Customer Reviews (7)

Heat is old-time fun.
Goldman knows how to write a fun book to read and his only fault is that he doesn't write more novels (or hasn't since '86's "Brothers" the sequel to "The Marathon Man").

Heat is far from being a perfect book, but comes very close to being very good. I enjoyed it the first time I read it almost 20 years ago and although I've changed and the world changed Heat hasn't suffered much or has become outdated as so many "better" books like "Rising Sun" have. It takes place firmly in the 1980's but doesn't like a book written during that period rather more of a book that takes place in that year not from that year. Basically, it's not tied down with past ideologies and mores from those years that most of us have outgrown or simply forgotten. It's a great book that keeps you reading and this is something rare in most books. It's a stripped down novel that with another writer telling this story probably would have been three times longer. It takes a great story teller to strip a story down to just it's bone without loosing the book's presence and scope.
Probably because of Goldman's screenplay experience he's able make every word, thought and description count and probably is why his books haven't done well as movies because you can't strip his stories down any further. The only way to properly do a Goldman book is to rewrite it for the screen.
Heat is worth discovering if you haven't had the chance. It's fun and worth a mention or two even after all these years.

No Emotional Connections
I received this book as a Christmas gift having never read a William Goldman novel. Let's just say that I'm not too keen on reading another.

I would give a quick plot synopsis of this book, but that is one of the main problems...it just seems to wander from plot point to plot point with little coherence. Each "chapter" seems like its own contained little story with much too little overall context.

Also, the main character--Nick Escalante--is supposed to be an interesting character portrait of a Las Vegas lifer, but instead he is just a guy who sort of goes from one job to the next...nothing too interesting.

Once I finished reading Heat, I had absolutely no emotional connection to either the plot or the main characters whatsoever...it was pretty much a waste of the time I spent reading it. Unless you are a hard-core fan of gangster films/books, I can pretty much guarantee that you won't find this book compelling whatsoever.

No Emotional Connections
I received this book as a Christmas gift having never read a William Goldman novel. Let's just say that I'm not too keen on reading another.

I would give a quick plot synopsis of this book, but that is one of the main problems...it just seems to wander from plot point to plot point with little coherence. Each "chapter" seems like its own contained little story with much too little overall context.

Also, the main character--Nick Escalante--is supposed to be an interesting character portrait of a Las Vegas lifer, but instead he is just a guy who sort of goes from one job to the next...nothing too interesting.

Once I finished reading Heat, I had absolutely no emotional connection to either the plot or the main characters whatsoever...it was pretty much a waste of the time I spent reading it. Unless you are a hard-core fan of gangster films/books, I can pretty much guarantee that you won't find this book compelling whatsoever.

No Emotional Connections
I received this book as a Christmas gift having never read a William Goldman novel. Let's just say that I'm not too keen on reading another.

I would give a quick plot synopsis of this book, but that is one of the main problems...it just seems to wander from plot point to plot point with little coherence. Each "chapter" seems like its own contained little story with much too little overall context.

Also, the main character--Nick Escalante--is supposed to be an interesting character portrait of a Las Vegas lifer, but instead he is just a guy who sort of goes from one job to the next...nothing too interesting.

Once I finished reading Heat, I had absolutely no emotional connection to either the plot or the main characters whatsoever...it was pretty much a waste of the time I spent reading it. Unless you are a hard-core fan of gangster films/books, I can pretty much guarantee that you won't find this book compelling whatsoever.

No Emotional Connections
I received this book as a Christmas gift having never read a William Goldman novel.Let's just say that I'm not too keen on reading another.

I would give a quick plot synopsis of this book, but that is one of the main problems...it just seems to wander from plot point to plot point with little coherence.Each "chapter" seems like its own contained little story with much too little overall context.

Also, the main character--Nick Escalante--is supposed to be an interesting character portrait of a Las Vegas lifer, but instead he is just a guy who sort of goes from one job to the next...nothing too interesting.

Once I finished reading Heat, I had absolutely no emotional connection to either the plot or the main characters whatsoever...it was pretty much a waste of the time I spent reading it.Unless you are a hard-core fan of gangster films/books, I can pretty much guarantee that you won't find this book compelling whatsoever. ... Read more

