other way around. Both have their strong points. The feel is the same. However the book allowed other people to see and interact with Jennie. In the movie only Eben sees Jennie. The portrait in the bar is different; it is probably some adjustment for the time of the movie. And the ending is different. I am not sure which ending I like best. One interesting notation on the movie, it was shot with a filter that made the movie look like a portrait.

Any way I do not want to describe the plot. So I will tell you that it was nicer to get the Hardcover Buccaneer book, than some old yellowing thing from a secondhand store that costs just as much. I keep the book next to the video and still re-read it periodically.


Portrait of Jennie

read the book ..... watch the movie
I watched the movie several times. Even bought the video. Then I read the book. I suggest that you do it the other way around. Both have their strong points. The feel is the same. However the book allowed other people to see and interact with Jennie. In the movie only Eben sees Jennie. The portrait in the bar is different; it is probably some adjustment for the time of the movie. And the ending is different. I am not sure which ending I like best. One interesting notation on the movie, it was shot with a filter that made the movie look like a portrait.
Any way I do not want to describe the plot. So I will tell you that it was nicer to get the Hardcover Buccaneer book, than some old yellowing thing from a secondhand store that costs just as much. I have it next to the video and still re-read it periodically. If you can not get the Buccaneer version this one will do.

Read the book..... Watch the movie
I watched the movie several times. Even bought the video. Then I read the book. I suggest that you do it the other way around. Both have their strong points. The feel is the same. However the book allowed other people to see and interact with Jennie. In the movie only Eben sees Jennie. The portrait in the bar is different; it is probably some adjustment for the time of the movie. And the ending is different. I am not sure which ending I like best. One interesting notation on the movie, it was shot with a filter that made the movie look like a portrait.

Any way I do not want to describe the plot. So I will tell you that it was nicer to get the Hardcover Buccaneer book, than some old yellowing thing from a secondhand store that costs just as much. I keep the book next to the video and still re-read it periodically.


Portrait of Jennie ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a great anthology for those who want an introduction to this impressive literary period. It provides an eclectic collection that lets the reader sample a wide range of works that touches upon the whole spectrum of the era. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful compilation, but some bad typos
From Mary Shelley's The Mortal Immortal, on p. 90, is the following paragraph:

"Soon after this eventful day, I became the husband of Bertha.I ceased to be the scholar of Cornelius, but I continued his friend.I always felt grateful to him for having, unaware, procured me that Cornelius, but I continued his friend.I always felt grateful to him for having, unaware, procured me that delicious draught of a divine elixir, which instead of curing me of love (sad cure! solitary and joyless remedy for evils which seem blessings to the memor"(Yes, the paragraph ends with "memor")

On p. 96, in the same story:

"This very day I conceived a design by which I may end all--without self-slaughter, without making another man a Cain--an making another man a Cain--an expedition..."

There were also misspellings in previous stories, though I can't cite one at the moment.When a text is unreliable, I mistrust my reading of it, particularly for 19th century works such as are found in the book.

fabulous book,
this book is a great anthology for those who want an introduction to this impressive literary period. It provides an eclectic collection that lets the reader sample a wide range of works that touches upon the whole spectrum of the era. Although I did not enjoy all of the works from this anthology, there was enough taht moved me for me to say it is worth buying. ENJOY! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

unicorn lit
As a child, i remember watchingTHE LAST UNICORN. What got me intrested in reading the source material was caching the movie on tv. I finished the book and I have to say that the movie is pretty close to the book. The major difference being the book is more dark and the magician comes off as a Han Solo-type. ... Read more

Product Description
Produced by Pat Derby with the permission of Peter S. Beagle to support her efforts in saving animals that have worked in film and television. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must read about the plight of animals used in entertainment
This book is wonderful. You will cry. You will become very angry about the injustices of the animal trade in the entertainment industry. It gives an inside look at what goes on that we on the "outside" of the industry know precious little about. Things are not all rosy, far from it. If you wish to stay in denial, this is not the book for you but if you are ready to hear the truth, it's a must read.

Walking a fine line.
I, too, bought this book in the 70s, and was cured by it of the notion that wild animals can ever live happily with people.After ten years as a veterinary technician, I've had to back off that notion, but only a little.There are a very, very few people out there who are willing to understand a wild animal and adapt themselves to its needs.These people--many of them are trainers--can actually enrich the lives of the captive wild animals they work with.I'm not one of them.You'll probably conclude, after reading this book, that you aren't either.

