Andre Braugher Books

Not only is writing a review something I don't usually do...it"s something I have never done,(as an adult,} I was not ready for the emotional strangelhold "the Color of Water," had on me from page one. I had to keep checking to see if this was truly a real story of a life unparalleled, or a wild imagination. James McBride is so cool.I intend to find his recordings and of cours read the rest of his literery offerings.Since reading "Water", I have purchased several books for friends and they too have shown their critique by humbling me with their thanks. I was in the film business for many years and if I were just twenty years younger, I would find the money to purchase the film rights. To wrap it all up, it was one hell of an experience...one I wish I could have shared with mr.McBride. Len Howad,Las Vegas NV

This book is a wonderful book that tells two different stories of a boy and his mother trying to find themselves. In this story, James McBride struggles to find himself, torn between the racial divide of whites and blacks. The son of a black man and a Jewish Orthodox mother, he finds himself (like his mother) fleeing to the black side of life. His mother's story parallels his own, with her living with her intolerant Rabbi father, crippled mother, and brother and sister living in Suffolk, Virginia. Rachel Shilsky finally has enough of living under her father's cruel gaze, knowing that he does not care for her sick mother. She leaves and meets Andrew McBride who helps her find God and herself. Rachel Shilsky becomes Ruth McBride Jordan. After eight kids with her first husband, Ruth married Hunter Jordan and had four more children, and somehow through the will of God sent them all to college. This book shows how both James and Ruth found God and therefore found themselves. It also shows James McBride finally coming to terms with being bi-racial, and how finally getting to know his mother helps him get to know himself.

This is my all time favorite book. I came across it by chance while working at a book store in college and have read it 3 times in 5 years. The juxtaposition of the authors "story" with his mother's is unlike anything I have ever read. People of every race, every religion, and every generation will relate to the joys, angst, and triumph of this story. I've told everyone I know about this book. It's is an easy read and worth every penny and every second of your time.

I actually read this book when it first came out, I believe that was about 10 years ago, which does seem correct as I believe I was about 14-15 when I read this book. Although it was a long time ago I don't remember all the finer points of this book but for some reason this book has always stood out in my memory. I really fell in love with book, I rememeber not wanting to put it down but at the same time dreading turning each page as it was getting closer to the end. I say give it a try, I don't think you will be disappointed. I hope it leaves as big an impression on you as it did with me. I might even read it again soon!

I did not enjoy this book as much as some others have. I found the mother somewhat cruel. It is amazing that any of these children turned out well. The author has a writing style that's easy to read, and it's great that he can look back on his life as he does, but, as an outsider, I found myself wanting to wring this woman's neck every few pages! I just could not find any redeeming values for her. And, why have sooooooo many kids that you cannot afford to raise?? Still, an interesting read.

This book should come with a big warning wrapper: "Michael Chabon's latest book is unlike his previous work, it is an homage to classic adventure writing -- your results may vary." That's because it's a book whose enjoyment depends heavily on the reader's expectations, and a number of reviewers seem to find fault with it because of this. If you're a fan of Chabon, be warned that it's miles away from his early work like Wonder Boys or The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, and while it shares certain themes with more recent work like Kavalier & Clay, The Final Solution, and The Yiddish Policeman's Union, it's a large stylistic departure and really an experiment unto itself.

Originally written in serial chapters published in the New York Times Magazine, the story follows the stylistic and narrative conventions of the old time pulp serials. And if you've never read any old adventure classics like H. Rider Haggard's Allan Quartermain stories, Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian stories, or Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar stories, then the heavily stylized form may throw you. Indeed, some reviewers have complained that the story is confusing and hard to follow, which frankly, baffles me. Like its literary ancestors, the plot is such that a 10-year-old could follow and recount it, so the conclusion I draw is that the genre itself is defeating some readers. Sure there are leaps of setting and time, a constant stream of new characters, and plot twists aplenty -- but it's hardly daunting stuff. Similarly, a lot of people seem put off by Chabon's use of archaic and obscure words, but that's exactly how a lot of those old adventure stories were written, and the gist of the meanings can be inferred from context in almost every case.

