Beer
and Bagels for Breakfast
-- order here
or read reviews...
A diary of my two years spent as a kibbutz
volunteer -- a fantastic time!
FIRST
PUBLISHED IN 1999, THE RIGHTS TO
BEER AND BAGELS FOR BREAKFAST REVERTED
BACK TO ME, AND I AM NOW SELLING IT VIA LULU
THE
IPHONE, IPAD AND IPOD TOUCH VERSION IS HERE
THE
NOOK, KINDLE AND KOBO VERSION IS HERE
THANKS
FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
JOHN
CARSON
Reviews
from my guestbook
"I
bought your book from Amazon a couple of days ago for £20; at
first I thought that was a bit steep, but I can honestly say it's
the best £20 I've ever spent. Your book is fantastic. I was considering
volunteering on a kibbutz and decided to do a bit of research,
so I bought your book and so I'm convinced I have to go. Thank
you for providing prospective volunteers such as myself with a
no-holds-barred account of your time on a kibbutz."
Ben, via e-mail
"I've
just read your book (got a bit of a bargain, £5 on eBay, shortly
sending it to another kibbutz head for their pleasure) and its
bloody brilliant... if there were more travel-related books like
yours I'm positive there would be more people getting off their
asses."
Sonny, UK
"I
was on Kibbutz Magen in 1985 and again in 1986. Reading your book
transports me back to a time when the biggest worry was where
the next bottle of vodka came from! It is escapism in its truest
form and I can relate to so much of it that I keep it as a kind
of 'lazy' diary of my own experiences! Well done!"
Jackie, UK
"I
read your book whilst on holiday in France last year. It made
me laugh and was very similar to my own experiences there -- A
great read..."
Metalhead, UK
"I
read some stuff from your book, and I couldn't stop laughing...
we've all had the same experiences..."
Maria, Sweden
"Your
book is really funny! It brings back a lot of memories."
Carina, Sweden
"I
just finished reading your book and it was absolutely hilarious
and very informative!! I'm seriously considering becoming a volunteer
in the near future. Thanks for the insight!"
JT, USA
"Read
your book which was superb; good to see things have not changed
too much from my volunteer days."
Phil, UK
"It
was really funny to read. I am for sure now I will go to a kibbutz
this summer!"
Silvia, Holland
"I've
been reading the snippets from your book and it's really brought
back the memories."
Trevor, UK
"I'm
from a kibbutz in Northern Israel. I read your book and its wonderful...
so real... and funny for a kibbutz kid like me. The people like
you were always a mystery and very special. When I was young my
parents were in charge of the kibbutz volunteers and I remember
them all. Your book brought all my memories back."
BL, Israel
"I
just finished reading your book. It definitely brought back memories
of the kibbutz/Ulpan volunteer time."
Hannah, USA
Reviews from online book sites
"Having
been a kibbutz volunteer myself I can guarantee that this book
is like a snapshot of my time in Israel too! From the first impressions
of the living quarters to the dining room experiences to the stories
of parties and kibbutz romances (ahh...) Carson has captured these
memories brilliantly! And also in an extremely funny way -- I
can't remember the last time I laughed so much while reading a
book. This is a DEFINITE must for any potential or past kibbutz
volunteers."
*************************************************************************
"If
you've been to a kibbutz then this book will frustrate and annoy
you, although not in the way you might think. 'Why didn't I keep
a bloody diary?' was my first thought. Many of the stories that
come out of a kibbutz may seem closer to fiction than fact.
Countless tales of debauchery with Scandinavians, bottles of vodka
downed every night, hairy situations involving mad Arabs and mad
Israelis. It all happens, but for those that don't experience
this world it may be hard to believe. Credit to John Carson; he
did what I always wanted to do and wrote a book about his time
in Israel. Many of the situations are similar to mine, but I'm
sure there were many that he chose to leave out as no one would
have believed him.
For those who have been, this book will stir those warm and fuzzy
memories we all still hold for our own little plot of the Promised
Land. For those intending to go, read the book to see what might
be possible, but keep in mind that how much fun you have depends
solely on you (and how evil the volunteer leader is).
For those of you who don't ever want to go to Israel and certainly
don't plan on visiting a kibbutz in the future, then leave this
book well alone as it may just change your mind. Forget Is
Harry On The Boat if you want to find out what young people
do abroad then read this.
