Alan Arkin Books

I read this book at school. I was impressed by the language. The day before I read this book I found out that the author wrote this book about his three sons.

This was my favorite book when I was little. Now that I'm a father, I can't seem to find my copy (I managed to keep it for 20+ years, but I may have just had one move too many), so I was sad to see it was out of print.

Hopefully it will turn up, because this book is a real gem.

This was my favorite book when I was little. Now that I'm a father, I was ecstatic that I could find my copy from 30 years ago, as I was sad to see it was out of print.

I was given this book when I was a little girl and it instantly became one of my favorite books which I still keep in my library today. The book is wildly imaginative and teaches children that limits only exist in your own mind, certainly not in the minds of others. It's a shame that this book is no longer in print because it's truly timeless. If you see it anywhere grab a copy and then torture yourself by giving it away to a child that's dear to you.

I love this book! it is fun and lovely and really quite cuttie wootie~

I thought that Cassie Loves Beethoven was good because she could talk and play the piano.Then when she here's Beethoven's music her whole life changes.So then she goe's to a concert and she decides she need's to play an instrument,she tries almost every instrument but nothing seem's to work.Then Hallie and David's dad Myles made Cassie a 40 foot long piano.Then Cassie became very famous,then got mad at a newspaper review and got in a fight.From then on she just played for fun and with no audience.

"Halfway Through the Door" is a short informative, enjoyable book. The book documents Alan Arkin as a seeker of personal truths as he finds a teacher and his own wisdom.

Terrific story to read aloud. Anyone who has ever visited FOA Schwartz or other giant toy store will appreciate this story about Molly and her Grampa. How to choose just one present??? You will enjoy this delightful tale, I promise.

Of the three one-acts collected here, the first two have only minimal depth and the third doesn't have any. Doesn't matter. Alan Arkin and Elaine May have brilliant comic minds, and put them to excellent use on this project.

My personal favorite of the three is May's opener, "The Way of All Fish", in which a meek secretary attempts to shift the balance of power away from her difficult boss, with bizarre and side-splitting results. But there are amusing lines and intriguing situations in all three. Reading this book isn't quite a substitute for watching May and Arkin perform in their own pieces (or for watching Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss, their replacements in the original production), but it has the added benefit of allowing you to go back and excerpt the most quotable lines at your leisure.

Don't hesitate -- just grab it.

Catch-22 consisted of alot of irony and witty sarcasm, and held ideas that seem unrealistic yet comical and incredibly unexpected. I found it understandable that character Yossarian wants to get home without having to die in order to do it, and the other numerous characters and situations made it even more comical and twists the ideas and sarcasm, making it truly unique. But as entertaining as it was I also found it somewhat redundant; the situations and predicaments certain characters were stuck in kept it interesting, but in my opinion there wasn't really a plot. It would jump around to different moments in time unexpectedly and the end of the book was so unexpected and disappointing, it makes the book as a whole seem superfluous.

Irony was a large aspect of the book; practically every situation any character got into was totally ironic, and I think Joseph Heller's use of irony brings out more of the anti-war opinion the book seems to have. It seems like Heller meant for the ideas and situations to be superfluous in order to show that war is superfluous, and I think he portrayed it well in the book. The tools he used to get that point across-- irony, sarcasm, comedy-- I believe were crucial to the ideas and themes, but I also think that seeing it from Yossarian's point of view is crucial as well, and brings out more of Heller's opinions throughout the book.

A good aspect (and one of the very, very few) I found about the book was the fact that it wasn't based on pre-conceived notions of war but based on Heller's own opinion. Heller wrote the book the way he saw war, in a way where it seemed so twisted and unrealistic that it couldn't be reality but in my opinion it was reality. Every situation seemed unbelievable, but I think war in itself must be unbelievable and that was Heller's opinion...it was ridiculous, unbelievable, something one couldn't describe using everyday circumstances. It made all the main ideas stronger and circulated them throughout one another and throughout the book, but that was probably the only good thing about the book. I thought the whole thing was incredibly unnecessary with the way it ended and it was too repetitive with simply describing characters for each chapter; it made it kind of dull.

