false <![CDATA[Portofino]]> http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174705081m/432425.jpg 432425 6 Some kids told lies to be special. Calvin told lies to be normal. The son of a missionary family, he looks forward all year to summer vacation in Portofino--especially since he'll once again have the chance to see his beloved Jennifer. But even in this seductive seaside town in Italy, the Beckers can't really relax. Calvin's father could slip into a Bad Mood and start hurling potted plants at any time. His mother has an embarrassing habit of trying to convert "pagans" on the beach. And his sister keeps a ski sweater and miniature Bible in her luggage just in case the Russians invade and send them to Siberia. Dad says everything is part of God's plan. But this summer, Calvin has some plans of his own. From the author of Saving Grandma, this delightful coming-of-age novel will bring a smile of recognition to anyone who's ever been embarrassed by their parents. 421386 1992 Portofino total:147|5:40|4:56|3:33|2:13|1:5| 147 554 191 34 4 1 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Nov 30 18:51:14 -0800 2007 Fri Nov 30 18:51:14 -0800 2007 more...]]> 4 1 false false Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1999 Wed Mar 05 11:13:38 -0800 2008 Wed Mar 05 11:16:18 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 19 21:34:41 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 19 21:42:50 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Jul 30 10:19:31 -0700 2007 Sun Aug 24 07:46:33 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2002 Sat Jul 11 07:30:16 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 17 13:45:17 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 1 false false Tue Nov 06 04:56:40 -0800 2007 Tue Nov 06 04:57:17 -0800 2007 4 0 false false Thu Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 12 04:55:58 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 23 12:29:11 -0700 2009
Those who enjoyed the negative comments about the religious faith of Calvin's parents would probabl...more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Sep 10 06:34:30 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 10 06:38:44 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Sep 04 06:38:05 -0700 2008 Thu Sep 04 06:46:20 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Aug 27 18:30:32 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 30 15:50:59 -0700 2007 The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks. Which is not necessarily a bad thing.

I did enjoy a few things about the book. I loved Calvin's joy. He really has an amazing joy for living. It's not every k...more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2001 Thu Oct 11 11:30:43 -0700 2007 Thu Oct 11 11:35:07 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 30 06:23:14 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 15 19:07:45 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 10 08:24:41 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 28 09:49:47 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat May 16 11:39:45 -0700 2009 Sat May 16 11:48:09 -0700 2009 It gives insights into this resort area, as well as into the dysfunctions of the boy's fundamentalist family.
I intend to read the others in the auth...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2003 Fri May 22 06:42:27 -0700 2009 Fri May 22 06:45:28 -0700 2009
And this is Schaeffer at his finest, smartest, wittiest. (unlike the sequel)]]> 3 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 27 17:23:52 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 27 17:28:28 -0800 2009 5 0 false false Wed Apr 29 05:11:30 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 29 05:12:58 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Wed Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Mon Jan 05 12:30:59 -0800 2009 Mon Jan 05 12:32:11 -0800 2009 4 5 0 false false Wed Oct 14 15:57:53 -0700 2009 Wed Oct 14 15:58:55 -0700 2009 1 0 false false Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Aug 18 01:00:18 -0700 2008 Mon Aug 18 01:05:49 -0700 2008 Crazy for God, a book I have yet to read.

Portofino was a disappointment, and a rather tawdry one at that. Having some idea of what Schaeffer now says his childhood & adolescence were really like whil...more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=432425