The story itself concerns a pair of 10th-century Jewish "gentlemen of the road" who drift around the civilized world getting by as mercenaries and grifters. Following the classic template, they are a study in opposites, one a hulking black Abyssinian, the other a reedy, pallid German. Neither fits the modern Western stereotype of what a Jew is, and that's very much part of Chabon's point. His writing has long tinkered with the notion of Jewish identity, and here it is taken to colorful but historically accurate extremes. They are classic rogues with hearts of gold (or at least silver), and the story finds them in the Khazar kingdom, a small Jewish land on the west of the Caspian Sea, resting uneasily between Christian and Muslim empires (today the area includes parts of Russia, the Ukraine, and most of the Caucuses). After a great introduction to the two heroes, the story properly kicks off when they find themselves in the company of a deposed prince. Adventure ensues as they try to help him get back home, which involves raising an army and dealing with marauding Vikings, before they even get to deal with the usurper. Violence, treachery, and humor abound, however, some of the material (rape and prostitution) is rather adult and parents should read the book before handing it over to children.

The book is nicely designed -- aside from the cover, which is a total flop (the British edition has a much more evocative cover which is a homage to classic adventure book covers). Each chapter features an illustration from legendary artist Gary Gianni, which help to set the mood and tone. A few of these feel rather hasty and unfinished compared with other work of his I've seen, but he nails the style just right. On the whole, this is a wonderful little entertainment from one of contemporary fiction's big guns, and while it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, it's at least worth trying.

Amram is a giant of a man, an African of uncertain origin, Zelikman, a Frank, tall and thin and as pale as Amram is dark; the two are travelling companions, gentlemen of the road. They make their way seeking opportunities, by cunning and deceit. Then they find themselves entrusted with the custody of Filqa, a youth who claims to be a deposed prince, and soon they are inevitably involved in helping the boy attempt to regain his kingdom.

Placed in the historical setting of the ancient Jewish kingdom of Khazaria (present day Ukraine) around the 10th century, it is a fascinating story with plenty of plot twists and more than a few surprises. But the real delight of the tale is Michael Chabon's inimitable prose; Chabon is here clearly indulging himself in his most flamboyant and fluid mode, creating combinations of words that simply roll of the page. The result is witty, entertaining and often very funny and a pure pleasure to read. Perhaps the one casualty of Chabon's extravagant writing is that occasionally the overall sense sometime becomes confused in the abundance of words, but that is a small price to pay for the overall enjoyment.

A departure from his more usual contemporary settings, the author himself admits in an interesting Afterword that he is on something of an adventure of his own with this book. He has certainly created yet another original and appealing work, this one beautifully illustrated with line drawings by Gary Gianni - a hint of Michael Chabon's fascination with comics?

Michael Chabon's Gentlemen of the Road reads like a classic novel, as if part of a required reading list for an English literature course. The vocabulary alone sent this reader to a dictionary more than once.

The novel opens with a thrown insult followed by a thrown axe, immediately setting the stage for a fight as well as setting the tone of the story and drawing the rough characters we will learn about and follow.

Amram, a huge African whose weapon of choice is the above-mentioned axe, and Zelikman, a Frank physician, make strange bedfellows in this wild adventure story. The unlikely pair find themselves traveling through tenth-century Asia together on a mission to reluctantly save Filaq, a prince of the Khazar empire, and help him reclaim his throne usurped by his uncle.

The characters and their relationships to each other are portrayed in subtle tone but visceral description. Grey-haired Amram has skin that is as "lustrous as the tarnish on a copper kettle and his eyes womanly as a camel's." Zelikman, on the other hand, is a "fair-haired scarecrow," a "thin-shanked fellow" whose hair falls in "two golden curtains on either side of his long face" and has an unhealthy relationship with hats. This Mutt and Jeff work their way through the Caucasus Mountains, pissing off the locals as they go, hurling insults, blades and witticisms along the way.

