Waking the Dead tie-in [Paperback]

Scott Spencer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

Fielding Price keeps seeing Sarah everywhere--did she survive the car bombing, or is he losing his mind? Written by the author of "Men in Black, Waking the Dead" is major motion picture produced by Jodie Foster.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Fielding Pierce has lived his life accord ing to a strict master plan that should guarantee him a shot at Congress be fore he turns 40. When a freespirited young woman falls in love with him, he is astounded at his unexpected luck. But then she is murdered while at tempting to aid Chilean rebels, and Pierce throws himself back into politics with manic determination. As election day approaches, it becomes increasing ly clear that his obsession with her me mory may scuttle his campaign and ruin his life. Spencer's new novel, like his bestselling Endless Love, examines the place of intense romantic commitment in the modern world. But while the ear lier novel skillfully danced around the pitfalls of sentimental cliche, this one jumps in with both feet. Waking the Dead is about as profound as a made- for-TV movie, and of similar literary merit. Edward B. St. John, Loyola Marymount Univ. Lib., Los Angeles
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"In 'Endless Love', Spencer wrote lyrically and compelling about love at its most extreme--passion as obsession. In 'Waking The Dead', he brings the same fervor to a story about the struggle to live ethically in a corrupt world." -- New York Magazine

"Powerful, complex, fascinating, passionate." -- Fay Weldon, New York Times Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425169626
• ISBN-13: 978-0425169629
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,584,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott Spencer was born in Washington, D.C., raised in Chicago, and now lives in upstate New York. He is the author of nine novels, including Endless Love, Waking the Dead, A Ship Made of Paper, and Willing. He has taught at the University of Iowa, Williams College, and Columbia University. His nonfiction has appeared in Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, O, Harper's, and The New York Times.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Book;A Wonderful Writer, July 21, 2000

By 

Kyle (Wichita, KS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waking the Dead tie-in (Paperback)

I picked this book up randomly at the book store. What made me buy it was the New York Times Book Review's statement, "Occationally a scene comes across as so elegantly rounded and complete I admit to gasping from sheer pleasure." This kind of reaction from a person who reads books for a living pursuaded me to give it a try. I was not disappointed. Spencer's writing style is so smooth that I found myself aching inside for Fielding Pierce. I'm not going to tell you what happens because that is part of the beauty of the book. You are better off not knowing the details. Just buy the book, sit back, and prepare to be engrossed by woderfully developed characters that transcend the novel. You actually end up seeing them as real people, who you accept with all their faults and gifts. Scott Spencer earned himself a new fan with this novel.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pulitzer material..., August 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Waking the Dead tie-in (Paperback)

This has all the earmarks of a prize-winning Great American Novel, right up there with Richard Ford's 'Independence Day,' Russell Banks's "Affliction" and Mary McGarry Morris's "Vanished."

I loved this book. I, too, relish certain scenes. A lovemaking scene in particular stands out. His descriptions are among the best in this area that I have ever read: muscular, nearly sculptural. The scene in the restaurant when Fielding announces that he believes he is having a nervous breakdown: I found myself very moved - to tears. In fact, I cried several times during the reading of this book, which incorporates so many elements of life: the poitical and the personal, on so many levels!

The reason I mentioned that it should win a Pulitzer is because it tackles a particularly important moment in American history: the dividing line between social conscience at its compassionate best and crazy worst and materialism at its heady best and greedy worst. I loved that it ended with Fielding reading the word "help" in one of the letters from a member of his constituency. You know that there is plenty of good work for him to do, just as his true love, Sarah, was doing hers.

Great style, great heart. Congratulations to the author on creating a classic I'm certain will live on as literature. As for the movie - did it ever come out? I'll have to check my video store.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Spencer's best, but...., March 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Waking the Dead tie-in (Paperback)

Never the less, this is still a good book, and it is Scott Spencer doing what he does best, writing about matters of the human heart. His characterizations are good,and as always his books are hard to put down. He is one of this country's best writers, and I am glad to see this book in print again. If you have never read Spencer before,"Endless Love" is one of the great love stories of all time. If you've read one of his books, you will want to read them all. Let's hope the movie does justice to this book, (unlike the "Endless Love" disaster,) and that we can look forward to many more books from Mr. Spencer.