Edward Burns Books

My parents bought this book, "The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin", for me when the author came to visit. At first, I thought it would be too young for me, but I said I would read it to my younger brother and sister. I ended up really enjoying this book. I'm 12 years old this year, and I like Penguins and travel. I think that's why I liked the book. The main character, Pengey, travels from Antarctica to New York and makes stops at two other countries, so it was fun to find the places on the map and show my younger brother and sister where he went. I've been to New York too. I also like his two best friends and their friendship and how they get into trouble and have to get out again. It was also exciting.

My little bother and I love this story about Pengey Penguin. He is a very funny little guy and the only penguin we have read about who can sing or speak human words. We also really like his friends the parrott, named Lionel, and puffin, named Rufus. We both have different parts of the story that we like the best. My brother likes it when Pengey ends up in the aquarium in Rio and I like it when Pengey and his friends escape from the bad scientist. The three friends also meet some other funny animals before the end of the story.

Reviewed by Matthew Feliciano (age 8) for Reader Views (7/08)

"The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin" is about a penguin names Pengey who goes on adventures to find his mother and father who disappeared. His mother disappeared when it was the mom's turn to go fish hunting; the other penguin moms came back but Pengey's mom did not. Then, the dad had to go get food and he didn't return. Pengey went out to find them.

On the way to find his parents, he ran into a human named Wendy. Pengey and Wendy became friends. Wendy had to leave for Rio de Janeiro and left Pengey. Pengey wanted to go with her so he hid in the airplane's wheel compartment.

"The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin" by John Burns is good for everyone who likes adventures. I love adventure stories and this was a great one!

My parents bought this book, "The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin", for me when the author came to visit. At first, I thought it would be too young for me, but I said I would read it to my younger brother and sister. I ended up really enjoying this book. I'm 12 years old this year, and I like Penguins and travel. I think that's why I liked the book. The main character, Pengey, travels from Antarctica to New York and makes stops at two other countries, so it was fun to find the places on the map and show my younger brother and sister where he went. I've been to New York too. I also like his two best friends and their friendship and how they get into trouble and have to get out again. It was also exciting.

The author came to our school to do a visit and reading for us. Mr. Burns was very informative and we all really liked hearing him read. Then we were all able to buy a book if we wanted too. I think this is a great book and a great adventure to read for children. My friends and I think Pengey is really cute and some of his friends are very funny. Our teacher said she likes the book because it is funny and also she could use the book to teach us about the world and different animals and the ocean. We all love Pengey!

This is a real eye opener of a book if you are looking for an in depth retrospective of the artist's body of work! Burne-Jones is at last receiving his fair due of recognition as witnessed by the recent Met show in the Summer of 1998. This book showcases his many merits, including a unerring color and design technique applied to fantastical subjects. What makes the book so irresistible is the wealth of color plates accompanied by detailed explanations. It also helps that the authors were thoughtful enough to leave out any stuffy, academic narrative that overburdens this genre.

As I only had about 30 minutes to view this exhibit at the Met (I know - it's absurd), I am delighted to have this beautiful catalog to examine in close detail. The reproductions are indeed stunning, and the text, although very detailed, is quite readable. A treasure for art lovers, especially fans of the Pre-Raphaelite style.

This edition of the catalogue for the Metropolitain Museum of Art's recent(and sadly closed) exhibit belongs on every art library's list of " must buys." What a wealth of information and imagery, all presented in generous counterbalance in splendid color throughout. Buy this!!

To visit the Burne-Jones exhibition at New York's Metropolitain Museum of Art is a thrill beyond describing. It is like being surrounded by old friends of the sort usually found in dreams.The stunning, fully illustrated catalogue that accompanies the show is perhaps the best catalogue I have seen, most notably for its impeccable and stimulating essays, and for its phenominal wealth of color reproductions. This book is a stunner, despite two or three flipped pictures( which I guess could happen to anyone in the rush to get such an involved publication ready in time!) I would advise all bookshops, libraries and Burne-Jones lovers to order this book now for its September release. It is sure to be the most valuable book on its subject for many years to come.

Okay--forget for a second that John Edward Lawson is a fantastic writer. Forget that he's assisted in the pioneering of fringe and unusual literature. Forget, too, that his fiction is capable of making you physically recoil in horror one second and eliciting uncontrollable laughter from you the next. For a second, despite all that, let's focus on this book.

