Product Description
Foran's book is IT: the definitive, detailed, intimate portrait of Mordecai Richler, the lion of Canadian literature, and the turbulent, changing times that nurtured him. It is also an extraordinary love story that lasted half a century.

The first major biography with access to family letters and archives. Mordecai Richler was an outsized and outrageous novelist whose life reads like fiction.

Mordecai Richler won multiple Governor General's Literary Awards, the Giller Prize, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, among others, as well as many awards for his children's books. He also wrote Oscar-nominated screenplays. His influence was larger than life in Canada and abroad. In Mordecai, award-winning novelist and journalist Charlie Foran brings to the page the richness of Mordecai's life as young bohemian, irreverent writer, passionate and controversial Canadian, loyal friend and deeply romantic lover. He explores Mordecai's distraught childhood, and gives us the "portrait of a marriage" — the lifelong love affair with Florence, with Mordecai as beloved father of five. The portrait is alive and intimate — warts and all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Filled with delightful sarcasm
When I was in high school I was pretty well forced to read Mordecai Richler's "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" (at the time the only book I've ever read by him) and I couldn't care less about about it (I was a kid, what do you expect).But now that I'm older, Richler's works are delightful to read; as they are very "fresh" and stick out from the cliched garbage that now infest the stands at your local bookshop.
Belling the Cat, to me, is one of Richler's finest.Here we begin to understand what kind of man Richler was . . . a man full of humility and humor, though very sarcastic (though many of you would already point that out after reading "Barney's Version"), and never taking life too seriously.But nevertheless, he was a man with thoughts and ideas and was not afraid to give the world a little taste.
Belling the Cat was, is, a book composed primarily of essays and thoughts in "The World According to Richler".He touches upon subjects such as Sexual Harassment, his travels, including Germany, South Africa, and Egypt (properly entitled Egypt's Eleventh Plague, which, according to Richler, is tourism), sports, Canadian politics, and Woody Allen, to name a few.He even gives the reader a taste of his own "unpopular" success as an author in the introductory chapter entitled, "Writing for the mags", going from one book signing to the next with no turn out.
It's true that Mordecai Richler never succeeded to stardom like so many of the trashy authors that are out today, but regardless, isn't that what true authors and true literature is about?
Once you get into Richler's mind-frame and see the world he saw through his own eyes, Belling the Cat will bring you to laughter many times over. ... Read more

Product Description
St. Urbain’s Horseman is a complex, moving, and wonderfully comic evocation of a generation consumed with guilt – guilt at not joining every battle, at not healing every wound. Thirty-seven-year-old Jake Hersh is a film director of modest success, a faithful husband, and a man in disgrace. His alter ego is his cousin Joey, a legend in their childhood neighbourhood in Montreal. Nazi-hunter, adventurer, and hero of the Spanish Civil War, Joey is the avenging horseman of Jake’s impotent dreams. When Jake becomes embroiled in a scandalous trial in London, England, he puts his own unadventurous life on trial as well, finding it desperately wanting as he steadfastly longs for the Horseman’s glorious return. Irreverent, deeply felt, as scathing in its critique of social mores as it is uproariously funny, St. Urbain’s Horseman confirms Mordecai Richler’s reputation as a pre-eminent observer of the hypocrisies and absurdities of modern life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The Intensity Builds as We Read
As a point of reference, I have read all of Richler's major works and a few of his early novellas. This was written after Richler's sexual obsession in his British phase and he tells an interesting story about a young film director from Montreal who has moved to Britain The novel follows from his wildly creative novel Cocksure which as story immersed in sexual obsession. This is a far tamer novel and it is longer and more substantial but less creative. Overall, it is among his best efforts.

Following on from the very liberated Cocksure, we see a much more conventional and down to earth Richler who has attempted to integrate British making with biographical elements from his own youth.

Modecai Richler (1931 to 2001) grew up in Montreal and that city is the setting for many of his stories - but not all. Many of his novels are about Jews living in Canada and Britain post WWII.

He is best known for his tales of life in and around St. Urbain Street. That is an area of three story buildings or walk up row houses located just east of the mountain in Montreal, and north of the commercial center of the city. At one time this was the center of Jewish immigrant life. Many Jews coming to Montreal started there but then moved on to Outrement, Hamstead, and other districts. His father was a scrap dealer and he graduated from a heavily Jewish high school, Baron Byng High School, which has other famous alumni including William Shatner of Star Trek fame. Some of the local establishments such as Schwartz's Deli on St. Laurent are still in business. He uses much of those biographical experiences in the book.

His break out novel is the present novel Duddy Kravitz which is still a great read whether you have seen the movie or not. Also, I like his last book, Barney's Vision, which is probably his most balanced and best written piece of work. That novel lacks the edge and drama of Duddy Kravitz. Along the way, he experimented with different themes and the use of sex in the plots, and usually he did that with a lot of humor as in Cocksure.

This book is among his best works and there must be a few parallels with Richter's own life. It is about a young and poorly educated Jewish boy (Richler never finished university himself and moved to Britain) who struggles in the Canadian TV business starting off as a stage hand and then eventually becoming a London based movie director. The protagonist, Jacob Hersh, is from the St. Urbain area of Montreal, and he has an unusual relation with his cousin Joey - who is the "horseman." Joey appears only once in the book when he visits Montreal, and spends most of his time traveling the world doing all sort of glamorous things from being a soldier, to actor, to baseball player. In reality, Joey is a bit of a con man but he is held in awe by Jacob.

This is an interesting story that gets better as we reach the end of the book.

Many of his critics claim that he re-cycles his characters and deals only with one topic, but in general his books are far from the predictable and this book is another example. That being said, Duddy Kravitz and even his father max appear in the novel, and Duddy more than once.

This is a good read which leaves the reader satisfied.

standard Mordecai Richler material = fascinating read
Mordecai Richler's novels are always a wild ride.In St. Urbain's Horseman we have the usual Richler pastiche of paranoid Jewish Montrealers struggling in a gentile world.As with his other novels, I sense that '..Horseman' has many biographical elements to it.Although teetering on being pretentious, '..Horseman' is easily salvaged by its fine characterizations and often hilarious prose.

'..Horseman' is a very rich, complex novel.It chronicles a young man who escapes squalor of Montreal and finds himself as a successful family man in swinging London, circa 1965.Unfortunately he finds himself tormented by the legend of his mysterious cousin (the "horseman") who seems to be larger than life (..a Nazi hunter in Paraguay?), and those with whom the cousin comes in contact with.It's all rather chaotic and often unbelievable.But thankfully the likes of Mordecai Richler pulls it all together somehow.


