Button Men Books

Considering this is the author's first book, it was a pleasant read. It is your typical 'conversation' novel with a slight twist. If you are looking for an insightful, well developed, intricate plot, this may not be the book for you. If, however, you are seeking a good summer read with authentic dialogue, this book will satisfy. It reads like a movie, as was the author's intent. The characters mesh well with the storyline and one can almost hear their voices rising from the pages, from the low talking mafiosi to the most likely squeaky voice of Yumi. The information on Japan was accurate and insightful. For most readers, it will provide a brief glimpse of what Japan still is today; an egocentric, male dominated/female subservient culture. There are exceptions of course and the author uses Yumi to prove this point. An interesting book, the Button Men is to be recommended to all italophiles as well as to those looking for a fast paced quick read.

This is one of those books which you will not be able to put down until you finish the last page. The author has a great hand for fiction while at the same time interlaces background material which helps you understand Japanese customs as it relates to the story. Being a native New Jerseyan and a frequent traveler to Japan I felt like I grew up with many of the characters. The story combines hardcore New York/New Jersey life with the mystery of Japan. Great book which I highly recommend, I hope it becomes a movie.

Having known the author personally, I read this book with much interest. What did my old friend have to say? I was delighted to see so much of the man I once knew personified in his story--from the romantic, through the adventurer, to the fun loving. It captures so much of the man I remember, invoking not only a feeling of nostalgia, but also tenderness towards my first love. The book is a rousing adventure that contains two winning elements: a compelling, fast-paced quest that keeps you turning pages, plus well-developed characters that he successfully brings to life. The story reflects so much that has influenced his life, in particular, his Italian heritage, and his current Japanese lifestyle. I had to laugh at his references to meatballs, as it brought back fond memories of his mother's great cooking, and the strong family ties evidenced at the many family gatherings. In essence, the book is Vic--a fun read! I look forward to the movie, and to his next book. Great job, Vic!

I picked this book up in the only bookstore in Mito, Japan, that sold English books. Once I picked it up I had to keep reading it. More than just a book about Button Men, it offers an insite into Japan and the Japanese culture. Truly a must read for anyone from America or elsewhere who is visiting, or is simply interested in, Japan. Great book Vic, thanks for sharing it with us.

Great book Vic. This book was a forty eight hour crusade. once you pop you can't stop.

The story that Charles Darwin tells in his excellent VOYAGE OF THE H.M.S. BEAGLE is only the first act of a three-act drama. In it, Captain Robert Fitzroy of the Beagle picked up a 14-year-old Yahgan Indian boy whom he called Jemmy Button after the mother-of-pearl button from his uniform that he uses to pay for him. He added a girl he called Fuegia Basket and an older Yahgan he called York Minster. After the five-year voyage of the beagle, Fitzroy took the three to England where much was made of them. (They even got an audience with Queen Victoria.) Then they were taken back after their moment in the sun and left back in the wilds of Tierra del Fuego.

In the second act, savagery re-asserted itself. York Minster ran off with Fuegia, with whom he had formed a close attachment; and Jemmy was robbed by his tribe of all the presents he received from British well-wishers. Around the same time, British Evangelicals decided to target the Indians of Tierra Del Fuego for conversion. Several attempts were made, resulting in misunderstandings and even a major massacre. Jemmy Button was thought to be responsible for the biggest of these massacres and was arrested and tried in the Falkland Islands, but was finally acquitted for lack of direct evidence.

Finally, Christianity took hold when Thomas Bridges, a minister who not only spoke that Yahgan tongue but had created a Yahgan-English dictionary, arrived and settled at what is now Ushuaia. But while the Indians began arriving at the mission, it was noticed that their population has begun to shrink rather drastically. Jemmy and Fuegia had died, and it is learned that York Minster had died earlier. One would bet that a naked aboriginal population would have a difficult time surviving in a sub-arctic climate under the best of circumstances, but now the die-off accelerated until not a single Yahgan -- even a half-breed -- was left after the 1960s.

Who were the three men of the Beagle referred to in Marks's title? Jemmy was one of them because of his leadership role in his tribe. The other two were Charles Darwin and Captain (later Admiral) Robert Fitzroy.