Catch 22 is simply one of the best books ever written. It describes the world as it really is, and does it in a way that will stick with you for a very long time. You will have fun with the many characters and find them surrounding you in a very real sense in your day to day life. Even the dark tragedy of war becomes bearable as described through the comedic voice of the author.

Great book that captures the absured nature of life better than anyone has ever has.

Catch- 22 is a hilariously genius novel written by bestseller novelist Joseph Heller. The plot takes place in the heat of World War II on the small island of Pianosa, which is eight miles south of Elba. It follows the journey of an American bomber Yossarian, who is encroaching upon the first of his middle-aged years. The story introduces a myriad of characters that very much influence and have the ability to control the fate of the many bombers including Yossarian. In an attempt to escape this unappealing and rather petrifying fate, which is known to be Yossarian's "journey", the protagonist matures as a character that will eventually escape a catch-22 with the last sentence.

The novel, which was filled with irony, spoke brutally honest words, which in different circumstances would have been considered taboo. "...A world boiling in chaos in which everything was in proper order" (154) is one of many instances where Heller's ability to successfully bring together two words of opposite meaning is displayed. Joseph Heller is a literary genius whose novel will never age with time.

The book condition was good. However, we did not receive the book til after a month and a half had already passed. Good thing we didn't really "need" the book for something in particular. Ordered other books on the same day and received within 14 days . . . not sure what happened here but very unhappy with wait time.

This movie is a post modern classic. Wonderfully filmed, with a great story. It is not science fiction, though it might sort of fit the genre. It is more along the lines of Farenheit 451, a Clock Work Orange, and 1984.

I bought this movie to show my class of lower level bio kids, generally kids who are checked out of school. Some of the details had to be reviewed that they didn't quite understand, but they understood the movie overall. Even better, the discussion we had after the movie was AMAZING. They really were able to relate the movie well to modern issues and many were able to uncover the layers of symbolism and imagery in the film. There were more than a few comments that caused me to respond "I hadn't even thought about that!" This was a much better vehicle for thinking about ethical issues realted to technology than any article I could have found. We are also relating parts of the movie to our new unit on genetics, something I hadn't even anticipated would happen. Overall, I would highly recommend this film for other bio teachers to use during their DNA units.

At first glance, it may look like any other film. But it truly is a sci-fi film and a brilliant one at that. People in the future can choose to have the perfect baby, without ailments and without defects. This is a story of one man, who wasn't so lucky. Ethan Hawke is broodingly perfect in this. His heartfelt performance really carries this film. Jude Law's small but heartbreaking role should not be missed either. Yes its sci-fi, but its so unconventional, you don't need to be a fan to watch this, or vice versa. Its dramatic and depressing and often beautiful too.

Ten years after the movie they have gone and done it. We now know how the genetic make-up of human beings. Some Job descriptions even say without consideration of age, race, religion or genetics. We also have electric cars and wrist radios. This is no longer sci-fi; it is speculative fiction. Or at least it is speculative. Anyway I have a friend that had a back problem in his youth. They left some dye in him and it was spotted during a job interview physical for a desk job; you guessed it.

Anyway this is a spectacular film. The sound track helped support the movie. They did a good job of picking the actors. The characters were believable. Uma did not even have to show her Thurman's. Ethan did a convincing transformation and Jude was good enough that you almost thought the film was about him. The scenes were breath taking. I was most impressed with the sunrise on the solar panels and the swim competition.

Two points to look for on your second viewing are:
1. Several times the brothers compete physically and logically. Even with his handicapped origin Ethan Hawke" Vincent Freeman" surpasses his brother Loren Dean "Anton."
2. Jude Law "Jerome Eugene Morrow" Was not without ambition. He was disappointed that his advantage was not advantageous enough for the gold and receives his gold thought the actions of Vincent.

Vincent who was conceived in the Rivera, as child of God (taking their chances) must compete in a world where all the negative genetic dispositions are usually removed as was his brother's case. Vincent is tagged for failure at birth. To overcome this social barrier and obtain his goal of going into space, he borrows the genes of an athlete gone astray. The director where he is working (GATTACA) is killed as the last obstacle to the mission. Will Vincent be found out? Irene (Uma Thurman) suspects the number one candidate for the space trip Jerome of the murder. She never suspects that he is really Vincent.