Bottom line: suspend your disbelief and enjoy this book.

Not fully developed
I guess everyone has to start somewhere. This novel used much of the same material as, but is much weaker than, Richler's later excellent novel Solomon Gursky Was Here. St Urbain's Horseman is too long, the characters are too weak, and the story too muddled to justify it's 450 pages. The Montreal sections are much, much stronger than the parts set in London, which I suppose helps explain why Richler moved back to his native city.

Outstanding
A remarkable book, clever, interesting, and so well written that I often stopped just to marvel at how entertained I was.You'll be glad you got it.

I love Mordecai Richler
People of my parent's generation will always remember where they were when JFK was assasinated. Likewise, I'll always remember the day when I learned that Mordecai Richler had died. I was standing in the kitchen, making dinner, when it was announced on the CBC. I fell apart, and it's the only time I have ever cried over someone I didn't even know.
When people tell me that they've never heard of, or read, Mordecai Richler, I want to rail at the universe. He's simply the best there is - a novelist who was intelligent, comical, introspective, cynical, perceptive, heartfelt, brutally honest, and ultimately, unforgettable. Reading St.Urbain's Horseman saved me from a dismal semester in university. I was taking existentialist philosophy and sinking into gloom when I escaped into a story that was impossible to put down. I laughed out loud - so hard that I couldn't read. I could go on all day. Just read this book - I guarantee that you'll read it again. And then you'll have to read everything else Mordecai Richler wrote.
I wish there were more stories to look forward to. ... Read more

Product Description
Barney Panofsky—Canadian expat, wily lover of women, writer, television producer, raconteur—is finally putting pen to paper so he can rebut the charges about him made in his rival’s autobiography.  Whether it’s ranting about his bohemian misadventures during the 1950’s in Paris, his tumultuous three marriages, or his successful trashy TV company, Totally Unnecessary Productions, he quickly proves that his memory may be slipping, but his bile isn’t.  But when he’s charged with the murder of his own best friend—caught in bed with the second Mrs. Panofsky—Barney’s version of things might not be enough to keep him out of trouble.Amazon.com Review
Barney Panofsky smokes too many cigars, drinks too much whiskey, and isobsessed with two things: the Montreal Canadiens hockey team and hisex-wife Miriam. An acquaintance from his youthful years in Paris, TerryMcIver, is about to publish his autobiography. In its pages heaccuses Barney of an assortment of sins, including murder. It's time,Barney decides, to present the world with his own version of events.Barney's Version is his memoir, a rambling, digressive rant, full ofrevisions and factual errors (corrected in footnotes written by his son)and enough insults for everyone, particularly vegetarians and Quebecseparatists.

But Barney does get around to telling his life story, adesperately funny but sad series of bungled relationships. His first wife,an artist and poet, commits suicide and becomes--à la Sylvia Plath--afeminist icon, and Barney is widely reviled for goading her toward death,if not actually murdering her. He marries the second Mrs. Panofsky, whom hecalls a "Jewish-Canadian Princess," as an antidote to the first; it turns out to be a horrible mistake. The third, "Miriam, my heart's desire," isquite possibly his soul mate, but Barney botches this one, too.It'spainful to watch him ruin everything, and even more painful to bear witnessto his deteriorating memory. The mystery at the heart of Barney'sstory--did he or did he not kill his friend Boogie?--provides enoughforward momentum to propel the reader through endless digressions, allthree wives, and every one of Barney's nearly heartbreaking episodes offorgetfulness. Barney's Version, winner of Canada's 1997 GillerPrize, is Richler's 10th novel, and a dense, energetic, and ultimatelypoignant read. --R. Ellis ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

Arguably Mordecai Richler's best work.
Mordecai Richler has been one of my favorite Canadian authors (Steven Erikson [fantasy] is another) for a long time and 'Barney's Version', is my favorite of all his novels.

'Barney's Version' was in fact, my introduction to Richler. From there I followed his literary offerings with interest, as I gradually read his other works and eagerly looked forward to his weekly column in the national edition of the "National Post" out of Toronto.

The story (without giving anything away) is set in Quebec, Canada and deals with the slow, subtle disclosure of an old local mystery. The quality of this work, is like fine wine; smooth, delicious and always leaving you with a taste for just a little more. Richler's strengths are his use of prose, his exquisite sense of cynical humor and his ability to tell a wonderful story. This is a book that actually made me laugh out loud, many times.

Conclusion:
Perhaps Richler's finest work (a subjective opinion of course). But try this book, I'm sure you'll not be disappointed and you may discover (if you haven't already) one of Canada's finest literary figures.
5 Stars...more if I could.

R.Nicholson

P.S.
Canada lost one of it's truly great writers and story tellers when Mordecai Richler died a few years back. His passing has created a void in his writing genre that has yet to be filled.

The Canadian Philip Roth?
It seems that all the reviews of this book that I have read fail to mention the obvious connection between Roth and Richler. Is the latter as great a writer as the former? Who knows, but both mine the same fertile field of life among Jews, primarily intellectuals, in the second half of the 20th century.

I was completely swept up by this book and arrived late at my office on two mornings because I needed to read just one more chapter. And while there is a very serious side to the book, I laughed out loud many, many times.

Too much analysis can sometimes dampen enthusiasm.I highly recommend this book;it operates on several levels and never disappoints.

The Best From Richler
As a point of reference, I have read all of Richler's major works and a few of his early novellas.This was written near the end of his career and it is a finely tuned and well balanced novel that draws on decades of writing experiences. It features a good story, interesting characters, and lots of subtle and not so subtle humor. Rather than writing a tired effort at the end of his career, and selling it to his fans based on his reputation, this is probably his best novel.

I like Richler's work, but from my reading of his novels it is clear that Richler went through a number of writing phases. He is always brilliant, but if anything his middle books have too much sex or are even obsessed with sex, while some of his later books such as Solomon Gursky are a bit too ambitious or overly complicated. Now in his later years, he seems to have taken his experiences and created an entertaining and a well balanced novel in which one has difficulty finding any writing or story faults.

Modecai Richler (1931 to 2001) grew up in Montreal and that city is the setting for many of his stories - but not all. Many of his novels are about Jews living in Canada and Britain post WWII.