Product Description
The First Time I Got Paid For It is an unprecedented collection of essays by over 50 leading film and television writers, edited by Laura Shapiro and Peter Lefcourt for the Writers Guild Foundation, with an introduction by screenwriting legend William Goldman. Linked by the theme of a writer's "first time"--usually the first time they got paid for their work, but sometimes veering off into other, more unconventional, "first times," these essays examine what it takes to succeed, what it takes to write well, and other aspects of maintaining creativity and integrity while striving for a career in Hollywood. Richard LaGravanese ( The Fisher King, The Horse Whisperer, Living Out Loud ) confesses that his first paying writing job was crafting phone sex scripts. Nicholas Kazan ( Reversal of Fortune, Mathilda ) explains why, in Hollywood, a verbal "yes" often turns out to be a written "no." Peter Casey writes about the unparalleled pitch meeting for the award-winning NBC series Frasier.Virtually every big name writer in Hollywood has contributed to this collection; it is essential research material for anyone trying to make it in the entertainment industry, and a perfect read for movie buffs everywhere.TheFirst Time I Got Paid For It is an unprecedented collection, edited by Peter Lefcourt and Laura J. Shapiro for the Writers Guild Foundation, of essays by Americas best screenwriters. Linked by a theme of the writers first timeusually the first time they got paid for their work, but sometimes something a bit more unconventional, each essay investigates what it takes to succeed in Hollywood and what it takes to write well. Richard La Gravanese ( The Fisher King, The Horse Whisperer, Living Out Loud ) confesses that his first paying writing job was crafting phone sex scripts. Nicholas Kazan ( Reversal of Fortune, Matilda ) explains why, in Hollywood, a verbal yes often turns out to be a written no. Peter Casey writes about the unparalled pitch meeting for the award winning NBC series Frasier. Amy Holden Jones ( Mystic Pizza, Indecent Proposal ) discusses her first sale: Slumber Party Massacre .Cameron Crowe ( Jerry McGuire, Say Anything, Singles ) tells of his astonishment when his screenplay for Fast Times at Ridgemont High makes people laugh. Steven Bochco ( NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues ) writesabout his first job: (unknowingly) rewriting the legendary Rod Serling of Twilight Zone fame. Daniel Petrie , Jr. ( Beverly Hills Cop, The Big Easy ) explains why being fired fromhis job as an agent was the first step toward becoming a real writer, and Alan Alda discusses the challenges of writingfor M*A*S*H, and why dancing around a hotel room is a sure sign of a script coming together.Over fifty writers, virtually every big name in Hollywood, have contributed to this collection, which is essential reading for anyone who wants to make it as a writer in Tinsel Town. Each essay reveals what life as a writer in thereal Hollywood is actually like. Full of wisdom and incredible stories about surviving in the movie business, The FirstTime I Got Paid For It is crucial for anyone whos dreamed of hearing their words spoken on the silver screen.With a foreword by screenwriting legend William Goldman, it is also aperfect read for anyone who is a movie bluff or curious about what happens on the other side of the camera. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

more truth than some people can handle, apparently
I'm a screenwriter.Not a big name, no big successful movies or TV shows yet, but I'm working on it.This book isn't the endless parade of "how I won the lottery in Hollywood" tales that some people want...but that's because it reflects the reality of a career in screenwriting.

Truth is you need skills AND luck AND connections.It's a tough gig, it really is.Million-dollar screenplay sales are veryrare these days.Only about 5% of the scripts produced bewteen 2000 and 2004 were written "on spec" (that is, a screenplay some writer sat down & created, then turned around and sold as a completed piece of work).Most work is done as a "hired hand" in one form or another.War stories like these are a useful reality check for anyone thinking about taking up the career.If you LOVE to write, it can be a great job.If you want to get rich, buy lottery tickets, your odds are better.

Also check out Wordplayer.com and SamAndJimGoToHollywood.com for realistic tales of struggle.

Spotty and unfocused series of essays and memories
Very spotty. Some good pieces in here that offer nice anecdotes and wisdom, and a LOT of worthless filler that offers pretty much nothing. Doesn't offer near the level of insight I had hoped for and expected, and was even pretty boring for gossip. With the exception of six or seven excellent essay, it's a bunch of writers who repeat the same story over and over again: "I used to not get a lot of writing work, then a friend helped get me a job, and now I write a lot."

Yawn. Save your money.

Not what I was expecting
Maybe I missed the fine-print or something, but this book isn't what I was expecting, really, or what I was looking for. The book doesn't get three stars because it's bad -- it's not a bad book -- but because I think, well, the title is a sort of false advertising. When I picked up the book, I was expecting essays by successful writers about how they broke into the business of screenwriting ... inspirational-type stuff. Instead, what the book contains are stories about:

"The first time I ...

"... sold a tv-pilot after working for fifteen years as a staff-writer for a highly successful television show."

Or ...

"The first time I ...

"... adapted one of my highly sucessful stage plays into a screenplay."

And so on.

Many of the personal essays are interesting, some are funny, and the book is worth reading, if what you want to read are the kind of mildly amusing, sometimes hopeful essays contained in this book. If what you want is a book of essays by highly successful screenwriters about how the broke into the business, you'll find little (although some) of that here.

