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Title: Great Dream of Heaven : Stories by Sam Shepard ISBN: 0-375-40505-4 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 15 October, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent overall
Comment: Overall this is an excellent collection of stories. I had heard SS was a good writer, but this was my 1st time reding one of his work. He has convincing narratives- for example- when the perspective of the story is a 14 yr old boy- it really is convincing as a 14 yr old boy. (Unlike the unconvincing 14 yr old in Kidd's novel Secret Life of Bees)Also he is willing to experiment with different styles- such as 2 stories that consisted of dialogue back and forth. "Berlin Wall Piece" and the story about the kid with the sign I found most compelling.
One complaint though- in the last story- "The Trees are Naked"- he has an error regarding the movie The Third Man. He states that the woman in the film is Ingrid Bergman- when it's not. It's really Alida Valli, who looks like Ingrid, but isn't her. This story in particular is wonderfully described but he should have checked his facts out 1st. Shame shame Sam- but good job overall. Much much better than the Pulitzer stuff- "Interpreter of Maladies" & also the bland "Lucky Girls"
Rating: 5
Summary: Reality stripped to essentials
Comment: Shepard has thrown away everything not absolutely necessary to get at the core of what matters.
Each story in this slim volume gets to the center of a facet of life and illuminates it.
Though every tale is stripped to essentials each is true to life.
Perfect reading for a Sunday afternoon.
Highly recommended.
Rating: 4
Summary: Prose Dramas
Comment: "Great Dreams of Heaven" is a quick read at a breezy 142 pages. Some of these stories would jump alive in an oral reading because they are essentially prose dramas. "Betty's Cats" is a wonderful example of a lady who just refuses to see that a trailer full of cats, even if they stink and complaints have been made to the health department, could be a nuisance to anyone. "Living the Sign" is a great little drama about a guy who stops into a fast food shop, sees a handwritten sign, "Life is what's happening to you while you're making plans for something else." He proceeds to grill the counter clerks until he find out who wrote the sign. After the long investigation, he finds his answer in the geeky Dicky; the piece ends with a little profundity about plans. My favorite story is "It Wasn't Proust" which is essentially an argument between a husband & wife over past romances in France; the dialogue sparkles with the banter having edge & wit. While a couple stories are too short to gain momentum and a couple are puzzle pieces, overall this a wonderful blend of prose and drama. Enjoy!
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Title: Motel Chronicles by Sam Shepard ISBN: 0872861430 Publisher: City Lights Books Pub. Date: May, 1983 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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Title: Cruising Paradise : Tales by Sam Shepard ISBN: 0679742174 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 24 June, 1997 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: Hawk Moon: A Book of Short Stories, Poems and Monologues by Sam Shepard ISBN: 0933826230 Publisher: Performing Arts Journal Pubns Pub. Date: December, 1981 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: Sam Shepard : Seven Plays (Buried Child, Curse of the Starving Class, The Tooth of Crime, La Turista, Tongues, Savage Love, True West) by Sam Shepard ISBN: 0553346113 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 May, 1984 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Fool for Love and Other Plays by Sam Shepard ISBN: 0553345907 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 November, 1984 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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