Rating: 
Summary: May the Blockhead Live On
Review: Oh, Charlie Brown. A great character, a great story. This is a fabulous way to celebrate it, and I recommend this books to anyone with a heart.Schulz' world truly allows us all to escape to childhood, away from rigged elections and corruption - forget all that, focus on the innocence, fun, comfort, and unmistakable beauty.
Rating:
Summary: A great tribute to one of my favorite comic strips
Review: Since I can remember, I was always fascinated by the Peanuts comic strip. I would watch and tape all the TV sepcials I could find, and check out all the books from the elementary school library (the shelving code was 741.5 Sch), even decorate my bedroon door with drawings of Good Ol' Charlie Brown. Sadly, Charles Schulz passed away a week after I turned 20, and it was sad that morning to read the final Sunday strip and find that their creator had died just hours before. In this chronicle, from 1-1-99 up to 2-13-00, we see the escapades of all the characters. Most notable was the direction that Schulz was taking with Linus and Lucy's little brother Rerun. If you read these strips, you can see the potential for development of Rerun that would have come. And like many, there was the question if Charlie Brown would ever kick the football, and much more. However, the fact that Schulz never revealed this, gives our imagination a chance to speculate. Some notable articles include Charlie Brown attending a dance class with a little girl named Emily, that Schulz introduced about 2-4 years ago. There is even a funny little weekday strip where Sally tries to write to Harry Potter. There are plenty of other intersting topics the gang covers, but I won't go into detail here. Believe me, this is a great way to relax: kick back and read Peanuts 2000.
Rating:
Summary: A great tribute to one of my favorite comic strips
Review: Since I can remember, I was always fascinated by the Peanuts comic strip. I would watch and tape all the TV sepcials I could find, and check out all the books from the elementary school library (the shelving code was 741.5 Sch), even decorate my bedroon door with drawings of Good Ol' Charlie Brown. Sadly, Charles Schulz passed away a week after I turned 20, and it was sad that morning to read the final Sunday strip and find that their creator had died just hours before. In this chronicle, from 1-1-99 up to 2-13-00, we see the escapades of all the characters. Most notable was the direction that Schulz was taking with Linus and Lucy's little brother Rerun. If you read these strips, you can see the potential for development of Rerun that would have come. And like many, there was the question if Charlie Brown would ever kick the football, and much more. However, the fact that Schulz never revealed this, gives our imagination a chance to speculate. Some notable articles include Charlie Brown attending a dance class with a little girl named Emily, that Schulz introduced about 2-4 years ago. There is even a funny little weekday strip where Sally tries to write to Harry Potter. There are plenty of other intersting topics the gang covers, but I won't go into detail here. Believe me, this is a great way to relax: kick back and read Peanuts 2000.
Rating:
Summary: "How can I ever forget them?"
Review: These were the final words in Peanuts comics delivered by the late Charles Schulz. To answer the question, you can never forget Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and Snoopy. I remember the last "new" comic strip came out 13 February, the day after he died. Thanks, Sparky, for all the memories and the inspiration (I work on my own cartoon strip). These cartoons were originally published early 1999 through February, 2000 in the newspapers. Charlie Brown has a date for a dance (something that rarely happened). Rerun holds the football for Charlie Brown (he got more and more parts in the cartoon strip in the final years). Charlie Brown pays tribute to the ever scowling Joe Torre! Cartoonist Day is remembered (5 May). Snoopy writes more novels and plays golf with the musical notes from Schroder's piano. "Wolves are making a comeback," as Sally philosophises. There's also a tribute to painter Andrew Wyeth and Valley Forge, as acted out by Snoopy. Snoopy Claws can be seen downtown around Christmas. Also, Charlie Brown hits a grand slam, Linus kicks the habit once and for all and gives his blanket to Snoopy, Peppermint Patty gets straight A's, the Great Pumpkin comes as promised and Schroeder finally admits he's got a crush on Lucy! Don't hold your breath on the last 5, folks! I was just seeing if you were paying attention! However, this book is poignant since these were the final strips of Peanuts. Charles Schulz must have known the days of the Peanuts cartoon were numbered when he let Rerun hold the football! If you're a Peanuts fan, you'll enjoy this book!
Rating:
Summary: "How can I ever forget them?"
Review: These were the final words in Peanuts comics delivered by the late Charles Schulz. To answer the question, you can never forget Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and Snoopy. I remember the last "new" comic strip came out 13 February, the day after he died. Thanks, Sparky, for all the memories and the inspiration (I work on my own cartoon strip). These cartoons were originally published early 1999 through February, 2000 in the newspapers. Charlie Brown has a date for a dance (something that rarely happened). Rerun holds the football for Charlie Brown (he got more and more parts in the cartoon strip in the final years). Charlie Brown pays tribute to the ever scowling Joe Torre! Cartoonist Day is remembered (5 May). Snoopy writes more novels and plays golf with the musical notes from Schroder's piano. "Wolves are making a comeback," as Sally philosophises. There's also a tribute to painter Andrew Wyeth and Valley Forge, as acted out by Snoopy. Snoopy Claws can be seen downtown around Christmas. Also, Charlie Brown hits a grand slam, Linus kicks the habit once and for all and gives his blanket to Snoopy, Peppermint Patty gets straight A's, the Great Pumpkin comes as promised and Schroeder finally admits he's got a crush on Lucy! Don't hold your breath on the last 5, folks! I was just seeing if you were paying attention! However, this book is poignant since these were the final strips of Peanuts. Charles Schulz must have known the days of the Peanuts cartoon were numbered when he let Rerun hold the football! If you're a Peanuts fan, you'll enjoy this book!