He is best known for his tales of life in and around St. Urbain Street. That is an area of three story buildings or walk up row houses located just east of the mountain in Montreal, and north of the commercial center of the city. At one time this was the center of Jewish immigrant life. Many Jews coming to Montreal started there but then moved on to Outrement, Hamstead, and other districts. His father was a scrap dealer and he graduated from a heavily Jewsih high school, Baron Byng High School, which has other famous alumni including William Shatner of Star Trek fame. Some of the local establishments such as Schwartz's Deli on St. Laurent are still in business. He uses much of those biographical experiences in the book.

His break out novel is the present novel Duddy Kravitz which is still a great read whether you have seen the movie or not. Still, I like this last book, Barney's Vision, which is his best written piece of work. The novel lacks the edge and drama of Duddy Kravitz but has things that make it better.

The present story is about an older man, Barney Panofsky, who looks back on his life and his three failed marriages. Barney has a fatalistic view of his future so he is not about to cut back on cigars and fine scotch whiskey. He recalls his life and especially his obsessions: the Montreal Canadiens hockey team and his ex-wife Miriam. It is a very funny and an entertaining story.

Mixed in with this is a sub-plot about whether or not Barney has committed murder during his second marriage. We are left guessing but the conclusions seem clear to the reader.

Many of Richler's critics claim that he re-cycles his characters and deals only with one topic. How many protagonists can we have that grew up on St. Urabin St.? Nearly all? Here again the story involves the St. Urbain district and its characters including Duddy Kravitz, but the end result is a great book.

Well-deserving of praise
`The portrayal of Barney, pen overflowing with years of accumulated weaknesses, shortcomings and flaws, is weighted by the manfs sincere fondness for what was, was lost, and still remains in his world. His words are often offensive, but his actions and failures are so very human that itfs hard to begrudge an old man crippled by actions he cannot undo.

Barney's politics are less threatening than is the fleeting sense of self that slips from the pages as Barney unsuccessfully clings to his` memories. His gruff, critical voice in the present is contrasted by the delicate manner with which he describes events that occurred in the past, making apparent their fragile existence and his urgency to record them on paper.

This book came highly recommended but took me a while to get into because I tried to read it in short intervals over a long period of time, a method the format of the book doesn't lend itself to at all. There are a multitude of characters and events that take place` over a broad span of time, and it's best (like with most novels) to get a good feel for the characters before putting the book down after that first reading.

It was quite frustrating to pick it up again after some time had passed and immediately feel lost in the many distinct, though interrelated stories, being told nearly simultaneously. Yet even that mood was appropriate for the workfs subject material. After all, Barneyfs Version was written as a memoir written by a man in the`` process of losing his very memories.

Richler creates an incredibly complete world: endearing despite malcontented and despondent overtones. Itfs full of regret coupled with hope and a deep sense of attachment to everything that has ever made itself a part of Barneyfs life. Barneyfs Version is funny, sad, and beautifully written. I wish I had read it sooner and plan to read it again.`

Barney's Gripes
The main character in this abbridged CD version of Barney's Version is an irritating alcholic who does nothing but click his glass to let the listener know he is drinking yet another scotch,(or whatever),coughs his phlemy cough and feels sorry for himself.What is the point of this book other than a character study of a sad sack guy who drives everyone he loves away from him (including the reader) and then obesses over the loss of wife # three whom he really loved?OH yes, and his guilt re: the guy that drowned after drinking too much with his drinking buddy, because he (Barney) didn't stop him ... Read more

Product Description

From Mordecai Richler, one of our greatest satirists, comes one of literature's most delightful characters, Duddy Kravitz -- in a novel that belongs in the pantheon of seminal twentieth century books.

Duddy -- the third generation of a Jewish immigrant family in Montreal -- is combative, amoral, scheming, a liar, and totally hilarious. From his street days tormenting teachers at the Jewish academy to his time hustling four jobs at once in a grand plan to "be somebody," Duddy learns about living -- and the lesson is an outrageous roller-coaster ride through the human comedy. As Richler turns his blistering commentary on love, money, and politics, The Apprenticeship Of Duddy Kravitz becomes a lesson for us all...in laughter and in life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Do we really need two of these?
Duddy Kravitz is a story very very close to Budd Schulberg's earlier work, What Makes Sammy Run? The main difference is that Shulberg went on to tell much better stories (the films On the Waterfront, and A Face in the Crowd).

One of The Best from Richler
This is a good book, whether you have seen the movie or not. As a point of reference, I have read all of Richler's major works and a few of his early novellas.

Modecai Richler (1931 to 2001) grew up in Montreal and that city is the setting for many of his stories - but not all. Many of his novels are about Jews living in Canada and Britain post WWII.

He is best known for his tales of life in and around St. Urbain Street. That is an area of three story buildings or walk up row houses located just east of the mountain in Montreal, and north of the commercial center of the city. At one time this was the center of Jewish immigrant life. Many Jews coming to Montreal started there but then moved on to Outrement, Hamstead, and other districts. His father was a scrap dealer and he graduated from a heavily Jewsih high school, Baron Byng High School, which has other famous alumni including William Shatner of Star Trek fame. Some of the local establishments such as Schwartz's Deli on St. Laurent are still in business. He uses much of those biographical experiences in the book.

His break out novel is the present novel Duddy Kravitz which is still a great read whether you have seen the movie or not. Also, I like his last book, Barney's Vision, which is probably his most balanced and best written piece of work. That novel lacks the edge and drama of Duddy Kravitz. Along the way, he experimented with different themes and the use of sex in the plots, and usually he did that with a lot of humor.

The present book has a very strong set of characters including Kravitz, his father Max, brother Lennie, the "boy wonder,"Duddy's girlfriend Yvette, and his assistant Virgil. The basic story is about the life and motivation of a young man left with no mother at an early age, and left with both a weak father and brother, and who both lack ambition. He has a lot of energy and drive and is considered to be a "Jew boy on the make" by most other characters in the book. We follow his quest to break out of his working class background. Richler uses the same Kravitz character in small parts in later novels.

Many of his critics claim that he re-cycles his characters and deals only with one topic, but in general his books are far from the predictable.

This is a great read.

The Best (most controversial,honest &funny)novel in the history of Canada
I love everything about this novel;it's hilarious,controversial and culturally accurate;I think both the novel and film are excellent-and I can't decide whether I prefer the book or the film.If you only see the movie,you miss out on terrific lines-and insight into Duddy's Uncle Benjy,who I gotta go with as my favorite cultural insight from any novel,"There used to be...some dignity in being against the synagogue.With a severe orthodox rabbi there were things to quarrel about.There was some pleasure.But this cream-puff of a synagogue,this religious drugstore,you might as well spend your life being against the Reader's Digest.They've taken all the mystery out of religion"(p.126).And gems like this give the character's(particularly in the Kravitz family) a real honest two dimensional character.Without it,the novel is reduced to Duddy's grandfather's motto:"A man without land is nothing".Obviously,this is not as easy-morally or otherwise-that simple;I wish Richler had writtten a sequel-and I like to think that Virgil,the epileptic he "uses" and Yvette,who tells Duddy she's
through speaking to him,would've come around.Richler-who was criticized as a self-hating Jew-doesn't deserve the label;I love his honesty,accuracy and sense of humor.

