The Man Who Ate the 747

Rating:
Summary: A book for anyone interested in bizarre records
Review: This is a funny and touching novel, set in Superior, Nebraska, where a farmer decides to eat a 747 that crashed in his field. He does this (of course) to demonstrate his unrequited feelings for his childhood love. The book tells the story of the man from the Book of Records (obviously a velied refrence to the Guinness Book of World Records) who comes to supervise the attempt and becomes drawn into the small town's life.

Along the way we're treated to a sample of some of the more bizarre (real) records that people have set -- for standing still, for uninterrupted kissing, for crawling, etc.

Once I started this book, it was really hard to put it down -- it's funny and emotionally appealing at the same time. The only thing that stops it getting full marks is that Sherwood could have done more with some of the deeper scenes, where the Book of Records rep begins to realize what he really wants from all this.

All in all, a great read and a great idea for a present (I've been given two copies so far...)

Rating:
Summary: I 'Ate' this book up!
Review: This is a wonderful story if you want something short, easy-to-read, funny and uplifting. Being a trivia junkie, I could identify with J.J. Smith and I loved reading all the useless tidbits spread throughout the book. Wally is an absolutely lovable guy who tries to accomplish an incredible feat (guess what it is!). Willa's the sophisticated lady both guys have the hots for. I didn't emphathize with her as much but I still found her to be likable and real. The town and its various characters are lovingly portrayed, and the ending is a real tearjerker. It's an adorable little story that I think will be around for a long time. If Mr. Sherwood writes another book, I will most definitely read it.

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Summary: Eggstacy!
Review: I surprised myself by liking this story of a highly implausible event. Mr. Sherwood has the knack of a born storyteller, quickly capturing his reader into his tale. Landscapes are vivid, the air actually seems to sparkle, characters breathe and become "real" and the fun is mingled with a certain poignancy. The egg toss absolutely lifted my cynical little heart, as did the visual of the ladies running to the dance. Step back and focus on what is truly important and you'll find this little book simple enchanting.

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Summary: A book to be devoured
Review: The Man Who Ate the 747 tells the quirky tale of Wally Chubb who undertakes the title's improbable task for the love of a woman. Once J.J. Smith, who works for The Book of Records, gets wind of this he sets out to see for himself, and hopefully to verify a record for his book. Willa Wyatt, the focus of affection, is worried that J.J. and the subsequent hoard of media will spoil the serene life of Superior, Nebraska. Thus unfolds the whimsical tale of what a man will do for love and how people care for one another. It does require some suspension of logic, but has a sweetness that will stay with you.

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Summary: Enjoyable, light romantic read...
Review: I enjoyed this book for its light heartedness and simply for the smile it left on my face when I finished it. The happy ending may have seemed too much like a Hollywood movie...but the premise behind the whole Guinnes Book world record thing was new and refreshing. A feel good book that should be read when you need a bit of an escape from life's little let-downs.

Rating:
Summary: Wait for the video
Review: A very light read, and not all that satisfying. In a word, quaint. In another word, NOVELLA.

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Summary: TICKLES YOUR FUNNY BONE AND TUGS AT YOUR HEART
Review: A debut novel with the unlikely title of The Man Who Ate The 747 is a salubrious return to a more innocent America, a laugh out loud funny romp, and a tender love story all rolled into one.

Armed with rapid fire wit and bountiful imagination the author introduces 34-year-old John " J. J". Smith, an employee of the Book of Records. J.J. locates and verifies worthy accomplishments. Proudly wearing his mantle of authority, a navy blazer with a gold crest on the pocket, he "authenticates greatness."

Citing benchmark moments, he recalls observing a woman "shaving the longest single unbroken apple peel in history, measuring 172 feet and 4 inches," and monitoring a determined Sri Lankan who balanced on one foot for 77 hours.

J.J.'s late father, a 40-year route marker for the Department of Transportation, gave his son solid advice, "Stick to the straight and narrow, and stay in your own lane." Thus, J.J. can quote almost every record in The Book by memory. He has traveled the world and seen it all. There is only one subject about which he is totally uninformed, and that is love.

