Kociejowski draws on all these aspects of his life in these engaging; idiosyncratic personal essays ... [that] proffer the reader equal measures of autobiography; insight and quirky charm. —Michael Dirda; The Washington PostIn the game of bocce; no matter how intensely you study the worlds surface; there is always a chance an unseen pebble will knock your ball in an unexpected direction. In these essays; poet; antiquarian bookseller; and celebrated travel writer Marius Kociejowski chronicles serendipitous encounters with authors; manuscripts; and eccentrics; in which “the curious workings of faterdquo; and “arts unbidden swerverdquo; intervene to shift the course of fortune.Carried by keen wit; aphoristic prose; and a rich sense of characterization; and featuring chance meetings and comic misadventures with such figures as Bruce Chatwin; Zbigniew Herbert; and Javier Mariacute;as; The Pebble Chance is a sumptuous offering of belles lettres exploring the incandescent moments when skill and providence collide.
#1751658 in eBooks 2014-10-09 2014-10-09File Name: B00OFI6GBA
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Disappointed - Nothing of NoteBy Jane HollisI was very disappointed in this book. Much of it is spent on Keiths childhood and very early days in Australia; and when it does move on to Keiths arrival in Nashville circa 1992; there is little new to be learned outside of small tidbits of who was a fan; etc. The authors theme of the book could be captured in "Cute; Talented; Easy to Like". Most of us who are fans of KU already know that. While the author makes an attempt to describe how hard it was for Keith to break into Nashvile - the 1 star is for some of those insights; especially the fact that Jerry Flowers knows all and speaks none of it - my respect for him grows. I was hoping for more but should have realized that an unauthorized biography was not going to do anything but rehash already released and printed information. Those who would not speak with the author were numerous and were the people who can give more insight into Keith. I felt strangely sad after reading this and thought the account of the "Kurbans" was somewhat mean-spirited. Maybe a talent as deep and natural as Keiths just cant be described or defined; and the reasons for his own drive kept close to the vest. I learned nothing new about Keith himself. I have a gently used copy for sale.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Kind of a hatchet job...By Colette WintersIts obvious the author has a bias against the artist. Although he gives him his due for talent; he never misses an opportunity to show Keith Urban in an unflattering light. Its worth reading to learn about his childhood and struggles to make it to the superstar he is; information that is pretty scarce to find; but the unrelenting negativity makes you see why this is an "unauthorized" biography. Too bad; he could have told the story; warts and all; without sounding like a gossip-monger or sensationalist (a certain bitter tone; too; perhaps). He would have written a great book then; instead of fodder for "Star" Magazine or "The National Inquirer".1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good; quick read!By B. GriggI enjoyed this book. As a keith Uban fan I was VERY familiar with many of the stories the author told. He did not talk to Keith or his family instead he talked to MANY people who surrounded Keith from his early days until Sunday Roses birth. It is heavy on details about KUs rise and struggle but not much on after he started to get traction in the Nashville music scene. I am assuming the people around KU now learned from the past and did not spill and information when asked so that they could keep their job. I enjoyed this book; it gives you a clear idea of just how determined KU was to make it. I was suprised to learn that he earned a great deal of critical acclaim in Nashville with the Ranch just no radio play. It is a definite must read for any good Monkeyville member but dont expect to learn anything new about Keith and his "girls".