Mandatory Reading...
Duddy is a book about ambition. Each and every one of us wants more... Why else would we be on the internet looking for books to buy?This book is required reading as it serves to remind us that sometimes wanting more can be less. Duddy is driven by the advice of his grandfather that "a man without land is nothing." Duddy is a poor child from the slums of Montreal, and misinterprets this advice in search of change. He tries hard to succeed but wants to do so at all costs. Now, Duddy is not evil in any way, but he does not have the ability of seeing the harm that he causes to his friends and loved ones inadvertently with his actions.
This is a sad and beautiful book, and needs to be read by anyone who ever plans on having more than they have today...

Thank You Mr. Richler.

Relic113

Richler hadn't yet reached his peak
For an example of what this author can really do, read "Barney's Version."

It seems that Richler specializes in making dislikeable characters (see Terry MacIver in "Barney's Version"), but he hadn't reached his peak as of this writing.

The character development is not all that good, nor is the general direction of the plot. In short, it's just one more among many kitsch bildungsroman. Save your time. ... Read more

Product Description
From his Yiddish childhood in a coldwater flat on Montreal's St Urbain's Street, Mordecai Richler evokes a North-American Jewish adolescence, his family and friends, and leads us through the modern history of Zionism, the kibbutz movement, and Israel then and now. He describes the cultural melting pot of his Canadian youth - nurtured, as he was, not only on loyalty to Zionism, but also on "Tom Brown's Schooldays", Kipling, Gilbert & Sullivan, and baseball. He mixes the personal and political, combining stories about his mother struggling to make ends meet, his orthodox grandparents, Jerusalem cab drivers, and life on a kibbutz (the food is appalling!), with an analysis of modern Israel, Zionism and the dangers of extremism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A journal by the every-day Richler
As an Arab and a former Montréaler with an interest in the Middle East, I was looking forward to reading this book. Besides the joy of reading about the city's past I found interesting how Diaspora Jewish communities dealt with their place as Jews in Western societies and with Zionism since and before the establishment of Israel.

It was fascinating to see how closely-knit (or self-obsessed?) Jewish communities were. Through his childhood, Richler only seems to interact with Jews (as do other members of his community), only getting access to the real world when he leaves Montreal and his conservative community. Having been raised there, Richler had spoken better Hebrew than French.

Richler also reveals, as he discovers himself, that Zionism is not as rosy as it is perceived. Much of the Zionist 'training' Jews received is implied to be a sort of brain-washing, promoting the idea of Palestine as a 'land without people for a people without land'. The strong Zionist solidarity among children, as well as patriotism for a land they had never seen, could not have come without it.

His critical attitude towards Zionism and recognition of what he sees as the need for Jews to have a place to call home comes together to make a good read. This book is not overly political or disturbingly ideological. It's just Richler in an average person's shoes.
... Read more

Product Description
Ebullient and perverse, thrice married, Barney Panofsky has always clung to two cherished beliefs: life is absurd and nobody truly ever understands anybody else. But when his sworn enemy publicly states that Barney is a wife abuser, an intellectual fraud and probably a murderer, he is driven to write his own memoirs. Charged with comic energy and a wicked disregard for any pieties whatsoever, Barney's Version is a brilliant portrait of a man whom Mordecai Richler has made uniquely memorable for all time. It is also an unforgettable love story, a story about family and the riches of friendship. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Ok but silly at the end
This,like all of Mr Richler's books,is a very good read; however, even me, a diehard fan, got to thinking that this book gets silly in the ending chapters.

A More Conventional Novel From Richler
As a point of reference, I have read all of Richler's major works and a few of his early novellas.This was written after Richler's sexual obsession or British phase and he tells a broad multi-generational story about rich and poor Jews spread out across Canada in time and space. They are found in places as diverse as the Artic, to Winnipeg, to Montreal, both rich Jews and poor, but most of the characters are related by family ties.

Following on from the very liberated Cocksure and the well written St, Urbain's Horseman, we see a much more down to earth and literary Richler. Here he has attempted to create a family epic novel that covers multiple generations going back to 1850 or so. In the opening chapter, Richler demonstrates his literary talent for interesting prose.

Modecai Richler (1931 to 2001) grew up in Montreal and that city is the setting for many of his stories - but not all. Many of his novels are about Jews living in Canada and Britain post WWII.

He is best known for his tales of life in and around St. Urbain Street. That is an area of three story buildings or walk up row houses located just east of the mountain in Montreal, and north of the commercial center of the city. At one time this was the center of Jewish immigrant life. Many Jews coming to Montreal started there but then moved on to Outrement, Hamstead, and other districts. His father was a scrap dealer and he graduated from a heavily Jewsih high school, Baron Byng High School, which has other famous alumni including William Shatner of Star Trek fame. Some of the local establishments such as Schwartz's Deli on St. Laurent are still in business. He uses much of those biographical experiences in the book.

His break out novel is the present novel Duddy Kravitz which is still a great read whether you have seen the movie or not. Also, I like his last book, Barney's Vision, which is probably his most balanced and best written piece of work. That novel lacks the edge and drama of Duddy Kravitz. Along the way, he experimented with different themes and the use of sex in the plots, and usually he did that with a lot of humor as in Cocksure.

This book is among his best works but not the best. For the present novel, the story is the story is about a family spread over many generations in Canada. It has a few twists and turns and tentative links with mysterious birds, but in the end it is mostly a conventional story. My only complaint was that he seems to jump around a lot and sometimes the story is a bit hard to follow. In his later novel Barney's Version, he does a better job at presenting a coherent plot. Having said that, the present book does have interesting historical ties to Canadian history, and that will interest some readers.

Many of his critics claim that he re-cycles his characters and deals only with one topic, but in general his books are far from the predictable and this book is another example.

This is an unusual read. I found it a bit slow going, but 5 stars for creativity.

an often interesting yet overcooked saga...
I am a fan of Mordecai Richler.His books are well written, and often hilarious (..using the same sort of Judaic satiric wit ala Joseph Heller).And in 'Solomon Gursky...' we have a juicy premise: a Jew from mid-19th century travels to Canada and becomes a legendary figure among the Inuits, with his legacy felt over a hundred years later (in the twisted lives of his grandchildren).Unfortunately I was overall disappointed with the book.Why? ...