The story of a gigilo in a women's prison--when it was originally published, it had everything you'd think such a story would have. Here, the "Director's Cut," plays out like a special edition DVD, replete with bonus scenes, behind-the-scenes, alternate endings, and even a soundtrack (that probably WON'T play in your CD player). Lawson has taken creativity to a whole new level, insisting that the publishing industry as a whole stand up and take notice. The George Orwell of our time, John Lawson illuminates the new direction of fiction...then punches it square in the face.

Kenrick Brimley (call him "Ken" or "Rick" but never "Kenrick" -- and he's no relation to that other Brimley who "eats the oatmeals") has a job you didn't hear about at the high school Job Fair. He works at the local women's prison as a sort of conjugal consultant, offering Death Row residents one final night of pleasure before the state kills them. The closest thing he has to a long-term relationship is with Leena, a convicted arsonist whom he has visited multiple times due to the various postponements of her execution.

Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut is a newly expanded edition of the first novel (and reportedly the first of a series) by John Edward Lawson -- publisher, editor, author, and Bram Stoker Award-nominated poet (for The Troublesome Amputee). Just like the special edition DVDs of your favorite films, this book offers deleted scenes, an alternate ending (that lets the reader choose between "into the sunset" and "final confrontation" styles), a soundtrack to assemble, promotional stills, and more features that make it a must-have even for those who already have the original edition of Last Burn in Hell.

Lawson tells the story as a modern-day pulp-style adventure, with Brimley going from one implausible situation to another in rapid succession (see David Dodge's The Last Match for a good example of the style). We can only sit back and watch as Brimley goes from prison guard to Death Row gigolo, from pop star hanger-on to movie-set masseur, and from the inadvertent next big rap superstar to the inadvertent instigator of a rash of suicides.

Brimley's strange adventure itself would be enough to make Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut a fun read, but the author also satirizes the style and himself in the process: he's quite aware of how unbelievable the whole thing is (and especially how his character is going through all too familiar fictional situations), and embraces it with fervor. But instead of seeming cliched and trite, it all adds up to a skewed kind of originality.

A few political statements worm their way into the story, but they're presented with a good deal of humor -- as if to say Don't take me too seriously ... but pay attention! -- that makes them go down easy. John Edward Lawson is very much a man of ideas (one need only read his poetry to understand that), and Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut shows that not only is he constantly coming up with new ones, but he is also unlikely to run out of them anytime soon.

[A final note: Though it would be easy to slap a label on it based on Lawson's prior work (especially his appearance in The Bizarro Starter Kit), don't call this book bizarro. Lawson has used the picaresque method, very familiar to the mainstream, to tell his story, and Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut is really no stranger than, say, John Irving's early novels. In fact, it would very likely appeal to fans of The World According to Garp, and it deserves that large and diverse audience.]

You know those crime movies you stumble upon late at night? The ones that were made (you assume) somewhere in the late 1990s? There's lots of action, backstabbing, double crossing, and sex? It's the movies that usually star some B actors you see everywhere but can't name. You know the type. The ones that aren't art films or heavy-handed attempts at making a "serious" film but rather fun crime romps through the desert, through Mexico, in and out of dangerous situations? Sexy women, strong men, strong women and action. Lots of action. Well... this is what LAST BURN IN HELL is like.. except the plot is warped with a keen sense of weirdness.

The feel of the novel reminds me of those films (which I love). Like a cross between TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M., RED ROCK WEST, ... and other such neo-noir films.. except LAST BURN IN HELL (director's cut!) has a sense of humor.. and a sense of the bizarre that'll satisfy fans of the odd, the surreal, and the strange.

I won't go into the director's cut angle. Actually, okay, I will. It's a gimmick but a good one. Deleted scenes, alternate ending, and even a soundtrack (well, no, you can't really LISTEN to it but still..).

I'm fairly sure that this is John Edward Lawson's first novel. If it is, well, then pat yourself on the back for even considering reading this. It's exciting, funny, weird, and fast-paced. All good ingredients for an entertaining read.

PROS:
Humor. It's funny.. but not really absurd funny (well, not too much). It takes a lot of shots at pop culture and that makes for some good laughs.
Organization. There are little chapters and blurbs here and there (like a top 10 US singles chart.. which ties in later with the story). They're clever and funny.
Plot. The story moves along and the reader encounters many different characters in many places. If this was a movie, it'd be one where you wouldn't be bored for a minute.