Hope for us all
One of the things I'd like to do in my life is write a screenplay.I haven't actually done it yet, and I have no idea what the process is like.But this book was a very interesting read.It has given me a renewed sense of hope.Some of the writers' stories in this book are like fairy tales to the hopeful screenwriters, and some of the stories show the reality to us.Reading these has helped me learn what to expect--because I understand that most of these writers were lucky, and that's a lot of what it takes to make it in Hollywood.Let's hope I have it.

Also, I must point out that the forward by William Goldman was worth the price of the book all by itself.I thought I was going to die laughing.I think I read the whole thing out loud to my roommate.

All in all, this is a wonderful book, with many memorable and hopeful stories.

Inspiring in an offbeat way ...
For anyone who's ever wanted to get paid for it, you ought to read this book. Especially wonderful for those who follow the Who's Who of Hollywood writers, and how they struggled. The foreword by William Goldman is especially charming as is the closing anecdote by Steve Zaillian, which I found touching. Audrey Wells' tale is flippant and funny as is Pamela Gray's. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful Book!
If you love the movie "A Bridge Too Far" this book is a must have.It offers insights and details into the making of the movie, etc. that make a great movie even better.(FYI: This was our second copy because the first finally fell apart if that tells you anything!)Enjoy! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Innocence lost
A book that belongs in the same class as "Catcher in the Rye" or "A Separate Peace." It is a long look into the phantoms that drive a true artist to look within themselves, see the dark forces that hide in everyone of us and the innocence we all lose when we recognize them.

So bad it's great!
Dear Mr. Goldman,

I've enjoyed your novels, nonfiction, and movies as much as anyone else, and I'd read a lot of them again and try a few I haven't read. I'm enjoying The Colour of Light (the hardback I'm reading 24 years after its publication was printed in England) because it's so very bad that it deserves being called magnificently bad. On the basis of this book alone, you might be thought the Norman Rockwell of the novel.

Thank you, Sir, for all the entertainment you've given me and the seeds you planted in my mind to bloom after taking root in concrete. I was pleasantly surprised to find fascinating scenes about college, the publishing business, New York City in all its long-gone glory, researching, and most important to me, the hints about people whose parents were alcoholics, even if they are sober now or dead now.

I've learned that keeping secrets and never opening up to anyone, even your best friend, your spouse, or your shrink is typical CoA (Children of Alcoholics) behavior. I've experienced other 12-step programs, but that is a new insight for me. Thanks!

I'm only up to page 234, but I appear to be suffering from poor impulse control, because I wanted to write this before the book ends. Write on!

Into the mind of a writer
Have you ever wondered just how many people in a big city like New York are unhappy and have seen their dreams shattered ? This books gives an insight of characheters whose lives once filled with dreams are reduced to rational 'one a day at a time' lives.

The main story is about a young man Charles 'Chub' Fuller who writes a great novel about the woman of his dreams and the horrors of his childhood. Charles later suffers from writers block and is unable to write and ends up being a taxi driver and later a researcher.
The sadness in the novel is evident as virtually none of the characters achieves their dreams or actually lives a happy life. Despite a slow start, the authors style is great inspired me to want to be a writer.

Not for me
A friend gave me this book to read, and I was very disappointed. This author seems to have a problem with women. All of the problems in the protagonist's life seem to have been caused by women.All of the women characters appear to be mentally deranged.I could't wait for it to end.

Yuck.

One of the great overlooked pieces of literature
This book is fascinating reading for anyone interested in the writing profession. Mr. Goldman's ability to bring characters to life with such eloquence is unmatched. The only other author I can think of to touch me so deeply is Don Robertson, and possibly John Irving . You feel for the characters, you ache for them, you laugh with them, and cry with them. I especially enjoyed it because of the references to Oberlin College (a stones throw away from me). But this book fascinated me from the first time I read it, and I continue to read every couple of years and it still moves me. Mr. Goldman is undoubtedly one of the greatest screenwiters and storytellers of our time. Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies, but that's another review. On to the next... ... Read more

Product Description
Top screenwriter and novelist William Goldman's Adventures in the Screen Trade was a trade paperback hit after a moderately successful hardcover run. Hype and Glory--his critically praised, controversial insider's look at both Cannes and the Miss America Pageant--promises to be an even more potent seller. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Enjoyable
Goldman relates some funny anedotes in this book. That's mainly what it is, a bunch of anecdotes. He's ridiculously dramatic when relating his personal life, and his bleeding-heart-liberal moments are almost laughable in their (unintended) schmaltziness. And he is so opinionated about films, that, if you've seen the ones he's talking about, may scratch your head about the certaintly of his wrong-headed opinions. Despite those flaws, the book is very entertaining. And it inspired me to rent the movie he voted for the Cannes jury prize award (I won't say which one and give the surprise away), which, indeed, is a great film.