Well quite simply Richler has made the book far too grandiose in scope.He introduces too many characters, too many disconnected scenes, and the overall focus of the story becomes clouded over long before the end.While there are a good many interesting elements and characters to enjoy, and Richler's prose is as fine as ever, the book compares badly to his later works (such as Barney's Version).'Solomon Gursky...' is a clear example of where less would have been more.

Bottom line: Richler goodness is largely wiped out by this overly long and complex saga.For die-hard Richler fans only.

The next best place . . .
In Christian mythology the Wandering Jew is a subject of scorn.Bereft of a homeland, thisaccursed wraith crosses the landscape again and again, often as not bringing some tragedy ordistress in his wake.Seen as the symbol of the Jewish Diaspora, the wanderer is the subject ofsuspicion, fear and accusation.This solitary and often tragic figure gives rise to repressionand becomes the justification for unspeakable acts, of which the 20th Century Holocaust ismerely the latest and best known.

Mordecai Richler has given us an astonishing and riveting account of one of these wanderersas he might have appeared in North America.As a child, Montrealer Moses Bergerencounters the Gursky family.It's the first step in what will become an almost heroic questfor the truth behind the Gursky family's shadowy ancestor, Ephraim Gursky and thegrandson, Solomon, who accompanied him on a journey in Canada's North.Ephraim, againstall reason, apparently shipped aboard the HMS Erebus with John Franklin's ill-starredexpedition into the Arctic.Richler demonstrates the Christian attitude toward the Jews withaccounts of the many searchers for Franklin's remains.Those necrophiles uniformly scoffedat the notion a Jew could have been aboard, let alone survived, since "all know" these urbandwellers wouldn't have the fortitude or presumption to attempt such a feat.The evidence,however, suggests . . .

Richler has woven a rich tapestry with this mixture of invention and history.He does it sowell that separating the threads of fact and fiction becomes an insurmountable task.Andwhy not?He's given us a unique picture of the world's second largest nation.A fresh pictureindeed, given that the nation of "two solitudes" conveniently forgets those of its number whoare neither English nor French.If Ephraim Gursky sailed with Franklin and initiated adynasty of Inuit Jews with such names as Gor-ski, Girskee, or Goorski.They wander, liketheir mentor, into the southern lands wearing, against all reason [again!] Jewish prayershawls.They seem as homeless as their cantor, fulfilling, even in these outlandishcircumstances, the Christian prejudice against wandering Jews.

Homeless he may be, but rootless the Wandering Jew is not.No matter where they settled,the Jews brought an endless capacity for adaptation, seizing whatever opportunities emergedto assist in their survival.Wherever they settled, they viewed it as "the next best place".Thehomeland of Israel remained within their consciousness, but they would do the best theycould in whichever land they occupied.In the Gursky's case, circumstances kept opportunityat bay until Americans, in a flush of Protestant fervour, enacted Prohibition, almost certainlyone of the least honoured pieces of federal legislation ever enacted.This was the moment theGursky clan was able to seize, starting from minimal beginnings to emerge as a mightyempire built from alcohol.Richler has again merged fantasy with reality as his account of thisaspect of the Gursky family would be better spelt "Bronfman".

Mordecai Richler's inventive mind and well-honed writing skills have provided us with a true masterpiece.He knows people, certainly the Montreal Jewish community, but far beyondthat urban confine also.He takes us to the Arctic, the Prairies, flirts with England, pokes intoAmerica.The only missing scene is Van Dieman's Land [Tasmania], where Ephraim Gurskyarrived as a transportee only two years before Franklin arrived as governor.These, however,are simply locations in which Richler can place his people.His cast is enormous, but hehandles the lot with unmatched skill, presenting every persona as fully credible.We may notknow the Jewish community intimately, but reading this book is an excellent means ofviewing that community and how it sees the world.Moses Berger's quest for the Gurskystory makes him the pivot around which this superb novel orbits as he encounters the keyplayers in the story - especially the Wandering Jew.

It's good to see this book restored back in print.That gives more people anopportunity to comprehend Richler's absolute mastery of story-telling and conveying moods. He remains Canada's leading writing talent. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Engrossing Story
I thoroughly enjoyed Solomon Gursky and his colorful life so expertly described by M. Richler.He truly is a genius at making the story come alive.This (his)story of the Gurskys is written so well, that you cannot put it down.It incorporates the good and the somtimes gruesome and grueling things that can happen in life, and is set in such settings as the prohibition years, and 19th century England, among others.You just can't get bored with this book, it draws you in! ... Read more

Product Description
Canadian Fiction Studies are an answer to every librarian's, student's, and teacher's wishes. Each book, about 80 pages in length, contains clear, readable information on a major Canadian novel. These studies are carefully designed readings of the novels; they are not substitutes for reading them. Each book is attractively produced and follows the same format, so students will know exactly what to expect:

A chronology of the author's life The importance of the book Critical reception Reading of the text Selected list of works cited ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

What Happens to Smart Aleck Kids?
When you were really little, didn't you think that somewhere there was an awful place and if you were bad, you would have to go there?Well, this is what happened to Jacob Two Two.
The reason he was called jacob Two Two was because he was the littlest one in a big family and he always had to say everything twice to be heard.This characteristic is what started all his problems.
When he was sent to the grocery store for tomatoes, he said, "I want two pounds of firm, red tomatoes.I want two pounds of firm, red tomatoes."The grocer thought he was making fun of him and called a policeman to have him arrested for being rude to an adult.Then he was sent to the children's court where the judge sentenced him to 2 years, 2 months, 2 days, 2 hours and 2 minutes in the darkest dungeons of the children's prison for being a smart aleck.
The prison was surrounded by water with blood thirsty sharks and slimy crocodiles, their jaws snapping hungrily.The sign said, "This way to Slimers Island from which no brat returns."The jailer was called the Hooded Fang.

We love Jacob Two-Two!
Great book! i found this book at a thrift store and bought it for our son, he was 10 at the time. we actually read this one outloud as a family and EVERYONE enjoyed it! the story conveys a wonderful message about the strength of children and the importance of them being heard and understood, and treated fairly. We recommend this book whole-heartedly!