CONS:
Confusion. Especially towards the end. I'm guessing that because the author writes a lot of poetry, he may be use to setting the stage using obscure imagery. That works in poetry but in fiction, it can sometimes make it difficult for the reader to figure out just what is really going on. I don't consider myself an unintelligent person but by the end, I wasn't too sure what exactly happened. I get the gist of it.. but there are just some details and events that confused me. Again, some people may not feel this way. Regardless, it shouldn't stop you from buying and reading this book.

CONCLUSION:
You should read this book. It's fun and entertaining as hell. The fact that it says "Director's Cut" should clue you in to the fact that it flows like a movie albeit one with some weird twists and turns. The set-up is original; the characters are original and/or humorously based on real-type people.

This is a "bizarro" book that you shouldn't miss.

Without a doubt, John Edward Lawson is what Friedrich Nietzsche would have called an "Ubermensch" ("overman," or "superman") of the written word. Last Burn in Hell is a nonstop romp in a bizarre world of a man who has one of the best, and at the same time, worst jobs possible. His landscape is fresh, his strokes are perfect, and the final product is a wonderfully mastered piece of bizarro fiction that will leave you enthralled. You will be left craving more work of Lawson.

Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut is s stunning piece of literary creativity; and original endeavor that is both entertaining and genius: a novel written in the format of a DVD.

Director's Cut includes the original novel Last Burn in Hell, along with Bonus Features: the Soundtrack, Deleted Scenes, an Alternative Ending, and Previews. To top it off, this one even comes with "errors" on the disc.

Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut is a fresh take on the mundane format of the novel. John Edward Lawson has given birth to a greatly needed renegade with a push toward progress and "A punch line aimed at your chin . . . ."

This book is great to have around the house. Any medical term you can think of is in here so you don't have to go asking a doctor or searching on the internet for answers. The book is very easy to read and understand. You won't need and english dictionary to understand this dictionary. I would strongly recommend it.

This is an excellent resource for every Special Education Teacher. In the book, author Edward Burns guides the reader through the process of creating and IEP (Individualized Education Program) that addresses the child's needs. He includes how to the gather the child's current levels of performance, develop measurable goals and objectives, transition planning, and all other necessary components to the IEP. If you are responsible for developing IEPs, than you must get this book!

I remember finding this book in my mom's collection back when I was about 7 or 8 yrs old, and it's probably the reason I became a horror reader. The stories are all well-known classics (The Monkey's Paw being my favorite of the bunch), but it's the artwork that makes this a must-have. Each story is beautifully/grossly illustrated, and if they wouldnt scare guests, I'd frame the pages themselves! (Ya I'm sick!) If you can find it, get it!

This book is very helpful in understanding sin and the nature of it. Why even the "littlest" sins are not little at all, in the eyes of the Creator. Discusses Mortal and Venial sin and how that every time we sin, we are nailing up our Lord to the Cross once again. How every sin we commit we are also slowing killing, (if it is not already dead) our souls and pushing our Lord away from us. I recommend it to anyone who has trouble with a certain vice they are trying to overcome. This will indeed make you more aware of what ought to be done to save one's soul.

Being a fan of all things film, I was naturally overjoyed when my girlfriend recently presented me with this book. Having seen the three great films featured in it, I approached the text with high expectations and was most definately not let down. My favourite part of the book is the introduction by Burns, wherein he writes openly of how he came to be a film-maker and also how he eventually made his debut feature and finally got it distributed. The standout of the three scripts is 'The Brothers McMullen', which presents an amusing look into family life and relationships that just about everyone can identify with. The film, which won the Best Picture Prize at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival, is equally amusing to read as it is to watch, as are the other two scripts, 'She's the One' and 'No Looking Back'. As a film student myself, I found this book to be great reading and count it as one of my favourite script compilations (along with 'Clerks & Chasing Amy : Two Screenplays' by Kevin Smith). I thoroughly recommend it for anyone who has any kind of interest in film, as it certainly a great read.

The Corner clearly tells us about the life of inner-city neighborhoods and its inhabitants. The dark side of the world is revealed through extremely realistic descriptions, terrible moments of life that are so usual in there. The gap is deep, the suffering is obvious, hope just behind, so present in minds, but so abstract. Future is only tomorrow, violence is evidence, fear is everyday...I advise to watch The Wire, a good complement to this amazing book!