Regrettably, it seems that J.J.'s days of glory may be behind him as he has not recently discovered a noteworthy feat.. New rules make standing records harder to break. For instance, couples who try to beat the longest kiss record (30 hours, 45 minutes) are now required to stay awake at all times. To make matters worse, J.J.'s insatiable superior, Nigel Peasley, reminds J.J. that he hasn't "landed anything since the world's biggest feet" and issues an ultimatum - produce or else.

Sifting through his mail a dejected J.J. finds a boy with two front teeth "the mostest spread apart, " an artist who creates meatloaf sculptures and, wonder of wonders, a report of a man who is eating a 747.

As preposterous as this claim appears, J.J. boards the next Dollar Jet for Superior, Nebraska, "where folks care about crops, family, and faith." There he finds a hefty farmer, Wally Chubb, who is indeed making meals of a 747 not for fame or glory but for love of a woman.

With the aid of a Rube Goldberg contraption Wally pulverizes plane parts into powder which he ingests, all so that Willa Wyatt, the town's newspaper editor will know how much he loves her.

J.J. believes he has found an achievement that "transcended astonishment," and that global attention will put Superior on the map. Soon out of state license plates are chock-a-block on the town's only thoroughfare, foreign tongues are spoken at the Hereford Inn, and satellite dishes sprout in Wally's pasture.

The only thing of which J.J. is not convinced are his unfamiliar feelings for Willa, a response he attributes to "a surge of dopamine in his veins."

As is often the case, the road to true love is rocky. While traveling that road Wally makes an unexpected discovery and J.J. learns that "the greatest joys are within our grasp, if we can only recognize them."

Nimble-witted Ben Sherwood writes ably and affectionately of small town America. The Man Who Ate The 747 is a rarity - a tale that tickles your funny bone and tugs at your heart.

Rating:
Summary: cute love story
Review: This is a cute love story. Suspend your disbelief about eating a 747 and you will really enjoy this. The protagonist is a man who sees the world in facts and figures. The female is a woman who sees the big picture. A funny tale of love and how people see it. I had a hard time at first understanding the whole eating of the 747 part, but once I decided it was just a gimmic to show Wally's love for willa, I realized that it didn't matter whether a man could really eat a 747 or not, it wasn't the point. A quick read, enjoy.

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Summary: Silly but cute!
Review: Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed. I had heard hype about this book, but after reading the synopsis, it sounded like something I wouldn't like. I checked the Amazon readers reviews. A few people bashed it, but many loved it, so I thought I'd give it a try. I didn't expect much out of it, but it turned out that I liked it. It was cute and silly - a really quick read that held my attention and was nice for a change from the "heavy" Oprah books. Really, what can you expect from a title "The Man Who Ate the 747."

Rating:
Summary: A Funny, Touching Story
Review: "This is the story of the greatest love, ever." So begins The Man Who Ate the 747 and the narrator, J.J. Smith, "Keeper of the Records" for the Book of Records, ought to know. He has spent his entire life searching for and recording world records, from the longest kiss ever to the world's largest menu item, to the man hit most by lightning. But he's been in a real slump lately, too many "almost" record breakers, but no true winners for The Book. That is until he receives a letter about a man, Wally Chubb, in Superior, Nebraska, who's eating an entire 747, that crash landed on his farm. And why is Wally doing this? So that the woman he loves, and has loved since he was ten, Willa Wyatt, will finally notice him and just maybe love him back. This would be the biggest and best record, yet. Off J.J. goes to Nebraska, for what will become the greatest adventure of his life. Ben Sherwood has written a touching, witty, uplifting story, that will put a smile on your face and keep you turning pages to the very satisfying end of the book. His writing is smart and eloquent, with scenes that come alive on the page and his interesting, quirky characters are so beautifully drawn, that they grab your attention and pull you right into the novel. Getting to know these people and spending time with them, in Superior, is so wonderful, you'll really miss these folks when the story is over. This is a small, sweet book and a gentle love story, told with great insight, wisdom and humor...a book that shouldn't be missed.