A JACOB TWO-TWO REVIEW
Jacob Two-Two is one of the most imaginative stories I've read in a while.It reminds of being a kid in my carefree days.I have actually watered my mom's flowers an hour after she had and flooded her flowerbeds.
Basically, the story is about a 6 year-old boy who repeats everything twice just to be heard because he's the youngest out of five.Because he wants to be helpful, he wants to run an errand for the first time.He goes to Mr. Cooper, the greengrocer to get two pounds of firm, red tomatoes.After insulting Mr. Cooper (he didn't really insult Mr. Cooper, Mr. Cooper was just teasing him, but Jacob doesn't know that), he ran into Richmond Park to hide from the police.He was afraid the police might send him to jail for insulting a big person.Then, in Richmond Park he falls asleep into a crazy dream with the Hooded Fang, two super heroes, and a children's prison.

Movie?
I've never read Mordecai Richler's book Jacob Two-Two, but I have seen the movie.Not the one made in the late '90s but the one from the '80s.It really freaked me out as a kid and now I can't find anywhere to buy it online. If anyone else remembers this movie or know where to find it please email me.

Thanks

You'll Go Crackers You'll Go Crackers
We liked this story because Jacob thought the Hooded Fang was funny even though he was scariest person that you have ever seen. Jacob knew he was really childish. The funniest part was when the Hooded Fang said "I want my mommy."We liked how Jacob said everything twice. We could relate to how he couldn't do the things his brothers and sisters could.One of us is still terrible at cutting bread so she feels like him when one side comes out really thick and the other is like a sheet of paper. Another kid feels like him because her sister goes to 2 hours of gymnastics and she only goes to one.Written by a club of good readers who like to read. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Novelist, essayist, satirist, and iconoclast, Mordecai Richler made an international reputation with such contemporary fiction triumphs as Barney’s Version and The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. His death in July 2001 prompted heartfelt tributes from around the world that acknowledged his humour, intellect, soft heart, and irrepressible curmudgeonliness.

The Last Honest Man documents the writer’s public and private lives through the words of his family and friends, colleagues and rivals, editors, writers, filmmakers, drinking pals, snooker buddies, and many others. To borrow a phrase from his long-time editor, Robert Gottlieb, this unusual biography captures the grumpy and the high-spirited man, the generous and the distanced, the enthusiastic and the sardonic, the hungry and the fastidious, the man who was awkward in crowded social situations but consummately at ease in Winston’s bar in Montreal.

Michael Posner draws on dozens of interviews conducted in London, New York, Montreal, and Toronto to present an unusual and compelling portrait of this complex man and artist.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

"Like the world is absurd.That's why I write about it."

In my humble opinion Mordecai was one of the most interesting and colorful characters that Canada ever produced.No doubt,anyone who ever read anything he ever wrote or ever listened to anything he ever said,either loved or hated him.Especially those people who were pompous,stuffed shirts or otherwise full of themselves would be setups for him to tearinto shreads and leave in tatters.Quebec language idealogues,righeous Jewish who set rules for him,or in fact anyone who managed to get his goat,was fair game for his satiric target practice.
I have read most of his novels and being about his same age,plus having had a friend who also grew up near where Mordecai did ,and also lived in Montreal,for quite a few years,I am able to relate to so much of what he wrote about.Reading Richler one can really understand what it was like to live in
Montreal,what being Jewish,French,English,subserviant,or an outright rebel really meant.You couldn't,or would you want to be anything but what you decided to be.Mordecai reminded me of my friend and even myself when I lived there.I first came to Montreal in 1959,and being from the Maritimes,and not speaking French,was automatically classed as English,particularly by the French.One day this guy tells me that I have a poor attitude for a person living in Quebec and being only a minority.I told him that that if I was the only person in Quebec who didn't speak French,I wouldn't consider myself a minority.I don't think he,s gotten over that yet..but that's his problem,not mine.
Meanwhile,back to this book,the author has given us a very deep insight into the personality ,thinking and character of the Mordecai we all,at least some of us,came to love from his writings and gut renching statements he entertained us with for a time that was all too short.I often wondered what he would have been like as he grew older.You know,Mordecai never really got older,his knife just got sharper and sharper.
Some of the comments from the family,friends,business associates,croonies,etc are priceless,such as:
"That is what should be on his tombstone:"Here lies Mordecai,a mazik par excellence."
"He died too soon."
"He's laughing up his sleeve.He's putting it on for them."
"He was an ond fashioned heterosexual male all the waythrough."
"But he never forgot he was a Jew.He was buried in a plain wood coffin."
and a couple by his editorial cartoonist friend,Terry Mosher:
"The air of fame is heady.Make sure you don't inhale."Mordecai didn't inhale."
"A lot of people complain and bitch.They're whiners,but they're not rascals,and he was a rascal."

An outstanding biography
This is an outstanding biography and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the life and family of Mordecai Richler.The author has done a fantastic job putting together a fascinating life story from what must have been hundreds of interviews with those who knew Mordecai Richler best, including his immediate family and the people he grew up with, went to school with, and worked with.

not definitive bio but it still fascinates the richler lover
This is not for those looking for a definitive biography. Its a wondeful read however. I wasn't sure I would like a book full of interviews but it works really well in this case. This is a must have for any aspiring writers. It makes Richler, who had impeccable work habits when it came to his craft, accessible and encouraged me to read or re-read Richler.Anyone who is a fan of Richler will really enjoy this book.

not definitive bio but it still fascinates the richler lover
This is not a definitive biography.It is an oral biography with interviews of family friends and hanger ons in Richler's life. As an admirer of Richler it still enthralls me however. While there is nothing terribly new here the book does a good job at summing up what we knew, loved or despised about the Canadian Icon. I wasn't sure I would like a book that was just interviews but somehow it works. It provides several views of particular incidents in Richler's life. And it adds Richler's comments here and there as well in an effort to clear up any muddles. Anyone who is an aspiring writer should read this book.

Illuminating overview of Canada's funniest novelist
Although written with the cooperation of Richler's family, Posner's oral biography avoids turning the author of Duddy Kravitz and St. Urbain's Horseman into a CanLit saint. Like many writers, Richler had his mood swings, but his absolute determination to find a balance between the literary life and happiness is inspiring. It would have been nice to have an index and a photographic insert, but these are quibbles. Posner has used his access to the family and friends of Richler to good advantage. Highly recommended for those interested in the Commonwealth literary scene of the fifties and sixties, screenwriting, and Richler's many fans across Canada and around the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

a scathing satire on moral values and the media..
Although written more than thirty years ago Cocksure is still a startlingly fresh look at morality and the media; too bad it's no longer in print (..however at least here in Britain it isn't hard to find a copy at secondhand bookshops).Without exercising any form of restraint, Richler paints a modern world where prudes are ostracized and sexual liberation has gone wild.The book is quite rude, and so the easily offended should pass it by (..I think the title of the book is a fair warning of its contents).