Entertaining
I loved this book. It has been quite a wait for the next Repairman Jacknovel to arrive. I remember when I first read the the Tomb I was amazed andhave been anticipating a new chapter ever since. This book did notdissapoint. My favorite chapter without giving to much away was Jack'sbooby trapped hideout and the suprises that it held in store for the thugs.I only had two minor gripes. I wish there was more of a supernaturalelement to the story like in the Tomb but that is just a personalpreferance, also the relationship between Alicia and the cop never reallyseemed to have a purpose, it was all set up and had your interest but thenit just dissapeared. Anyway read the book you will be entertained.

Entertaining
The writing in HYPE AND GLORY is sloppy beyond belief at times, but most of the anecdotes are amusing enough to keep you breezily turning the pages. For reading around the back yard this summer, this book should do the trick.

Entertaining
The writing in HYPE AND GLORY is sloppy beyond belief at times, but most of the anecdotes are amusing enough to keep you breezily turning the pages. For reading around the back yard this summer, this book should do the trick. ... Read more

Product Description
William Goldman's remarkable career spans more than five decades, and his credentials run the gamut from bestselling novelist to Oscar-winning screenwriter to Hollywood raconteur. He's beloved by millions of readers as the author of the classic comic-romantic fantasy The Princess Bride. And he's notorious for creating the most harrowing visit to the dentist in literary and cinematic history--in one of the seminal thrillers of the twentieth century. . . .

MARATHON MAN

Tom "Babe" Levy is a runner in every sense: racing tirelessly toward his goals of athletic and academic excellence--and endlessly away from the specter of his famous father's scandal-driven suicide. But an unexpected visit from his beloved older brother will set in motion a chain of events that plunge Babe into a vortex of terror, treachery, and murder--and force him into a race for his life . . . and for the answer to the fateful question, "Is it safe?"
... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Terrific Thriller
When I was eight or so (possibly younger), I strayed on the torture scene from the film Marathon Man on a hotel room TV. I've never quite forgotten it, and I don't think I'll ever quite forget this book.

In Marathon Man, Thomas Babington Levy is a struggling graduate student majoring in history at Columbia University. He's also a marathon man, training to run in his first marathon. When he unwittingly gets drawn in to a world of spying and espionage, he must use his wits and his limited resources to survive.

Goldman's writing--possibly because he's a screenwriter--is as taut and edgy as a too-sharp violin string; he doesn't waste a word, and he plays the tension so tight you're not going to put this book down even when you want to. Yet he deftly manages to sprinkle the book with humor, and the twists are truly clever and--to me, at least--unexpected, though they were integral to the story. Fans of Stuart Neville and John LeCarré will probably like this book, too.

A Sprint Of A Read
I sprinted through this short novel. I'm very familiar with the wonderful film version, having seen in many times over the years, but have only just read this great book.

If you have seen the movie, I would still urge you to read the novel as there are a few distinctions between the two that really make it worthwhile. One of the biggest differences involves Doc, the spy. I won't spoil it, but I was quite surprised, considering when this novel was written.

The protagonist in the book is Babe, a college student and marathon trainee. He's a brilliant young man, much like his older brother, and almost in the same league as his idolized father. Goldman did a remarkable job bringing these characters to life, with humor, guts, and some surprise qualities as well. One thing that impressed me about the book was the hard edge it has, despite some terrific moments of levity and wit. When needed, several of the characters display a capacity for violence that is unexpected. I enjoyed the intellect of the characters, which was a big theme in this novel. Brains vs. brawn, and the willingness to put mind over matter.

Many books are described as "page turners" and such. This is one of those rare books that live up to the hype.

The Book that Turned Me Into a Writer
This is, hands down, one of the greatest thrillers ever written.I read it when I was around seventeen years old and it had such a visceral impact on me that I knew this was the type of book I wanted to write.I've been trying to achieve the same thing with my own work ever since.Goldman has a style, a wit, a voice that simply sings.And, as usual with his genre books, he gives us a whopper of a twist.Followed by another later down the line.I almost feel guilty even telling you there ARE twists, but then it wouldn't be vintage Goldman without them.

A lot of people judge Goldman's work by his movies, having never read the books they were based on.I urge you to enjoy the movie version, but take a look at the original work and see how wonderful it is.If it sounds like I'm gushing, it's because I am.