That Pat (and her excellent ghostwriter Peter S. Beagle) can negotiate this boundary is remarkable.Although the book is quite sentimental, it also talks about the dangers of sentiment.And Pat doesn't pull any punches, sharing with us times when, out of ignorance and/or desparation, she did things she isn't proud of.She comes off as being deeply divided, and rightly so, about her right to have anything to do with these creatures, even though she obviously loves them deeply and devotes her life to understanding them.The last I heard, she was involved in sanctuary work, rescuing exotic "pets."Hallelujah!

For a deeper undestanding of the conversations that can happen between humans and animals when true respect and attention are maintained, I also recommend the books of trainer Vicki Hearne. ... Read more

Product Description
A courageous little girl who outwits a wolf, an unhappy king who wants a son, and a good woman who is rewarded with flying money are included in this collection of Hebrew fables. ... Read more

Product Description
"Presented by Richard M. Owens & Tony Lane, American Denim: A New Folk Art, Text by Peter Beagle, Photographs by Baron Wolman and the Denim Artists: James H. Lind, Joy Ng, Randy Freeman, Dug Miles, S. Alexis Pawlik, Linda L. Leitnaker, Wende Stitt, Gretchen Koepsel, Marigold A. Lamb, Bill Shire, Nicki Marx, Vincent D. Taylor, Paula Gulbicki, Louise Crandell-Kerr and Sandra Musashi, Mara Mercer, Kris Koza, Kay Chellman Millet, Susan van den Heuvel, Ann Meske, Judy Manley, Lauretta M. Jones, Benita Cullinan, Steve Ostrom, Calvin Martens, Ken Waters, Julie Elliott, Etsuko Betty Yoshioka, Kay M. Aronson, Lori Feldman, C. Kenneth Havis, Rick Rogers, Megan Rickards, Constance Comment, Anna V. A. Polesny, Christine A. McDonald, Louise Halsey, Susan Cole, Betty F. Wallenstein, Sherry Stevens, Kay Bratun, Martha Green, Hopeton Morris, Ruby Uehara, Russell Richter, Kay Shuper, Anne Struthers, Gretchen Kelly, Wayne Lohr, Phoebe Berrey, Cheryl Kartes, Sheryn Gerber Berlinski, Grace Giusti, Sandra L. Brown, Suzann Dunaway, Darcy Green, Debra Lynn Tygell, Chuck Van Horn, Dale Sizer." [from the book] ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Sense Of Style Or A Liking For Brightness
"Clothing is our most immediate environment, and yet as global differences in dress decrease, it sometimes seems as if everyone had the same exterior.
Are you a decron or a polyester?"
SHARON PERNA. Riverside, Connecticut

"Some time ago, art left the immediate realm of the common person."
LUCRETIA KREBS. Vancouver, Washington

"For myself, I have always wanted fur, ever since I saw and touched my first cat.
(I have also wanted to be a cat since that day, but that is definitely another matter.)
I can remember arguing in junior high school science classes against the theory that hair, per se, implies a higher level of evolution for its possessor than fur or feathers do, and that dreary naked skin is obviously the covering of the most advanced species.
"The students will please take note that it is not a giant sea other who wrote the textbooks or is teaching this class. Sit down, Beagle."
That was a dreary time, however much the packagers of freeze-dried nostalgia try to persuade me otherwise. I was there, and I remember.
They never tell you what an either/or time it was: the two-party system carried right on down through all strata of the culture.
Nixon or Humphrey, Pat Boone or Elvis, white bucks or brown Oxdords, thin red ties or thin blue ties, jocks or grinds, Korea or ROTC, Eliot or Ginsberg, Hemingway or Hemingway. Alternatives were suspect in themselves, and
A SENSE OF STYLE OR A LIKING FOR BRIGHTNESS could cost you your job on charges of being some kind of [...], anyway.
Girls wore girdles and poodle cuts and got teaching certificates..."
[from the book] ... Read more

Product Description
Whimsical. Lyrical. Poignant. Adapted for the first time from the acclaimed and beloved novel by Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn is a tale for any age about the wonders of magic, the power of love, and the tragedy of loss. The unicorn, alone in her enchanted wood, discovers that she may be the last of her kind. Reluctant at first, she sets out on a journey to find her fellow unicorns, even if it means facing the terrifying anger of the Red Bull and malignant evil of the king who wields his power.Adapted by Peter B. Gillis and lushly illustrated by Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon. ... Read more