The story is about a hapless middle-aged media man in London coping with a cheating wife, friends who falsely accuse him as being Jewish ("Jewish-ness", anti-semitism, and paranoia over anti-semitism are common themes in Richler novels), worries over his under-sized member, and a workplace overrun by very strange people.Society is morally corrupt (his kid's advant-garde school is really bizarre), and our poor chump always seems to come out on the losing end.It's a very funny read.However the story seems to move side-ways; nothing really exciting happens.Fortunately Richler's sarcastic wit has never been in better form.

Bottom line: a very rude and funny read.Worth a look.

Masterwork of Modern Satire
COCKSURE is the wittiest, most amusing Richler book I have read so far. In COCKSURE Richler satirizes political correctness and reverse discrimination. In the world of the book, schoolchildren perform Christmas plays by the Marquis de Sade, and political correctness in general runs amuck. The protagonist is an open-minded Canadian Anglo-Saxon male who none-the-less feels that something is wrong when children perform works by de Sade and teachers freely perform oral sex on school children. Everyone should read this Governor-General's Award-winning book that shows the dangers of taking political correctness too far.

very funny
This is a hilarious book.Those who love satire should find this one somehow.Some of the passages are an absolute laugh riot.Only a Jewish writer could write such funny things about Jewish people.Gentiles will laugh too!If you like Vonnegut, you must source this one somehow.

a hilarious, futuristic novel!
This book shows us liberalism gone too far, in an outlandish, implausible future which may not be as far from our reality as we think.... ... Read more

Product Description
A humorous look at Quebec's movement toward independence from Canada, remarking upon the Draconian language laws imposed on English-speaking Quebecois, the economic problems posed by the movement, and the troubles with blind nationalism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An Australian View Point
As an Australian who lived for three and a half years in Quebec, I found this book very useful to show my friends here in Brisbane what I have told them is true. This book is invaluable because we in Australia are not only geographically a million miles away from Quebec we are a million miles ahead, and Mordecai Richler has cpatured everything that is Quebec. This book is a must for those trying to understand the psyche of the Quebecoir.

Requiem for a derided country
For anyone hoping to gain an understanding of the pre- (and now post-) millennial angst that often grips great swaths of our country at the mere mention of the terms 'distinct society' and 'sovereignty association', Richler's book is a solid and engaging read.

If nothing else, Oh Canada! Oh Quebec! serves as a useful counterpoint to the tightly-held yet misguided notions of many indépendantistes regarding the terms on which sovereignty is to be negotiated between Canada and a new nation of Quebec.

And for anyone familiar with the oft-maligned language laws in effect in Quebec, Richler's satirical notion that similar constraints might usefully be placed on the volume of spoken English can sometimes cut too close for comfort ...

Yes, I liked it, too.
My husband is an American of Canadian heritage, and we have spent a lot of time in Montreal. Of course, we've been interested in this language problem for many years; and I found Richler's book to be extremely informative because here in the Southwest, we are faced with the Spanish-English dilemma.Richler's wit and knowledge of his subject made the book extremely interesting.So what if it reeked of anti-simitism--he was just making a point about people who have values that they think should be shared by all; and if they're not shared, boy, are,"those outsiders" stupid.

A defense of Richler's book
As an American of Canadian descent, I found Richler's book to be a trenchant analysis of the problems the country faced with its separatist movement. I read the book a year or two after it came out in paperback, and I still recommend it to people who want to understand the divisions in Canada - whether they be English vs. Francophone, or Christian vs. Jew, a schism Richler knows well. If you have no stake or interest in what happens to Canada, perhaps it is indeed boring. But for those of us who care, it's indispensable...

Oh Canada, Oh Québec, Oh Brother...
I was hoping that this book would be interesting since I find the Québec Separatism Movement to be one of the most fascinating things of recent politics. Well, I was wrong. I found this book to be extremely dry, I fellasleep a few times while reading it. I got annoyed with the fact thatRichler kept bring Anti-Semitism into it. I understand his point of view,but I did not buy this book to read about Anti-Semitism, I bought it toread about the relations between Canada and Québec. Richler does get a plusbecause he at least explained things for the benefit of American readers,which was great or else I would be totally lost. He also gets a plusbecause he fully explains Québec's language laws. Overall, I was not tooimpressed with the book, I found it to be long, drawn out, and hopelesslyboring. ... Read more

Product Description

Snooker is the central theme here, but, like a virtuoso jazz sax player, Richler spontaneously riffs on a wide array of topics. These range from the state of the Irish economy to anti-Semitism in sports to the greed of today's athletes. In typically Richlerian style, he even jabs at icon Wayne Gretzky in a digression that castigates champions past their prime as strangers to dignity: "He will do TV promos for just about any product that will have him, except, so far, Tampax." Such is the author's mastery that the reader happily joins the game in all its dimensions without feeling the least bit snookered. --Kerry Doole ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Chalk up one for Richler!!
Richler has given us a great read on snooker. It will be a long time before we see the likes of another as good on this from the viewpoint of a Canadian fan.Snooker has suffered at the hands of the establishment the same fate as Country Music,Comics,Reading and virtually all entertainment media.
Being about the same age as Richler;a lot of my youth was "mis-spent" ,but not regrettably,in the local Snooker Academy.That was where one learned early that "you paid for the lesson but the experience was for free".Richler brought back many menories to me of watching and talking with the greats during the Competitions at the CNE in Toronto in the early 80"s.At that time Alex Higgins was the character that created the fan interest and support.The establishment would just as soon he didn't exist.Perfection and dullness crept in.
Now in an effort to get the fans and money back;we are being fed 9-Ball.What the establishment never learns is that entertainment belongs to the fans;and they will make the choice of what they want and will support.

A lively first person expose of memorable characters
In On Snooker, Mordecai Richler here considers his love of the snooker game and his observations of the men and women who share his enthusiasm. Enjoy a blend of autobiography and game insights which examines snooker tables from Canada to Dublin, in a lively first person expose of memorable characters and games.