Gripping Thriller
Marathon Man is a fast-paced thriller penned to keep you on the edge of your seat.The ingridients include intrigue, betrayal, violence, torture, revenge, and a secret government agency operating outside the law.Young "Babe" Levy is a graduate student and amateur distance runner getting by in a one-room apartment in New York City in the 1970's.Unbeknownst to Babe, his older brother Doc works for the Division, a secret government agency straight out of a CIA/goon squad nightmare.The Division negotiates with theives and war criminals in a sort of attempt to further government interests.The Division is currently negotiating with is Szell, an escaped Nazi war criminal seeking to enter New York City just long enough to collect some diamonds his deceased father held for him.Babe Levy and Szell don't know each other, but they soon meet in a scene of frightful creepiness.Start with an innocent young man, a war criminal, and double-crossing agents, then add McCarthyism, a beautiful European girlfriend, holocaust survivors, plus double-crossing danger. Sound exciting?You can read this thriller in a few short hours.Marathon Man was adapted into a memorable 1976 movie starring Dustin Hoffman and Sir Laurence Olivier.Those who saw that movie, and/or read this book, will probably never forget the significance of this short but powerful question.Is it Safe?

Goldman is a thriller king
Goldman is one of my Top Three favorite authors, which is saying something, considering Twain is one of the others. This is a fast-paced novel that goes the distance, with intrigue, characterization, and that all-important quality: it keeps you turning the page.

Scott Nicholson
The Red Church vs. They Hunger ... Read more

Product Description
"Unbelievable as it may sound, William Goldman has pulled off a minor miracle by writing at this late date a genuinely funny and touching novel about barracks life.If nothing else, the book is worth the price of admission for its explanation of the ground rules of a game called 'Grading Women'...There is a full, rich measure of reading pleasure in this book that expertly runs the gamut from belly laughs to tearjerking.Long after you've forgotten the details of the incidents, you'll remember the warm thread of compassion that runs through the book.Soldier in the Rain, to put it bluntly and as clearly as possible, is a marvelous book and William Goldman is a most talented novelist." --- New York Herald Tribune ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Shot at the Title
Yo yo! I seen this "Wigger" book `uz been written by a bro name'a Goldman, so's I figger it gots to be a autobibliography of a dude from the Hood who likes the 14-karat. Says he also put words down `bout "Adventures in the Screen Trade" - man must make the dough sellin' porch doors. My kinds'a book is what I'm sayin', dig?

So's I'm readin' it on the porcelain, and turns out to be some kiddie story `bouts a girl who loses her blankie. Blankie talks and gots a face too, like it be alive or sumpthin'. S'up with that, dawg?

I was so fired up I whipped off my backwards visor, bro. I's about to call the Darien, CT Branch lib'ary `n register my discontents, y'know - but my stepbrother Gavin tells me it's wrote by the dude that cooked up "Princess Bride." My squeeze Ashleigh loves that flick, man. If it's on when I happens to be catchin' up wit "8 Mile," she makes me change th' channel. Okay by me, `cuz Andre the Giant be my MAN.

Anyways, I give "Wigger" another chance, man...and it's like a heartwarmin' tale and all that s**t. Hear wha'I'm sayin'? Give it a check out.

A wonderful, fantastical story!
This book by the author of "The Princess Bride" is a heartwarming children's story about a girl and her security blanket. It is sweetand will make you ache for Mr.Goldman to write another children's book! Iloved it. ... Read more

Product Description
William Goldman is famous for his Academy Award-winning screenplays, infamous for the thriller that did for dentists what Psycho did for showers, beloved for his hilarious "hot fairy-tale," and notorious for his candid behind-the-scenes Hollywood chronicles. But long before Butch and Sundance, Buttercup, and the Tinsel-Town tell-alls, he made his mark as one of the great popular novelists of the twentieth century. Now his sweeping, classic tale of a generation's tumultuous coming-of-age is at last back in print.

BOYS & GIRLS TOGETHER

Aaron, Walt, Jenny, Branch, and Rudy. They are children of America's post-war generation, as different from one another as anyone can be. Yet they are bound together by the traumas of their pasts, the desperate desire to capture their dreams and satisfy their passions, the stirring pleasures of sexual awakening--and the twists of fate that will inextricably link their lives in the turbulent world of 1960s New York City.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Simply the Best
I brought Boys and Girls together in a drug store where I brought all my paper backs.This book I could never put down! It left an impression on me to this day.I still have the book.But talk about taking you into the story as almost like you become the characters!That was such good reading for a teen, thank God my parents didn't screen what we read!Why it wasn't made into a moive or even a play was a mistake not to have done so.The baby boomers would love it over 6 millon of us!Thank you Mr. Goldman!

Well written but too long and dated
I read this back in the late 1980s.I had just read "Magic" and "The Princess Bride" and LOVED them so I decided to read all Goldman's books.I picked this up, read it and really started to question if he really WAS a great author. This book is well-written but that's about the only positive thing I can say about it.All the characters are either unpleasant or just pathetic.There's not one remotely likable character in the entire book and considering the book runs for over 700 pages it makes it a chore to read.I was incredibly depressed by the end of the book and couldn't care less about the characters.Also this is full of some really evil or sick things happening to everybody.It got to the point where I was bracing myself for the next tragedy to happen.It's views on gay men are (by todays standards) homophobic and incredibly negative. I suppose back in the late 1960s it was daring to write about gay characters but it adds nothing to the book.Too long, too unpleasant and dated.Goldman's other books are much better than this.