Bottom line is if you aren't genetically correct the movie may scare you.

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Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) is a "love child" - that is, he was conceived (at some time in the techno-marvel future) without benefit of the genetic engineering utilized by all sensible parents in this New Age. While this engineering cannot transform ordinary DNA into extraordinary DNA, it can eliminate potential genetic flaws, select for sex and appearance, and generally ensure that Baby represents the Best Of Mom And Dad. Vincent's parent's failure to utilize this technology results in a baby who is horribly nearsighted, and who has a serious heart defect that projects a lifespan of only 30 years. This DNA profile places Vincent close to the bottom of the social, economic, and professional scale in the New Age, where opportunity is linked to a great set of genes. Vincent's chastened parents don't make the same mistake with their second baby, and place their hopes on their younger son, giving Vincent embarrassed, qualified affection, and little in the way of goals, expectations, or hope.

Vincent, however, grows up with more spirit than might be expected, and ultimately refuses to be defined by his genetic profile (hence the not too subtle choice of surname, Freeman). He dreams of going into space and spends all his spare time studying and acquiring knowledge that might, with a different DNA profile, have allowed him to realize his dreams.

After years of mopping floors and cleaning toilets, Vincent is desperate to obtain a position at an aeronautics company where he can perform work that might bring him closer to his goal. He decides to become a "de-gene-erate": someone with a low-value DNA profile who uses a "borrowed ladder", or a high-quality DNA profile, obtained from the owner of a more fortunate set of chromosomes.

Vincent locates Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), a former Olympic athlete now living in isolation, and confined to a wheelchair after an accident caused by his own drunkenness. Morrow has a stellar DNA profile that puts him in the 99th percentile of the population. His bitterness over his lost glory and hopeless future persuade him to "lend" his DNA profile to Vincent. This transfer requires Vincent, among other things, to have his legs lengthened in painful operations so that he is as tall as Morrow, and to change his appearance in other ways in order to resemble Morrow's photo ID and genetic description as far as possible. Vincent has to have dental work done, has microscopically fine fingerprint covers made, scrubs off as much of his own body hair and skin cells as possible each day, and carries Jerome's urine around with him, as company employees have to submit to a urine test every day, designed to detect just this kind of deception. Vincent even puts a few of Jerome's hairs on the comb he keeps in his desk drawer, in case of a routine check.

Finally, with the help of Jerome's "ladder", Vincent is accepted at the aeronautics company, where his superior work comes in for praise ("not one mistake in a million keystrokes"). However, complications ensue: Vincent falls in love with a beautiful colleague (his then-wife Uma Thurman) and is faced with the dilemma of whether to tell her what he really is, especially as she seems to suspect something unusual about him from the beginning - she steals a hair from his office comb (fortunately, Jerome's hair) to have tested at a DNA lab.

The crisis that propels the film to its conclusion is a murder at the aeronautics company that brings in the police. By a fluke of fate, Vincent's younger (and supposedly genetically superior) brother is assigned to work the case with an older officer played by Alan Arkin. Vincent's brother eventually works out who "Jerome" really is. The confrontation between the two, and the younger brother's incredulous disbelief that Vincent has performed such high-level work with such inferior DNA, is sad and gripping.

Vincent has to use all his wits, risking life and limb to protect his new life, his relationship with Thurman, his dreams, and the opportunity he knows he will never have again if his true identity is discovered.

This story of how one man manages to confound the destiny arbitrarily laid out for him is well-acted, well-written, and well-produced. Hawke is excellent as the determined Vincent, and Jude Law gives a fine performance as the embittered Jerome. The evolving relationship of the two men, as they share one identity, is at least as interesting as Vincent's relationship with Thurman.

The film is not, however, without narrative issues. One is that, although we do see Vincent reading up on space travel over time as he grows up, the idea that he steps into a position at the aeronautics company fully prepared to perform his work there, with no previous experience, is a bit far-fetched. But an even greater issue in this otherwise well-crafted story, is that it never addreseses why Vincent's obvious intelligence doesn't register on his DNA profile, along with his bad heart and weak eyes. Given the abstruse work Vincent later performs as "Jerome Morrow", it is not plausible that his intellectual abilities do not also appear in his DNA profile. Equally implausible is a world obsessed only with physical perfection, but indifferent to intellecutal perfection. Perhaps the story's creators wanted to sidestep the sticky issue of the role genetics play in intelligence, or do not accept that role; or, perhaps they viewed acknowledging such a role in intelligence as part of the problem the film explores: genetic (read: ethnic/racial) pigeonholing. Regardless, the omission is glaring, and begs questions that the film fails to answer.