Whether purposeful or not, this book's prose is purple. One particularly colorful scene describes a man who is dragged from his hiding place and "slashed open like a gushing sack of wine." That painted the picture for this reader.

The atmosphere of this story compares to that of The Three Musketeers, Lethal Weapon, and several Hollywood Bible films all at once. And this story is all about guys. It is a long time before any female characters appear on the scene, though when one does, she makes up for the lack of women we don't see beforehand in a way that surprises and satisfies.

Illustrations by Prince Valiant artist Gary Gianni accompany the story, lending concrete pictures to the characters, if Chabon didn't paint them strongly enough already. Some people may argue that pictures can take away from the imagination of the reader, but if you can let that go, it doesn't take away from this well-told story. In fact, it gives it a closer resemblance to the classic novel. One doesn't see much artwork in novels these days, so it's a little refreshing.

Chabon's lengthy sentences and highbrow words do not make for a light read. In addition, the unfamiliar names and places may prevent its accessibility to the average reader, even at just under 200 pages.

Gentlemen of the Road is a literary, albeit action-packed, buddy road trip. While the map on the inside cover provides a little understanding of the geography of the story, perhaps a glossary - of the real and the fictitious - would have been more helpful.


Reviewed by Margaret Andrews for Curled Up With A Good Book

GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD took my be surprise, both in its time period (950 or thereabouts) and its setting (the Khazar empire). Chabon's language also held my attention with its long sentences and winding descriptions. This isn't a book I would have normally picked up, but I have to say that I enjoyed it. Doctor Zelikman and the African Amram seem a curious couple, but they use that in their favor as they trick people out of their money in town after town. Only when they end up with the Khazar heir along with them are their wits not enough as they find themselves flung into a much bigger story.

Not being familiar with this period, I don't have much to compare this with, but the reading, while slow at times, was quite enjoyable. I'd recommend this to anyone I know who likes a good adventure and has the patience to watch it play out.

This is the fourth Chabon novel I've read in the past few months and it is surely my favorite. Though K & C and Yiddish policeman were both fun and had more weight to them (not just in pages, but in pathos, too), this one is instantly a timeless classic, meant to sit on the shelf next to "the three musketeers" and "treasure island." Chabon is having so much fun writing this book, in the language and frantic plot twists, it feels like he has been freed from the bonds of "literature," and is now flying on the wings of "pulp." But of course many of today's classics are yesterdays pulp. And honestly the language is so complex and stacked, you could hardly say it doesn't have literary value. The funniest thing (or do I mean pathetic) is the reviews here that complain there isn't enough explanation of the ancient world that is the setting of the book. Gosh, sorry if it made you think or go to wikipedia, next time read some Michael Crichton.

This movie is pretty typical in many ways but Bruce Willis delivers an outstanding performance in just about every single movie he is in and this is another in a long line.

Former big city cop banished to being just a river rat there is more at stake than finding his fathers killer when women from his past keep winding up dead in the river for him to find.

Sarah Jessica Parker also delivers an excellent performance that was very surprising.

This is a must own for Bruce Willis fans and fans of the 80's/90's thriller/action movies.

This is one of Bruces high octane action movies that is always at the bottom of the barrel. This is still when Bruce Willis was looking like old school, original Die hard Bruce Willis. With that cutthroat wit that always made him worth watching.

Yes, sometimes the plot goes into extreme Monday Night Movie of The Week territory, with the serial killer, disguised as a plot twist, but I still dig it.

And some may say that there was zero chemistry in the romance between him and Sarah Jessica Parker, but come on now! Plus, what do I care, she is smokin' in that police boat uniform. Yes. Sarah Jessica Parker is always hot though. Even when she was in her akward "square pegs" era. She's a fox.

Dennis Farina, top notch job, as usual. I would have liked it better if Bruce had thrown a glass of punch at him... oh wait, he does!

Anyway. C'mon now! If you like Bruce Willis, or action movies, or serial killer movies, this is worth at least a rental. Even if just for the scene when Bruce tricks all the bad guys by wearing that one bad guys hat. Genius!