A North American View of Snooker
This book will be of intense interest to snooker enthusiasts and should hold some appeal for most billiards players and all Richler fans.A lifelong snooker fanatic, Richler begins with rich anecdotes from his childhood in Montreal, reviews the early history of cue sports, then devotes several chapters to coverage of the British snooker tournament scene, with special attention paid to Stephen Hendry, Alex Higgins, Cliff Thorburn and Kirk Stevens.He concludes with a discussion of sports themes in recent fiction.Some of the quotes and anecdotes will be overly familiar to the devoted snooker follower but entertaining for the more casual reader.Richler's final work is a welcome addition to the recently sparse snooker literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good, but not a masterpiece
Mordecai Richler is one of the greatest modern writers, and his Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is a masterpiece; however, A Choice of Enemies falls short of being brilliant. It is, never-the-less, a very good book. Richler presents a great cold war story of divided and shifting loyalties. Richler also makes an insightful commentary about Canadian and European cultural and intellectual life.

Good Book
This is quite the good book. Not so bad of a job mmmmmmmmmmmmm ... Read more

Product Description
Transplanted to Toronto from his native Baffin Island, Atuk the poet is an unlikely overnight success. Eagerly adapting to a society steeped in pretension, bigotry, and greed, Atuk soon abandons the literary life in favour of more lucrative – and hazardous – schemes.

Richler’s hilarious and devastating satire lampoons the self-deceptions of “the Canadian identity” and derides the hypocrisy of a nation that seeks cultural independence by slavishly pursuing the American dream. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

"Canada wake up..."
Biting satire and black humour characterize this short novella about an Inuit poet who leaves his remote community for a visit to the big city, Toronto. Having been discovered by a fur trader, his poem had reached such popularity among the city folks that they wanted to see the "Eskimo" from Baffin Bay in person. Atuk, however, finds urban life so rich, in many different ways, that he decides to stay. Initially he may come across as an innocent fool, easily exploited and controlled by his "benefactors", but he is a fast learner and soon joins the games and schemes successfully to his own advantage. Until...

Published in 1963 when Richler was living in England, having left Canada in the 1950s, the story benefits from the author's physical and intellectual distance from his country.It thrives on the caricature of a set of Canadians and their machinations. There are, among others, the Uber-Canadian tycoon, the undercover police officer searching for a American colonel who disappeared on Baffin Island while spying, and the investigative journalist who discovers truths mainly about herself. The powerful TV chat show host meddles in controversy and the nice professor has his own secrets.The storyline cannot be revealed without giving too much away.Suffice to say, that it is deliberately farcical and outlandish, yet fast moving and at times confusing enough to keep the reader intrigued.

With Atuk Richler brings out the different political and social stereotypes of the day and, above all, takes Canadians to task over their self image and their national identity, their latent or conspicuous racism and bigotry, their consumerism, greed and tendency to admire all that is American. While written more than 40 years ago, his book has meaning beyond the historical. In addition is a fun read! [Friederike Knabe][

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant...and Yes Funny Too
What a fabulous short novella! As a point of reference, I have read all of Richler's major works and a few of his early novellas. This was written near the beginning of his career and it is a masterful and brilliant satire on modern urban life. Atuk, a native or Eskimo as described in the book, is used as a metaphor for life in the materialistic urban world. Atuk takes advantage of his native culture to develop a commercial career exploiting the gullible. What has changed in four decades since Richler wrote this devastatingly funny book?

I like Richler's work, but from my reading of his novels it is clear that Richler went through a number of writing phases. If anything his middle books have too much sex or are even obsessed with sex, while some of his later books such as Solomon Gursky are a bit too ambitious or overly complicated. The present work is from the early years and does not have his St. Urbain theme.

Modecai Richler (1931 to 2001) grew up in Montreal and that city is the setting for many of his stories - but not all. Many of his novels are about Jews living in Canada and Britain post WWII. He is best known for his tales of life in and around St. Urbain Street. That is an area of three story buildings or walk up row houses located just east of the mountain in Montreal, and north of the commercial center of the city. At one time this was the center of Jewish immigrant life in Montreal.

His break out novel wa Duddy Kravitz which is still a great read whether you have seen the movie or not. Still, I like his last book, Barney's Vision, which is his best written piece of work. The novel lacks the edge and drama of Duddy Kravitz but has things that make it better. This present short novel was written early in his career and it is brilliant.

Without giving away the plot, it is about a native living on Baffin Island near the Artic who learns English, writes poems, and then is "discovered" and moves to Toronto, the financial and media center of Canada. Richler liked to attack Quebec "nationalism" and other pet topics of Canadians. Here he takes on "the Canadian identity" which he lampoons very successfully using Atuk and his fictional story. Underneath it all is a very universal story that applies to modern life on the planet.

This is a great book.

WOW
i just finished reading this book, and it amazing. It jumps back and forth between characters and situations, leaving you wondering what the heck is going on the whole time.SLowly, connections are revealed, and you can't wait to see what will happen next.After reading the last line i said out lou to my self "What the ****" it was great...i'm sick of reading books that are so straight forward that you don't even have to think when you read it. Highly recomended!!!!

Amazing Atuk
Mordecai Richler's characteristic wit pleases once again with his fifth novel, THE INCOMPARABLE ATUK. ATUK is delightfully funny and intelligently satiric. The book satirizes Canadian cultural "super-nationalism," but it the more widespread themes of identity, corruption, and reverse discrimination are also explored. ATUK is the novel immediately preceding COCKSURE, and it shows: In ATUK Richler satirizes political correctness and reverse discrimination almost as much as he does in COCKSURE. For that reason you don't have to be Canadian to enjoy this book. Also, if you know that Canadians don't all live in igloos and eat "reindeer knuckle," it's hilarious to read a work by a Canadian author who plays with such misconceptions.ATUK may be Richler's most overtly Canadian novel, but I think it's a book everone would be able to enjoy.

The Atuk Curse
Trying to order this! This is the book the "Atuk Curse" is based on. Supposedly this book was made into a script and was offered through out the years to several comedians who later died after reading the script- John Belushi, Sam Kinison, John Candy and Chris Farley... ... Read more

Product Description
Many of the highly praised bibliographies that make up The Annotated Bibliography of Canada's Major Authors are also available in individual author reprints. Separately bound and covered, each bibliography concentrates on one major Canadian author. ... Read more

Product Description
When his parents bring a little green lizard home from their vacation in Kenya, Jacob Two-Two is thrilled. But as the days pass, he realizes that Dippy isn’t just an ordinary lizard at all. In fact, it becomes obvious to Jacob that Dippy’s not so little either. As Dippy grows bigger and bigger, he begins to attract some very big attention from some very important people. Before Jacob realizes, he is on the run from the entire government of Canada – and with a full-grown dinosaur! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Jacob Two-Two
The book is quite the tongue twister, but fun to read. Although it was purchased used, it is in wonderful condition. ... Read more