This is a book about sado-masochism
I read this book years ago and loved it.Also I was horrified by it.I've read it twice and though doing this is once again causing me to question myself, I'm going to buy another copy.If I remember, every single character in it is sado-masochistic.If the ending doesn't tell you, or the death of the deaf boy (Rudy?) and what happens a few minutes later in his confrontation (a little ironic that, no, he wasn't dead at the confrontation) with his hideous parents, you either aren't concentrating, have something to hide from yourself or just don't want to know.

Anyway this book (my first by Goldman) made me buy and read every book he wrote after that (even the short tossed-off ones) until I finally got tired either of Goldman or reading.

However, none of the other books by him I read was really sadistic, only sad, a moment of horror, the snappy ending of Butch Cassidy, etc, so I guess Goldman was just trying something and is not actually a sadistic person himself.I'd like to believe that because I think his writing is wonderful, and as someone once said, people like to think well of the people they admire."Soldier in the Rain" is my second (maybe first, since it's only sad, not ugly) choice of Goldman.I really liked the movie of that book too.

Sex and nostalgia
I recently re-read Boys and Girls Together to see if it was as good as I remembered. When I first read it in 1969 or '70 I was impressed with the way Goldman structured the story. Each chapter was a separate story with a new protagonist, but as the book progressed the stories came together, the unrelated characters who we first see as children or students grow up, move to New York and meet one another, and their lives become intertwined. Back then I thought that was an ingenuous way of structuring a plot. I was also titillated by the many sex scenes, much in the way the whole world had been titillated by books such as Peyton Place and The Valley of the Dolls. Now, 40 years later, I was surprised at how well it has retained it's impact. It may not be as revolutionary as it once was, but it is still a highly entertaining novel.

it was better when I read it at age 16
I remembered loving this book when I read it in high school. however, almost 20 years later (and much longer after it was written), I didn't feel like the book had held up. The characters remain unique, and the dialog solid, but the plot and characters where much less compelling than I had remembered. The authors introduction was defiant, but I am inclined to agree with some of the reviewers of the day; it's just okay. Goldman has much to be proud of in his ouvre, and Boys&Girls fits somewhere in the middle. It's a coming of age story set half a century ago with themes that are still relevant today. The execution of these themes feels less novel - and it may be because when I read it first, it was the first book that dealt with such adult ideas that it was new to me. Unlikable characters result in lukewarm interest on the readers part, and that in the end is what I took away this time ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This is the BEST of William Goldman
THIS BOOK IS SIMPLY AND UNDENIABLY AMAZING. I've read No Way To Treat A Lady and it is and continues to be the best of his books yet. Goldman wrote this the way every book should be written; he allowed the characters to carry the story instead of letting the plot lead or get in the way of the characters. He makes this book all about The Story and the roles the characters play within it. It's amazing, though, that it's the characters that bring the story to life. Even though it lacks the vivid descriptions and details about each person that most authors think imperative to a book, these characters capture our feelings, allowing us to imagine and create their character, thus allowing us to empathize with them.

To be less scholarly, however, let me say that this book is also the funniest thing I've ever read (surprising as it's a murder mystery)! I laughed out loud at several moments. And I could NOT put it down! I read it in one sitting! I've given it to every one of my friends, who agree it's one of if not the best books they've ever read. It has so much witty dialogue - how could you NOT love that?!

Goldman is an intelligent author and absolutely one of the best of our time. (He's also a screenwriter, which begs the question: WHY ISN'T THIS A MOVIE?!?) READ THIS BOOK! You will NOT regret it.

Good Goldman, but not Goldman at his best
I've read several William Goldman books and like his others, this one is an easy and fun read. However, I found some of his other books to be more engrossing (The Princess Bride, Marathon Man etc.) Still, this book about aserial killer on the loose in New York is a good read....creepy, scary andvery entertaining. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A superb resource that teaches by example
Dreamcatcher: The Shooting Script is a unique book that presents the William Goldman and Lawrence Kasdan collaborative film script of the movie "Dreamcatcher", along with an extensive commentary describing how Stephen King's popular horror novel was successfully adapted to the silver screen. A superb resource that teaches by example the tips, tricks, and techniques of professional screen writers, Dreamcatcher: The Shooting Script is a welcome addition to personal, professional, and film school resource collections and reference archives. ... Read more

Product Description
This book includes an interesting introduction on how this film starring Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer - based on the terrifying true story of the man-eating lions of Tsavo - came to be, the complete screenplay by William Goldman, and fabulous photos from the film throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

well-crafted tale
William Goldman is one of the top screenwriters of our times and in "The Ghost and the Darkness" he is at his best. Not a word or a scene wasted. Packed with action. ... Read more

Product Description
Exploring his thirty-four year position on the United States Supreme Court, a detailed account of his significant contribution to the modern law on freedom of speech and the press notes his positions on civil rights, education, and capital punishment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Judicial Career
I must begin this review by admitting my biases.No, Iam not related to David Gallen.Roger Goldman, however, did teach me constitutional law at St. Louis University during Justice Brennan's service on the Supreme Court.