Back in England, Darwin lived a comfortable life. He held back announcing his claims about evolution until it became evident that a rival, Alfred Russel Wallace, would beat him to publication. So Darwin came out with THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES in 1859, more than 20 years after the Beagle voyage. Fitzroy, still Darwin's friend, opposed Darwin's conclusions, as he was always the more religious of the two -- despite the seeming contradiction that Darwin had originally desired to become a clergyman. As Darwin's star grew in the firmament, Fitzroy's waned, until one day in a fit of despondency he slit his throat with a straight razor.

We tend to forget Fitzroy, but he also contributed something that affects all of us on a daily basis: He almost single-handedly invented the weather forecast by his clever use of barometer readings across the British Isles in conjunction with telegraphic communications.

Richard Lee Marks has written a fascinating book about the clash of cultures between European civilization and a savage society, followed by a clash of cultures within England itself -- between the religious and scientific cultures. That clash is still going on today.

Interesting depiction of Darwin, Cap. Fitzroy and the indian Jemmy Button.
Also you will find the most primitive tribes and the most courageous and resolute missionaries.
It is possible to find a lot of things in this history: abnegation and faith, adventure and hope, but also emotions and sadness... over all: reality!

A wonderful book for any collector of buckles. Great clear pictures with short and too the point descriptions. What else does he collect? Anyone who has this many buckles must have a wealth of other collectibles. A great reference for the beginner or the experience collector. Not just another coffee table book.

Subsequent artistic attempts at humanizing the don includes Analyze This and The Sopranos. Both of these productions feature the don characters in therapy. Valerio's use of the therapy device, though, is unique and visionary. It not only predates these films, but also shows the don in control, as therapist, not patient. This configuration emphasises the power of Italian-American culture to nurture individual identity. Johnny, the don, serves as cultural nursemaid to the reborn Italian-American, Nicholas.

This book is a great representation of the modern conflict that homosexuals face. It is a facet to any library of Civil Rights struggles and modern conflicts of our nation. It analyzes and interprets a wide range of issues that are buried in the grey area of the politically incorrect. This book is a MUST for anyone interested in the evolution surrounding Civil Rights struggles.

oliver button is a very charming, candid, outspoken boy of about seven....he does not possess the usual desires of small american lads; instead he prefers walking in woods,playing w dolls and costuming himself. papa and the kids call him a sissy.Read this delightful tale to see how olivers tauntings change remarkably....And tomie de paolas drawings are the best...

I identified with this book so much as a kid, and i still do now as I read it to my own children.

My mother was always scared to read it to me because she knew I was a little "different" and didn't want to encourage it, but i took a solace in it.... and Oliver Button was my hero.

I wanted to be his friend, Because, through this simple book, he was my friend.

This is an excellent story for pre-k-2nd graders. It is a step beyond the simplicity of Todd Parr, but they play in the same field.

It is real and lives in a real world where the out of the ordinary people don't always fit, and strange looks ensue.

Please buy this and read it to your children, they will thank you for it.

This book describes how Oliver is happy, not playing sports like all the other boys, but taking dance lessons. His parent support him, but at school, he is called a sissy. After a community talent show, which Oliver does not win, his schoolmates realize he is a winner. Oliver stuck with his dreams and desires, against the odds. To me, this story is great for kids, as it illustrates how to stick with something if it is what you desire. It has a great message for children as well as care-givers. The illustrations are wonderful, too.

I bought this book because Oliver Button is very much like I was at his age. He is more interested in playing with girls and doing activities that are not usually done by boys. I also thought it would be a good way to teach children that they don't have to conform to gender roles. However, having worked with elementary school children in various settings for years, I found the story to be very unrealistic.
The beginning is good. We are presented with a feel for Oliver's dificulties. Everyone wants him to be more like other boys. His father wants him to play sports, but he wants to dance instead. His mother enrolls him in a dance school, and he learns how to dance. He perseveres despite the fact that his peers are pestering him for being a "sissy"; they even write "Oliver Button Is A Sissy" on the wall (hence the title). The girls defend him by giving the bullies a talking-to. The bullies stop beating him up, which is a bit unrealistic; boys who are bullies hate girls as much as they hate boys like Oliver.
I was disappointed by the ending. Near the end, Oliver signs up for a talent show. His act involves tap dancing. The other children in his class, at the teacher's suggestion, go to see him perform. If you think this seems unrealistic (why would children who hate Oliver go to see him perform?), you will be even more disappointed by the last page, when Oliver goes to school after the talent show (which he didn't win) and finds that the wall no longer reads "Oliver Button Is A Sissy" because the word "sissy" has been crossed out and replaced with "star." Just because he does a performance doesn't mean those who formerly hated him will like him. I know this because I tried it myself at his age!
Though I like the ideals the author was trying to communicate, such a tacked-on happy ending is very misleading. You want a book about teasing, read Chrysanthemum. You want a book about prejudice, read Dr. Seuss's The Sneetches. You want a book about children who become successful, read Ibi Lepscky's Famous People series. You want a book about gender roles, read William's Doll. Anything but this book!

