Anything Can Happen

by George Papashvily, Helen Papashvily, Helen Waite Papashvily

Book Overview

Ce livre historique peut contenir de nombreuses coquilles et du texte manquant. Les acheteurs peuvent généralement télécharger une copie gratuite scannée du livre original (sans les coquilles) auprès... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0007DUPT6
• Release Date: January 1945
• Publisher: Harper & Brothers
• Length: 202 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A laugh, an inspiration

This collection of humorous short stories describes America as seen through the eyes of an immigrant from the country of Georgia who first stepped foot in the USA in the early 1920s. First published in 1945, it was co-written by Mr. Papashvily and his wife Helen in the author's original style of "Georgian" English. The author was, according to Wikipedia, a famous writer and sculptor who was listed in Who's Who in the categories of both writing and art. Chapters in this book deal with topics such as getting a job (the author was trained in Georgia as a swordmaker and a decorative leatherworker), joining a labor strike, going to court for a crime he didn't commit, helping a friend work his way through depression (the cure: Uncle John's garlic sauce, freshly grilled shish kebobs, and a fight with a trio of Italian/American farmers who thought the Georgians' picnic fire on the beach was set by bootleggers to attract their boats, but later contributed their own homemade wine when invited to join the party), marriage (Uncle John, a restaurateur, catered the wedding feast and it sounds delicious!), and trying to find someone--anyone--who could speak the author's little-known native language (eventually he succeeded). I highly recommend this book to anyone who remembers America as it was sixty-plus years ago, and/or who is ready for some thought-provoking humor.

Where is the video of the movie made from this book?

This is a great, hysterically funny, touching, book that was made into an equally great, hysterically funny, touching movie starring Kurt Kaznar. Does a print of the movie exist? A video or DVD?

Best Laugh Therapy

I love this book and have read it many times. When I have a friend who needs cheering up, I loan them my copy. It is usually passed around to their family & friends before I get it back. If ever one is in need of hope, this story provides a beautiful example of people helping, loving, laughing and eating together. It is the quintessential story of immigration to America with its deprivation, hard work and eventual success. With the help of Georg's wife, it is told with the indiosyncratic syntax of a non-native speaker of English which makes you feel the author is telling his adventures to you directly. Papashvily was an amazing person and one of the few authors that I would love to have spent an evening with listening to his stories. This makes a great gift of joy to anyone you know.

a heart-warming true story of an immigrant from Georgia, Rus

This is the story of a man who loved America from the moment he set foot on our shores. He said, and never changed his mind that, in America, "Anything Can Happen." There are many vignettes in his book, telling of his adventures and misadventures in America, but he never changed his opinion that he loved America, even though he sought the companionship of other Georgians. This book was made into a movie which fell far short of the book, which dealt with his honesty, integrity, and love for all pertaining to America and his fellow men. This book is heart-warming, poignant, and often brings a tear to the eye; in other parts it brings a chuckle or a laugh or a general thumbs-up. I have read the book a number of times not only to myself, but aloud to my family, especially when traveling. Exceptionally enjoyable were vignettes about Dzea Vanno, the wager about fitting a Nash wheel on their vehicle, Luba--who had the disposition of a camel, and at a party, his saying, regarding food, that "...only too much was ever enough", plus being outside and listening to "...people being happy and enjoying themselves in his home" (paraphrased). I heartily recommend this book to anyone!