|
| Again to Carthage | 
| Author: John L. Parker Jr.
Publisher: Breakaway Books
Category: Book
List Price: $23.95
Buy New: $14.36
You Save: $9.59 (40%)
New (22) from $14.36
Avg. Customer Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 19436
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 344
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.5
ISBN: 1891369776
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781891369773
ASIN: 1891369776
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20080828211842T
|
| Customer Reviews:
Cult Classic April 1, 2008
This is a thoroughly weird and hypnotic book that deserves its reputation as a cult classic. While the writing is uneven in places the descriptions of the runner's life are unparalleled.
 Very Disappointing March 29, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Loved once a runner and anxiously awaited the release of Again To Carthage.
The typographical errors and editorial misses throughout the book make me wonder if anyone re-read the copy before it went to print.
The story seems to wander aimlessly for hundreds of pages and the only thing running related are the main character's daily outings.
Occasionally the author seems to feel a need to rework an overused, philosophical running cliche or name drop with references to former runners, researchers or shoe models.
If you are a runner reading the book is probably a must, and once started, I was determined to plow through. I found myself skipping whole paragraphs at times, and I found I hit the "Wall" several times before falling into a survival shuffle in the end.
If I knew then what I know now...I would have waited for a copy at the library or for a used copy to show up at the local bookstore.
Running Down a Dream March 15, 2008
Fans of "Once a Runner" may savor this long-awaited sequel, chronicling the attempted comeback of Quenton Cassidy. Once a competitive miler, Cassidy has now settled into a law practice in Florida, casually working out to stay in shape. There is a nagging feeling of emptiness and sense of purpose, though, as he goes through the motions of grownup life.
John Parker's descriptions of Florida weather and seafood is sensual enough to make you feel you are there. Eventually, Cassidy sheds the three-piece suit for running shoes to pursue the audacious goal of moving up from the mile to the marathon and competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
Will he be able to regain his competitive running form? Can he transition from being a successful miler to a competitive marathoner? Will be make the Olympic team? What of the unfinished relationships with that special someone I his life?
No spoilers here. You'll have to read it yourself to see if Quentin Cassidy makes it "again to Carthage"!
 Again to Red Lobster!? March 8, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Again to Carthage from my viewpoint was the most anticipated running novel ever written. It was a sequel to the classic Once a runner which I felt broke new ground for novels focusing on distance runners and their lifestyle. This book failed me. It focuses on boating and fishing and eating different sea creatures. A lobster conga line...wow...then it switches focus to rural mountain family living where food is always cooking (was parker fasting when he wrote this?). Finally it gets to the climatic push towards the trials but how is it that ken martin and rod dixon have run a sub 4 mile and a sub 2:10 marathon in 1979/1980. This was supposed to be the other impetus for quentin to choose the marathon as a new challenge but dixon and martin hadn't even run a marathon at that point and i doubt martin had broken his 4 minute mile by 1979 either. Its great for Parker to vent his stories and soap boxes through his character but I expected much more from this book and I hate seafood and grits....There is no doubt Florida runners and mountain folk will drool during the long sections paying homage to their specific quirks just as academians will (especially bug people). It was worth reading which is why I rate it 3 but it fell short of the actual running focus that i was shelling the out the money for.
Bittersweet years February 28, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
John L. Parker has clearly given a lot of thought to an athlete's aging and the ways in which the bodies that work so beautifully when we're young begin to be a little less reliable. Overcoming the encroachments of age, as Quenton Cassidy does, makes for some thrilling descriptions of running and racing. Be forewarned, though, that those running scens are rather sparingly doled out--at one point it seemed like the sequel to "Once A Runner" would have been more accurately titled "Now a Fisherman." But, like running itself, pushing through the tedious patches sets you up for a rewarding finish.
|
|
|
Wildlife, nature and the Environment
Sponsored Links
Learn how to get your own Amazon Book shop | |