Justice Brennan was one of the longest serving justices on the Supreme Court, serving from his appointment by President Eisenhower in 1956 until his retirement in 1990.A member of the New Jersey Supreme Court before his nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, Brennan became one of the court's consistently liberal justices during his 34 year tenure.

This book is in no way a biography of William J. Brennan, Jr., although some biographical details do work themselves into the narrative.This book is an exposition of the judicial legacy of this very important justice of the twentieth century.

This book is organized into three sections.The first section contains tributes to Brennan from others who have known him, primarily his former clerks.Section II contains a summary of the judicial positions which Brennan championed in his opinions.Section III contains a collection of Brennan's most important opinions.

This book is a worthwhile read, whether you are a fan of Justice Brennan or whether you see him as an activist justice run amuck.His fans will revel in his judicial literature.Strict constructionists will find justification for criticism of his kind in the pages of this book.All will notice his shift from an intellectual mainstay of the liberal Warren Court, to a sometime dissenter and sometime majority builder on the Burger Court to his role as a frequent dissenter on the Rehnquist Court, who still packed the punch necessary to bring an occasional majority to his thinking.When he failed to persuade the majority he left his dissents for liberals who he knew would follow later.

Read and enjoy. ... Read more

Product Description
Faster reference...better practice! If you aren't already getting your medical information from Cecil Medicine, it's time for you to start. The 23rd Edition is quite simply the fastest and best place to find all of the clinical answers you need! Both inside the remarkably user-friendly printed version of this Expert Consult title and on its fully searchable web site, you'll find definitive, unbiased, evidence-based guidance on the evaluation and management of every medical condition-from a veritable "who's who" of preeminent leaders in the field.

• A new chapter format makes clinically actionable information leap right off the page-including algorithms to simplify decision making.
  
• Access to the complete contents of this Expert Consult title online, fully searchable, permits rapid consultation from anyplace with an Internet connection.
  
• A wealth of brand-new chapters and comprehensive updates throughout put the latest knowledge and evidence-based practices at your fingertips.

Customer Reviews (25)

Great information -
These books have a series of articles about various medical topics. While I found it very informative, it is written for med students but it is not difficult to understand.

CECIL MEDICINE IS STILL THE STANDARD
THIS IS A STANDARD MEDICAL TEXT.IT IS DESIGNED FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OR MEDICAL STUDENT.IF YOU WANT THE ANSWER TO A MEDICAL QUESTION IT IS PROBABLY HERE.IF YOU ARE NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSINAL (MD), AND WANT ANSWERS, TRY THE "HOME EDITION OF THE MERCK MANUAL".FOR A MEDICAL MANUAL (MORE COMPLEX THAT HOME EDITIONS, BUT NOT A FULL BLOWN MEDICAL TEXT BOOK), TRY THE MERCK MANUALIT HAS BEEN A STANDARD TO 100+ YEARS.

Must have for Reference
This is a great book.I've used Harrison's as a required book for my school, but it is not as organized and thorough as Cecil Medicine.Cecil is gives you a clear-cut thorough anatomy, and pathophysiology, along with up-to-date treatment and interventions for each disease discussed. The set up is not like a boring medical textbook.Reading this book sparks my interest to know more about the disease I am learning.It is a heavy book, but worth it! Even the MD that was precepting me for Internal Med. highly recommended this book.

Great book for medschool students
Hi.... i really recommend this book for all the medschool students, it explains each disease in a very easy way to understand and learn about it, also the way it is structered helps to have a logical sequence of the disease (intro, epidemiology, physiopatology, etc).

An excellent tool when becoming a Dr.

Oh!!!Do I have to?
I've used this textbook since the early 1970s.This newest edition is just fine. ... Read more

Product Description
The return of a beloved classic,
from the bestselling author of The Princess Bride!

Once upon a time, the gondoliers of Venice possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days--and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing. No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers. No one, it seems, but S. Morgenstern. Now Morgenstern recounts the sad and noble story of the ambitions, frustrations, and eventual triumph of Luigi, the gondolier with the goony smile.