Those issues aside, this is a superior sci-fi, whose warnings are timely in an era when genetic maniuplation is marching inexorably forward, and that asks us to remember that each human being harbors a non-quantifiable mystery of individuality and possibility.

Superbit=god.

Well not really, but you get my point.

Does anyone else see the correlation between the letters of the title and DNA sequences? A friend pointed this out to me, I hadn't noticed before.

Love, love, LOVE this movie. Probably one of my top three. If you have half a brain, you should probably own it.

This movie needs to be watch at least twice, in order to capture all the nuances of the detailed plot, the cinematography, and the superb acting. I never, ever get tired of watching this movie.

This movie is a post modern classic. Wonderfully filmed, with a great story. It is not science fiction, though it might sort of fit the genre. It is more along the lines of Farenheit 451, a Clock Work Orange, and 1984.

I bought this movie to show my class of lower level bio kids, generally kids who are checked out of school. Some of the details had to be reviewed that they didn't quite understand, but they understood the movie overall. Even better, the discussion we had after the movie was AMAZING. They really were able to relate the movie well to modern issues and many were able to uncover the layers of symbolism and imagery in the film. There were more than a few comments that caused me to respond "I hadn't even thought about that!" This was a much better vehicle for thinking about ethical issues realted to technology than any article I could have found. We are also relating parts of the movie to our new unit on genetics, something I hadn't even anticipated would happen. Overall, I would highly recommend this film for other bio teachers to use during their DNA units.

At first glance, it may look like any other film. But it truly is a sci-fi film and a brilliant one at that. People in the future can choose to have the perfect baby, without ailments and without defects. This is a story of one man, who wasn't so lucky. Ethan Hawke is broodingly perfect in this. His heartfelt performance really carries this film. Jude Law's small but heartbreaking role should not be missed either. Yes its sci-fi, but its so unconventional, you don't need to be a fan to watch this, or vice versa. Its dramatic and depressing and often beautiful too.

This is one of the funniest movies of all time. Mike Myers best and most memorable performance. The scenes with Charlie's father (Stuart McKenzie, also played by Mike Myers) are so funny they will make you laugh until your stomach hurts. Heeeed, paper now!

I was looking to replace a lost copy of this movie and thought I put in my two cents. This movie has it all, murder mystery, martial arts, poetry, songs and dance plus bag pipes and yes, Phil Hartman. This was a great date movie for my husband and I before we got married, and now we watch it every year on our wedding anniversary. If you like the old Saturday Night Live type of humor you'll love this. This movie is like a fine old wine, it gets better with age!!

There aren't so much as five seconds of this movie that aren't hilariously funny. Mike Myers stars as Charlie, a San Francisco coffeehouse poet with a serious fear of commitment and a track record of ending relationships over imagined flaws. When Charlie finally meets the beautiful Harriet (Nancy Travis)--who happens to be a butcher--a series of revelations have him convinced she's Mrs. X, who marries men and murders them on their wedding night. The movie is full of very funny characters and great performances, including Amanda Plummer as Harriet's oddball sister Rose, Brenda Fricker as Charlie's lustful, conspiracy-obsessed mother May, Anthony LaPaglia as the frustrated undercover cop, Alan Arkin as his too-nice police captain, and funniest of all, Mike Myers in the additional role of Stuart, Charlie's belligerent Scottish father (evidently based on Myers' real father). Some of the funniest scenes involve Charlie's poems parodying the "beatnik" style, including the unforgettable "woman woman woman" poem and the "Harriet, hard-hearted harbinger of haggis" poem. You won't be able to stop quoting most of this uproarious movie.

Unlike most people I actually pay attention to critics as I have burned by the hype way too often. Like most great cult films though they really missed on this one. The one liners are top 100 classic and the great supporting cast get the film through potentially slow points. Nancy travis is especially brilliant in a role that is designed to be ambigious. Bottom line, get the DVD, watch, repeat.