Although not as good as Homicide it does a good job of painting a bleak portrait of the inner-city Baltimore drug scene. Many people mention HBO's "The Wire" in their reveiws. Don't forget that HBO made a mini-series out of this book too - aptly titled, "The Corner."

You'd think that if you watched The Wire this won't have anything you don't already know, and you'd be about 70% right. Long and sometimes pedantic, but the characters are all real and the book lets the authors get deeper into their heads; worth a read if you're a Wire junkie. (And if you're not a Wire junkie, this will all be new to you anyway. ...but you might as well start by watching the show. Thank me later.)

Fans of David Simon who are preparing to mourn the imminent end of The Wire on HBO should definitely check out this massively powerful book, if they haven't already done so. Simon and Burns's impressively detailed and nuanced depiction of one year on a drug corner in an impoverished Baltimore neighborhood grows into a scathing indictment, not only of the narcotics business but of a failed criminal justice system as well. This is not light reading by any stretch of the imagination, but well worth it. A hard book to forget, and that's a good thing.

I've lived in Baltimore my entire life. Well to be fair. near Baltimore. I found this a compelling and interesting look at a social epidemic. For those of us that don't understand addiction or the situation in the inner cities first hand this is a mind blowing and outlook changing look at the situation from the side of those that live it every day. This series changed my entire outlook. If you like this try watching 'The Wire' and 'Homicide: Life on the Street'

We live near the Adirondacks and they have been a part of our life. The mountains and the wilderness are beyond words. To find this book that describes how a couple claim their part of this world was a delight. The book will appeal to the romantic who enjoys the beauty of life as we live it and cope with it. There is the broad view of the Adirondacks and also the details of coping with nature. If one of your fantasies is living in the forest and foraging for sustenance, you will thoroughly enjoy the writing and the detailed descriptions of life in the Adirondacks. If you cannot live in the Adirondacks, this book is as close as will ever be to the joyful experience of this beautiful piece of nature. My wife and I enjoyed the book so much that we give it as gifts to people who visit us. Just a beautiful book.. :)

Those of us lucky enough to have read Ed Kanze's essays and articles in regional publications, and enjoyed his wonderful books on John Burroughs, New Zealand and Australia, are overjoyed to see that he has collected a number of his shorter pieces into this volume. Ed, after spending time in the natural worlds of suburban New York and the Gulf Coast, as well as on the other side of the world, now lives in the Adirondacks with his wife and two small children. He apparently spends a good part of his time there sharing his vast knowledge of nature with others, and one of the ways he does this is in the form of these quiet, humorous, lyrical and informative essays. There's a narrative of discovery in the Moose River Wilderness area and the West Canada Lakes, a scientific and philosophical meditation on snow and a disquisition on the rigors of cabin life called, fittingly, "Rodents of Mass Destruction." He is an environmentalist, but might better be called a natural historian in the tradition of Burroughs, whom he admires, relishing his subjects and happy to tell us about them without beating over the head with lectures on environmental depredation. But of course, as a result, his rapier points are ever the sharper. This book is really a treat for the Adirondack aficionado and anyone else intrigued by the intersection between nature and human beings.

Our family really loved this book. We live in the Adirondacks and found reading it aloud was a delight for all. It reinforced so many of the pleasures of exploring the world around us. We learned lots of new things, and became more observant amateur naturalists.

This book is not really written for those simply looking for a travelogue of the Adirondacks. There are already too many of those available. "Over the Mountain" is for those interested in something more than a superficial tour of the region.

Ed Kanze takes you up close to a world many visitors to the park really don't see. He provides a wonderful collection of essays about the natural world of the Adirondacks. Through his writing you feel you are on the ground with him, exploring with wonder all nature has to offer. From scrambling under and around his house to trace mice, to a wonderful night float trip, you are there with him. And it's a wonderful journey.

But be forewarned; if you buy the book, your next stop will be to the travel agent to book your own trip to the Adirondacks!

Who hasn't wanted to lay claim to acreage and trees, a brook and an old, abandoned house all in need of human appreciation? Ed Kanze takes you on this journey of watchful discovery, in prose that informs, challenges, inspires and gives ease. You'll float the Saranac River at night, hike toward Pigeon Roost, dunk mice into flourescent orange powder in order to trace their many points of household entry, and climb, shovel in hand, onto the rooftop without using a ladder--on snow piled up from the eighteen feet that fell during Kanze's first Adirondack winter.

The moral of these very fine essays: if you're going exploring, take a naturalist.