Here, in this brilliantly illustrated exposition of the surprising facts behind this all-but-forgotten mystery, S. Morgenstern reveals the fascinating truths about John the Bastard, Laura Lorenzini, the centenarian Cristaldi the Pickle, Enrico Caruso, Porky XII, the Great Sorrento, the Queen of Corsica--and of course, the one and only Luigi. His tale will captivate you as much as his song! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

The Magic of Princess Bride, But Short, Innocent, and Delightful
The word 'farce' is not deep enough to describe the deep humor that is the whole book - the so-called author's notes and explanations why there's been such a delay since the publication of Princess Bride - and you should not miss a word of it.The Silent Gondoliers is high art of a sort known only to S. Morgenstern ... ahem ... William Goldman.The very pen name has a story hanging from it.Indeed, as described at The Jaded Consumer, the whole story itself hangs from the supposed author's supposed confusion:
[...]

That said, the story itself is more artful yet - because it is not only a belly-laugh, it's deep with the emotion and humanity evoked by S. Morgenstern - ahem ... William Goldman - in The Princess Bride.

Unlike the Princess Bride and its cast of characters who exchange vengeance, betrayal, murder, and so forth without batting an eye, The Silent Gondoliers is the tale of an innocent in pursuit of a humble ambition in the face of nature and society.It's a much more accessible source of hilarity than the enormous Princess Bride, and an excellent introduction to Goldman for those not willing to invest a lot of time in a traditional fantasy or a work that's as hefty as the Princess Bride.Having read this, a reader will surely pursue anything he can get his hands on by Goldman.

The Silent Gondoliers is not a traditional boy-gets-girl tale and lacks the swordplay of more mainstream fare with a more easily communicable hook (e.g., the Princess Bride's main struggle was one of long lost lovers to re-unite despite the machinations of an evil king and his numerous henchmen), but explaining why getting a gondolier's license is a big deal for Luigi so people understand they want to read the book seems likely to prevent the masses from knowing about the work.But you should defy the lemming horde and get a copy to read!

I liked it better than "The Princess Bride"
I enjoyed "The Pricess Bride" very much. I liked the style. I liked the story. It was a lot of fun.

I like "The Silent Gondoliers" better. It has a zany style like The Princess Bride, and it has an amusing story, and it's fun to read. I found it more than that, though. Luigi comes across as a real human being. I found his struggles to deal with life heartwarming as well as amusing. Not that the book is serious and moralizing, though. It's not heavy, it's fun.

I liked the short length too. I think it's just right for this story, and I enjoyed being able to read it in an afternoon. I didn't time myself, but I think it took me between two and three hours, maybe less. My wife read it in an hour, and she liked it too.

Would love to see this as a movie!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.I absolutely adore the Princess Bride, Marathon Man, and several movies with Goldman's screenplays, so I was excited with this find, and I was not disappointed.A short, light read with a solid story and entertaining characters.Not high art, but a great "in-between" book (a.k.a. between heavier readings), or one day read.

On a personal note: I think this would make a wonderful animated feature film.Get Andrea Bocelli, Il Divo, Josh Groban, Russell Watson... I would pay to see that.

not so "Silent Gondoliers"...
Years ago I was introduced to this book through a friend (thanks Ed) and though friends sometimes fade away the pleasure I've received from periodic reading over those years has not.I occasionally purchase several to give to others when I feel they need a pick-me-up.S. Morgenstern (Goldman) is a master of winding one's imagination into his tales. Written is much the same style as the "Princess Bride" this is a wonderful fairy tale set in recent times.....well, not too recent.Enjoy your read and if you know of someone that marches to the beat of a different drummer, give this book to them.

Charming, but lacking the genius of The Princess Bride
The gondoliers of Venice were once regarded as the finest singers in the world, but for years they have been mysteriously silent. At the heart of this mystery is a young gondolier named Luigi. Luigi is an incredibly gifted gondolier, able to navigate what other gondoliers refer to as SPLAT Corner with the greatest of ease. However, when it comes to his vocal abilities, Luigi is severely lacking. In fact, his singing is so appalling that the citizens of Venice throw fish at him from their windows. His customers, wary of being pelted by flying seafood during their leisurely gondola rides, soon disappear. His fellow gondoliers, fearing for their own livelihoods, demand that Luigi never work as a gondolier again.


The disgraced Luigi then goes to work in the Gondolier's Tavern, washing dishes to earn his living. But still he dreams of the day when he can sing his heart out on the Grand Canal. After ten years he saves up enough money to take vocal lessons, but the only instructor who will take him on is a deaf man. Luigi's dream looks as though it will never be attainable, but an act of great bravery and skill will eventually change how his fellow gondoliers look at Luigi.


This is a fast and enjoyable read with a fair amount of charm, but The Silent Gondoliers doesn't quite live up the genius of Goldman's better known work, The Princess Bride. Luigi's story is not a must-read, but it is a pleasant tale that can be read in under an hour. ... Read more