Rating:
Summary: Check That You Got the Printing with the Final Sunday Strip!
Review: When I got this wonderful volume, I decided to read it from front to back and not skip to the final Sunday strip. Was I disappointed when the final strip was missing! Apparently, this problem has been corrected in subsequent printings and the final strip is available on the official Peanuts Web site. If yours is missing, be sure to return it for the correct version (unless you think this error-ridden first printing will become a collectors' item, and more valuable). Authors should take note of this problem, and be sure that someone very capable takes over watching your publisher for quality issues after you are deceased. As a further example of this problem, Ansel Adams books are often printed on pages that are much too small for the images now, even though he went to great lengths to avoid having the quality of his work compromised. I enjoyed seeing this volume. It is comprised of all the strips from the final year (if you get the right version). More than that, it was a microcosm of 50 years of Peanuts. Here are some examples: Charlie Brown: "If I ever got a [love letter], I don't know what I'd do." Lucy: "I'm thinking of starting a discussion group . . . People would come from all around to listen to me." Sally speaking on her string telephone: "How do you get an outside line?" Snoopy to Woodstock while making a sled out of a water dish: "Go ahead . . . Climb in -- Sorry . . . I forgot to pour the water out . . ." Rerun: When told by his teacher to paint flowers -- "I don't do flowers . . . I do underground comics." Marcie (reacting to plans to play Mary in the Christmas play): "There is no Christmas play, sir . . . That was last year." My favorite sequence involved several strips with Charlie Brown and Lucy at the pitcher's mound under a snowy cover speculating about the upcoming baseball season. If you are like me, Peanuts will be with you forever! I also recommend that you get a copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas. It has wonderful background material about Mr. Schulz and Peanuts that nicely complement this collection of the last strips. After you have finished enjoying both books, I suggest that you think about how things would have turned out differently with the strip if the characters have overcome their fundamental weaknesses. What if Charlie Brown had not been so gullible? What if Lucy had been more considerate? What if someone had sent Charlie Brown a valentine? After you've thought about it, then ask yourself what it is that you should change about yourself that would open up the possibilities for someone else. Then go make those changes. That would be a wonderful thing to do, and a great way to honor your affection for Peanuts. Good luck in kicking your next football!
Rating:
Summary: Check That You Got the Printing with the Final Sunday Strip!
Review: When I got this wonderful volume, I decided to read it from front to back and not skip to the final Sunday strip. Was I disappointed when the final strip was missing! Apparently, this problem has been corrected in subsequent printings and the final strip is available on the official Peanuts Web site. If yours is missing, be sure to return it for the correct version (unless you think this error-ridden first printing will become a collectors' item, and more valuable). Authors should take note of this problem, and be sure that someone very capable takes over watching your publisher for quality issues after you are deceased. As a further example of this problem, Ansel Adams books are often printed on pages that are much too small for the images now, even though he went to great lengths to avoid having the quality of his work compromised. I enjoyed seeing this volume. It is comprised of all the strips from the final year (if you get the right version). More than that, it was a microcosm of 50 years of Peanuts. Here are some examples: Charlie Brown: "If I ever got a [love letter], I don't know what I'd do." Lucy: "I'm thinking of starting a discussion group . . . People would come from all around to listen to me." Sally speaking on her string telephone: "How do you get an outside line?" Snoopy to Woodstock while making a sled out of a water dish: "Go ahead . . . Climb in -- Sorry . . . I forgot to pour the water out . . ." Rerun: When told by his teacher to paint flowers -- "I don't do flowers . . . I do underground comics." Marcie (reacting to plans to play Mary in the Christmas play): "There is no Christmas play, sir . . . That was last year." My favorite sequence involved several strips with Charlie Brown and Lucy at the pitcher's mound under a snowy cover speculating about the upcoming baseball season. If you are like me, Peanuts will be with you forever! I also recommend that you get a copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas. It has wonderful background material about Mr. Schulz and Peanuts that nicely complement this collection of the last strips. After you have finished enjoying both books, I suggest that you think about how things would have turned out differently with the strip if the characters have overcome their fundamental weaknesses. What if Charlie Brown had not been so gullible? What if Lucy had been more considerate? What if someone had sent Charlie Brown a valentine? After you've thought about it, then ask yourself what it is that you should change about yourself that would open up the possibilities for someone else. Then go make those changes. That would be a wonderful thing to do, and a great way to honor your affection for Peanuts. Good luck in kicking your next football!
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