Six-Hundred Hours Of A Life: Or: They Say You Get 630,270, But I Don'T Like To Assume [Paperback]

Craig Lancaster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 10, 2009

Edward Stanton is a solitary man who wants to be left alone to the things he can count, and the things he can count on. But a series of events -- some of his making and some not -- draw him out and force him to confront life on its terms.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Craig Lancaster grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and has lived his adult life in an assortment of places -- Alaska, Washington, California, Kentucky, Ohio, Montana -- as a writer and editor at newspapers big and small. He lives in Billings, Montana, with his wife, Angela, and two rapscallion dachshunds, Bodie and Zula. He's an editor at The Billings Gazette and the proprietor of a blog, Watch Yer Language, that touches on issues of language and grammar. Visit his Web site at http://www.craiglancaster.net.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (February 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 144145893X
• ISBN-13: 978-1441458933
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,054,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll find a little bit of yourself in this story, and that's a good thing!, May 6, 2009

By 

Jonathon Hunter (Mansfield, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Six-Hundred Hours Of A Life: Or: They Say You Get 630,270, But I Don'T Like To Assume (Paperback)

In the interest of full disclosure, I've known Craig Lancaster since high school and I bought this book to support him in his journey as an author. I also had little interest in actually reading the book, as it just didn't seem to be a story that would keep my attention. I don't care about character development in most of the books I read, so the "what" and "how" are more important to me than the "who" of any story.

Having said all of that, I did read the book. Honestly, the story draws you in fairly quickly. I was fully prepared to be bored with this story, but from the writing style to the story to the way you find little pieces of yourself in Edward, it becomes a wonderful read. I found myself excited to read Edward's note of complaint at the conclusion of each day and enjoyed how his routine was so set in stone. When you read the book, you begin to anticipate what Edward is going to say or do each day, until he begins his transformation. Just don't be surprised when you have a few. "Hey, I do that also!" moments. It's a wonderful story and I'm glad I was fortunate enough to come along for the ride. Actually, I wasn't ready for the story to be over when I read the final page.

I prefaced my review of the book by stating that I know the author and I bought the book for that reason. I'll never buy a book written by Mr. Lancaster because I am a friend ever again. It will always be because I am a fan of the author and truly enjoy his books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And my data is complete, March 13, 2009

By 

C. Powell - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Six-Hundred Hours Of A Life: Or: They Say You Get 630,270, But I Don'T Like To Assume (Paperback)

At first, I found the repetitiveness of Edward Stanton's mental illness slightly irritating, but something kept me riveted. ( I love the word "riveted." ) Edward has a mental illness, but it does not take center stage in this transcendent novel, the first of which I hope there are many more. I felt an affinity towards Edward in his struggles of day to day life. He has a dry sense of humor that held me captive. The relationships he has with people and things evolve so much throughout this story you can't help but cheer for Ed. It made me feel buoyant and broke my heart simultaneously. I like that in a book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Ignatius P. Reilly for the Internet Era, March 6, 2009

By 

Jim Thomsen (Bremerton, WA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Six-Hundred Hours Of A Life: Or: They Say You Get 630,270, But I Don'T Like To Assume (Paperback)

At the intersection of Rainman Road and Bartleby Boulevard lives Edward Stanton of Billings, Montana, who is "mentally ill but not stupid," who meticulously records the weather, who makes nightly rituals out of watching "Dragnet" reruns ... and who manages to keep the disorderly world at an orderly distance. But the world has other plans for Edward, and Edward surprises himself -- and us -- by finding that he just might be OK with that.

Craig Lancaster, in a stunning debut novel, shares Edward's long-overdue coming-out party to the world with spare, lean prose that finds his heart in its simplicity -- and its surprises. You may think you know who Edward is and where his journey is taking him -- and my guess is that you'll be wrong, and pleased to find that you're wrong. Because life's beauty is in what you can't predict. Lancaster knows this, and so does Edward Stanton -- or, rather, he comes after finding that his preference for facts isn't always the preferred way to be. That sometimes life's deepest joys are to be found on the other side of our deepest heartbreaks ... because it reminds you, after all, that you've got a heart. And after you arrive at the powerful and yes, unpredictable conclusion of this richly nuanced novel, you'll find it something to celebrate.