This is his forte. I surely wouldn't be watching a Bruce Willis movie for the romance! Lots of action, and drama. Not a family movie.

Cops running a muck in Pittsburg? Bruce attempts to clean the city up with the help of Sarah Jessica Parker.

I saw this movie years ago and found it in a bargain bin recently, I thought it was time to give it another viewing. This is no "Die Hard",but it is a pretty neat action thriller that will hold your interest. The DVD transfer is very good.

Bruce Willis at the peak of his action hero form playing a cynical hard-boiled cop trying to fight the system. A pre-Sex and the City Sarah Jessica Parker at the peak of her cuteness. Great character actors like Dennis Farina, Tom Sizemore, Brion James, Tom Mahoney, and Andre Braugher. Superb on location cinematography shot by Mac Ahlberg in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a cool genre score by Brad Fiedel (love that saxaphone love theme) and on the mark (and wonderfully over the top) direction by Rowdy Herington of Road House fame. Striking Distance is a nice little hard boiled action gem that seems to be slowly gaining a nice little cult following. For fans of 80's and 90's action films, this is a movie worth seeking out.

This movie is pretty typical in many ways but Bruce Willis delivers an outstanding performance in just about every single movie he is in and this is another in a long line.

Former big city cop banished to being just a river rat there is more at stake than finding his fathers killer when women from his past keep winding up dead in the river for him to find.

Sarah Jessica Parker also delivers an excellent performance that was very surprising.

This is a must own for Bruce Willis fans and fans of the 80's/90's thriller/action movies.

This is one of Bruces high octane action movies that is always at the bottom of the barrel. This is still when Bruce Willis was looking like old school, original Die hard Bruce Willis. With that cutthroat wit that always made him worth watching.

Yes, sometimes the plot goes into extreme Monday Night Movie of The Week territory, with the serial killer, disguised as a plot twist, but I still dig it.

And some may say that there was zero chemistry in the romance between him and Sarah Jessica Parker, but come on now! Plus, what do I care, she is smokin' in that police boat uniform. Yes. Sarah Jessica Parker is always hot though. Even when she was in her akward "square pegs" era. She's a fox.

Dennis Farina, top notch job, as usual. I would have liked it better if Bruce had thrown a glass of punch at him... oh wait, he does!

Anyway. C'mon now! If you like Bruce Willis, or action movies, or serial killer movies, this is worth at least a rental. Even if just for the scene when Bruce tricks all the bad guys by wearing that one bad guys hat. Genius!

This is his forte. I surely wouldn't be watching a Bruce Willis movie for the romance! Lots of action, and drama. Not a family movie.

Cops running a muck in Pittsburg? Bruce attempts to clean the city up with the help of Sarah Jessica Parker.

I saw this movie years ago and found it in a bargain bin recently, I thought it was time to give it another viewing. This is no "Die Hard",but it is a pretty neat action thriller that will hold your interest. The DVD transfer is very good.

Bruce Willis at the peak of his action hero form playing a cynical hard-boiled cop trying to fight the system. A pre-Sex and the City Sarah Jessica Parker at the peak of her cuteness. Great character actors like Dennis Farina, Tom Sizemore, Brion James, Tom Mahoney, and Andre Braugher. Superb on location cinematography shot by Mac Ahlberg in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a cool genre score by Brad Fiedel (love that saxaphone love theme) and on the mark (and wonderfully over the top) direction by Rowdy Herington of Road House fame. Striking Distance is a nice little hard boiled action gem that seems to be slowly gaining a nice little cult following. For fans of 80's and 90's action films, this is a movie worth seeking out.

This is a refreshing way to spend your time listening to some of the best interviews from the show. I like the show but sometimes don't have time to catch it on NPR. This audio set gives me lots of the memorable interviews I've heard or partially heard over the years. It's a great collection of some of the folks who are major influences in their work. The inquisitive and probing questions of Terry Gross really open up conversations with the likes of Tracy Ullman and Dennis Franz, they sound like us. These are wonderful snippets of real life.