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Summary: A New Yorker moves to the tropics to run a hotel.
Review: Entertaining story. Gives a well painted picture of life in the Caribbean and all the beauty and headaches that can go with it. The story takes place in 1959 and the autor does a wonderful job of putting you there. We just don't cocktail like they used to do we?
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Summary: A Must Read for fans of the Caribbean!!!
Review: If you have ever dreamt of leaving the rat race and moving to the Caribbean to retire, this book will make you think twice. Tourists to the Caribbean often fall in love with the beauty of the island, but seldom experience life on the island. This book will make you respect and understand the natives' popular saying, "No problem, Mon."
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Summary: It is all true
Review: Readers might think this is all a bit fantastic as written down by Herman Wouk. It is not. I am living on such a small tropical island and the situation is so similair that I am convinced that it is situated here on this island. I see it happen every day, people coming here from the civilized world, falling in love with the beautiful place, and seeing thousands of great business opportunities. Until they actually start, and see that things are going wrong, one by one, or all at the same time, the latter more likely. For some reason things simply do not work out, and they happen exactly like descibed in this book. It is written in a wonderful style, and raise signs of recognition all the time. And it is a fair warning to all those who want to flee from the urban world to a tropical paradise.
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Summary: funny
Review: Don't stop the carnival is a very funny book. I read about 2 books a month and laughed out loud at this book at least six times in the first half of the book.While I am a very big parrott head, this book is amusing in its own right. The interesting thing is Herman Wouk wrote some very serious books(Winds of War, et al)yet, this book is a great word picture with humor. It also fills in several major gaps in Jimmy's latest attempt(can anyone say mid life crisis or writers cramp). Thank god he has talented back up singers. Regards, Alan Bosslet PS: This is dedicated to Emily Audrey!
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Summary: Quick easy read with deep theme
Review: Don't Stop the Carnival is a breeze to read. It has a deep theme, but you don't have to read deep into it to get it. Sometimes, sadly enough, there are no extreme measures you can take to make your life better. I identified with Norman Paperman, and got a laugh out of all his mishaps (thinking, "that sort of thing would happen to me"). Despite the theme, it is not a pessimistic book at all. Wouk also tells us that we have to make the best out of what we have, or "roll with the punches". The lively characters and tragic ending reminded me of Hemingway (Whom I am also a fan of).
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Summary: Not a bad read, but could be a bit better
Review: I also got "into" this book after buying Buffett's recent album of the same name. When I bought the book I didn't pay attention to when it was written. Given the time when Wouk authored the story, it's not a bad read. I had hoped for a more "modern" story though. I laughed at several of the mishaps that befall Norman (the main character), but after a while, I was tired of everything "having" to go wrong. Perhaps I am naive of life in the tropics, or am overly optimistic, but it's difficult to believe that many things would go wrong simultaneously. Overall, I'd have given the book 3.5 stars if possible, but rounded to four based on the relation to the Buffett album.
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Summary: Read This One Before You Load The Moving Van!
Review: I read this book as a teenager when it first was published in 1965 and, frankly, I didn't think much of it. Now in my mid 40s, I decided to reread it and, predictably, found new meaning in what Wouk's Norman Paperman went through. Beside being fast and fun reading, this is a must for anyone of any age who thinks moving away from "the grind" to some fantasy locale is the answer to all of life's many pressures and problems. In fact, on two recent vacations to island settings (much like the book's fictional Amerigo), I ran into a few Norman Papermans who all had A STORY. Once back home, I fondly remembered this book and was happy to be back in the smog and traffic!
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Summary: Very Entertaining and Light Reading
Review: This was a very entertaining book about trying to make it in Kinja land. Norman Paperman has to deal with everything that possibly could go wrong in trying to make a new life away from the city. There are some very funny parts in the book and each page has you wondering how he could possible go on. This book is a must read to understand and appreciate the latest Jimmy Buffett CD "Don't Stop the Carnival".
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Summary: A riveting story with a true insight into human nature.
Review: I too read this book as a result of Jimmy Buffet's musical. At first I was disappointed with what appeared to be a shallow story line. However, after some reflection, I realized that Herman Wouk wasn't just telling a story, he was narrating a psychological transformation in Norman Paperman. Norman Paperman goes off to the Caribbean in search of dreams escaping the mundane life he had worked so hard to create. After living the dream for a short time, he realized that his prior life and family wasn't so bad after all. The book ends with Norman Paperman selling his hotel to another seeking his life's dream. Norman Paperman went through his mid-life crisis and another begins.
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Summary: Not worth the price of admission.
Review: Being a Parrothead, I dearly wanted to enjoy this book, I tried to enjoy this book, but I found Wouk's writing style to be dull and lifeless. The story concept was good, but was quickly slaughtered by Wouk's amateurish ramblings. Norman Paperman came off as a shallow, light-handed yuppie, better suited for a Harlequin novella.
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