obisan69's Full Review: Richard Bach - There's No Such Place As Far Away
I fell in Love with Richard Bach books after reading a copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull that my cousin gave me for my high school graduation. I eagerly began collecting other books by the author, and plowing through them very quickly. I picked up this book when I was looking for birthday gifts for a couple of friends.
This book is the story of a person going to a friend's birthday party, a thousand miles away. Once this fact is given, the story becomes less based in realism. The narrator travels with various birds-- Hummingbird, Hawk, Eagle, Owl, Seagull. The narrator explains to each one what she is doing, and each one questions the seemingly simple statement of "Little Rae is growing up and I am going to her birthday party with a present."
The second part of the book, whose details I won't give away here, gives the messages of the book. Within an abstract tale, it tells the reader that "the only things that matter are those made of truth and joy, and not of tin and glass. Bach's beliefs don't necessarily follow traditional religious beliefs, but really emphasize what is important in life.
The writing style of this story resembles Dr. Seuss in its short words, and simple, moralistic story. However, it is not written in rhyme, or in sing-songy meter. It is a very easy read, although it can take a while if you stop and ponder what is being said. The first half of the book easily could be a children's tale, but it veers out of the plot in the second half.
The book is illustrated with beautiful watercolors taking up the full page. These illustrations, by H. Lee Shapiro, are brightly colored and mostly abstract. They fit beautifully with the abstract message of the tale. These pictures are very soothing and visually pleasing, and were an excellent choice. The text is scattered throughout the page very artistically, normally only two or three sentences to a page.
This is a great gift to give to people who you care about. I gave it to a friend who I hadn't seen in almost a year and could only communicate with online for the most part. She told me she cried when she read the line "Can miles truly separate friends? If you want to be with Rae, aren't you already there?" This book, paired with Jonathan Livingston Seagull, is my gift of choice to friends who are moving away. They both give such powerful messages, and are short enough that they can be read over and over whenever you need that feeling.
This book can be enjoyed by children, and read by adults for its uplifting spiritual quality. However, it is not for everyone. It can be a little preachy on the virtues that it is trying to pass on to the reader. Also, it can get a little too abstract, and be difficult if you really want to know what is going on. It's not that kind of story-- it can be interpreted in endless different ways.
The only other real downfall of this book is that the hardcover copy is very pricey for such a small book. I highly recommend at least giving this book a look. It is a beautiful gift to the people whom you love, but cannot be near for whatever reason.
When she was about to turn five, a little girl named Rae Hansen invited Richard Bach to her birthday party. Though deserts, storms, mountains, and a t...More at HotBookSale
When she was about to turn five, a little girl named Rae Hansen invited Richard Bach to her birthday party. Though deserts, storms, mountains, and a t...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.