Tomie dePaola states in the liner notes that Oliver's story is partly autobiographical. "I could spend hours drawing, and nobody ever asked me to play on their ball teams because I was so bad at it."

Oliver's pursuits are less than gender-appropriate in the eyes of his male peers. He enjoys dancing, dressing up, acting, reading, and drawing. His father doesn't approve, either, but his mother and his female peers come to his aid. This help, however, works to Oliver's detriment: "Gotta have help from girls," the boys say teasingly. In the end Oliver, however, Oliver succeeds on his own terms.

This testimony to being oneself was written in 1979, and includes dePaola's signature drawings using a limited color palette. Though it isn't as charming as the Strega Nona books, it effectively delivers its message.

A quality shirt is comfortable, durable, and easy to care to maintain. This IZOD Crested Pique Polo does just that.

I often tend to buy high end store shirts, and it is common, for me to spend up to sixty dollars on a polo, but I gave IZOD a shot one day, when I was at a department store. I was surprised by the incredibly good value. The material is quality, the stitching is quality, and the shirts are easy to keep in good condition.

This particular shirt I have found to be great. Of all the fancy fabrics today, I still love an all-cotton garment. I have had no issue caring for this IZOD product.

I will say the sizing is a bit strange as the other review stated. I typically wear a Small to Medium. With this shirt, Small is where it falls, and it is even a bit larger than I like, so do order carefully, but once you find your size, you can order that one in the future. The IZOD polos on Amazon have seemed consistently sized, while the ones I bought at a department store were smaller than these, so keep that in mind.

Otherwise, enjoy IZOD! The retail pricing of these shirts is great, and the sale prices you find are even better. I wouldn't hesitate to pick a few of these up. In fact, I did just that again today.

Izod always made an excellent polo short sleeved short; and this one is still no exception to the rule! The stitching is far above average--it's very well done. The shirt is great for both "sporty casual" events with a men's blazer; and it's great for everyday sharp dressing for us gents!

Amazon correctly notes that the stitching is particularly fine at the cuffs and neck. This is completely true. This shirt is made to last years with the proper care. It is 100% cotton so you'll either have to iron it after the wash and dry cycle--or you may prefer to take the shirt to the cleaners instead.

The Izod crest gives the shirt an extra "smart" look; instead of the alligator we now get an Izod crest logo. The side slits help to make the shirt a little easier to move around in while you wear it.

However, there's an issue with the sizing of this garment. Sure, I take a men's large shirt--but with Izod I usually take an extra large. If you are unsure about what size you truly need, either measure carefully before using the charts above this review OR go to a store where someone can help you decide (by measuring) which size is best for you. I personally find these shirts to be cut a tad smaller than some other manufacturers cut their shirts.

The shirts also come in a wide variety of colors; and I like that. They also come in sizes small to XX-Large; and this is good for us big and tall guys out there!

Overall, this is one fine sporty, snazzy shirt from Izod. The shirts may cost a little more than what you'd get at a discount department store; but these shirts are worth every penny you pay for them. I highly recommend these fine shirts.

Un libro amable, divertido e ingenioso, aunque quizá sí es cierto, como he leído en otra reseña, que es un punto menos mágico que el primero (Jim Botón y Lucas el maquinista).

After finishing Jim Button and Luke the Engin Driver my 6 years old daughter and I wanted to read more about Jim and Luke. In this sequel we follow the two friends through alot of adventures, all the time for good. Jim learns his origin story, and everything gets a happy ending.

Michael Ende has a fantastic way of writing, and this is also absolutely an Ende book, but in many ways my memories of Jim would have been better if there were only the first book. This second one can not be compared to the first, it is long, and you never get to any good points. I still like it though, but both my daughter and I were happy to start something new after these more than 300 pages.

Britt Arnhild Lindland