Charlie Mackenzie (Mike Myers) has a bit of a commitment problem. It doesn't matter how perfect his girlfriend is, he finds some reason to end the relationship.

Then, into his life, walks Harriet Michaels (Nancy Travis). With just one smile, she melts Charlie's heart. It's love at first site, and Charlie is ready to leave his bachelor days behind him.

There's just one little problem. Reports are circulating the country about a Mrs. X who kills her husbands on their wedding night. And Charlie thinks that Harriet may be Mrs. X. Is he just coming up with another excuse not to commit? Or is he signing his life away by asking Harriet to marry him?

I'm not normally a fan of Mike Myers' comedy, and this movie reminded me why. The reliance on sexual jokes and situations for comedy never appeals to me. Mike also plays Charlie's dad Stuart, and I just found that character annoying.

To further complicate things, the story is rather dull. We know what's coming, and the movie takes too long getting there. If I had been enjoying myself along the way, I wouldn't have minded. But since I wasn't, I didn't. I actually enjoyed the sub-plot about Charlie's friend Tony (Anthony LaPaglia) and his disappointment in his job as a cop more then the main story.

The only thing that gives the movie that second star is the climax. It was actually funny and interesting. It's not enough to make the movie worth watching, but at least it was entertaining.

Die hard Mike Myers fans do love this movie. The rest of us can just move right along.

The lemming condition is written like a Children's story but it is not.
the message in it is for more adults than Kids.
if read in schools I suggest above sixth grade, it is not descriptively Violent, it just is very unnatural for a book written like it to contain the things it does, most children will not expect such a ending do to it is a fairy tale sort of thing, and so get into the mind fix that the ending is happy, almost all the characters commit a unknowingly suicide, falling off the cliff one after another.

Sincerely,
disturbed Teenager

P.s. Read it. It is good, just not for Kids.

As an elementary school teacher, I have read this book aloud to second, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. It is an amazing springboard for discussion and can be tailored to any age group--adults included. Those who arrogantly posit how simplistic this book is, apparently have not dealt with children. I have been amazed with the many themes I have been able to use in the classroom--not just life lessons (not following the crowd, thinking for yourself, friendship, tolerance, etc.), but with teaching writing. I did not realize there is a sequel--The Clearing. I will be sure to get it.

I read this book back in the eighties while I was teaching. This summer I read it again with a couple of middle and upper elementary aged kids. To me it's a classic story, written simply but with a rare combination of lightness, humor and a look at the important ideas concerning "following your own path." It's a book that parents can read with their kids and use the story lines to discuss all sorts of ideas. It's a children's book that doesn't talk down to kids. In fact, it's a simple story for all ages.

Bubber, your average Lemming, was just another Lemming in the field. Then all of a sudden, every Lemming starts talking, and talking about one thing only. Traveling west. Every Lemming in the whole colony is heading west. They don't know why and they don't how far they're going. That is, until Bubber talks to his friend Crow. Then he realizes that he's going to need to jump off a cliff and into water to get there, which is fine except for one small thing. He doesn't know if Lemmings can swim! Bubber tries to figure out what's going on and what they should do.
This is a good book for all ages. It is easy enough for young readers to understand and has a hidden message for older people. Some readers may think that this is a book for only young kids but as you get along the way, you'll find that this is good for all ages. I was surprised to find out that Alan Arkin is an actor and an author as well. Alan Arkin puts you in a position you're not in every day. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a quick, but good story.
-Brendan Goggins

I began using this book in my classroom about 20 years ago.
I have read and discussed it with children 10-18.
Most notably, I read it to students at a continuation high school where I worked for three years. Many of the students were in gangs and had already been to jail. Many of the girls already had their first child and had settled into a pattern that would spiral their lives and those of their children into misery. This book offered them an alegorical exposure to the idea that life need not be preset series of events leading to the leap of no return and the long death.

It remains one of my most stolen books, always a compliment. Mr. Arkin reminds us that it is not only okay, but necessary that we break from the pack to survive.
I am so grateful for his authorship and the effect it has had on so many. I wish he knew.