I just have to work on my own book now. The working title of which
is Thank Schnitzel it's Friday.'"
*************************************************************************
"Beer
and Bagels for Breakfast is the diary over a year of one guy
who goes to a kibbutz in Israel.
It is VERY funny and a book that all volunteers and ex-volunteers
can recognize with. It would also be a good book for any body
thinking of becoming a volunteer, as I really think it sums up
kibbutz life. The author has really done a great job summing up
the crazy unique way of life in Israel, and it will make you giggle
when you read some of the antics him and the crazy people they
call the volunteers get up to."
*************************************************************************
"High
jinks, low jinks and whatever comes in between; this book's got
'em all. A hilariously funny, perceptive account of one of the
author's sojourns on an Israeli kibbutz, it charts his progress
from kibbutz 'virgin' to seasoned volunteer, well versed in the
complex arts and rituals involved in getting paralytic and still
making it to work by 6 a.m. next morning. An essential handbook
-- some would even say Bible -- for would-be-volunteers, and a
scrapbook for seasoned veterans. For everyone else, an addictive
read and a good laugh. Buy it."
*************************************************************************
"This
candid look at John's misadventures during his stay on an Israeli
kibbutz is not recommended for the idealists among us... nor the
parents of any potential kibbutz volunteer. He offers lots of
stories which show the inspiring and monotonous moments of his
life on the kibbutz. Stories of actual life on the kibbutz are
interspersed among numerous stories of his social interaction
with the other volunteers and Israelis (from highs of his drunken
debauchery to the lows of his killing of chickens).
If you're looking for a candid and real picture of what life is
going to be like on a kibbutz (from hard, sweaty work to stinky,
monotonous work), then this is the book for you.
If you're looking for romantic stories about a man finding himself
and the meaning of life in Israel, you're not going to get it
here."
*************************************************************************
"If
you've spent time as a volunteer on a kibbutz this book will bring
all those great memories flooding back; if you haven't then you
will definitely want to after reading this. John's account of
life as a volunteer takes you through the good times and the not
so good times with brutal honesty and a dry wit. I laughed so
much I spilt my beer!"
*************************************************************************
"Nice
one John. While he isn't exactly a Shakespeare or a Milton, Carson's
writing keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. What's
more, he wouldn't claim to be Shakespeare or Milton.
This book is no work of art, it's a labour of love -- reflecting
John's happy-go-lucky character and laid-back attitude to life.
A great way to spend those boring train journeys to work.
By the way, if you are reading this before going to volunteer
on a kibbutz, don't let your parents see it... unless you have
very open-minded parents!"
*************************************************************************
"This
book takes us through the experiences of John Carson on his time
on a kibbutz in Israel. His story begins, 'I swear even my dog
Smokey had a tear in her eye as I turned and bid farewell to my
family...' and very much sets the mood for the rest of the book.
You will find it hard to put this book down; it gives us a very
funny account of John's time on a kibbutz.
If you have ever been on a kibbutz, it will bring all the memories
back. If you haven't been on one, it will probably make you want
to go.
And even if none of these apply to you, it's still a bloody good
read. Buy it today..."
*************************************************************************
"Found
out about this book on Carson's Web site and could not find a
copy in the US. Found it here and ordered it right away. It arrived
on Saturday and I was finished with it on Sunday.
I especially enjoyed the conversational tone and jokes with me,
the reader. It is styled as a journal forcing the descriptions
to be vivid and concise which helps to visualize all the locations
and adventures. As a reader, I felt like I was on the same adventure.
I was very pleased to see that Carson was so open-minded about
his experiences and described the kibbutzniks with such care.
My husband and I are planning to volunteer next year and after
reading this book I am even more excited about the adventures
that I will have than I was before. Thanks!
(Though, I don't think that we will be hungover as often as was
the intrepid author.)"
*************************************************************************
"I
thought it was a very enjoyable book to read, especially if you
are a former volunteer. It makes you wish you could turn back
the clock and do it all again."
*************************************************************************
"I
read this book in one sitting and it brought back memories of
being a kibbutz volunteer. This book will give you a realistic
inside view of a volunteer's daily life. I would definitely recommend
this as a 'must read' before heading to a kibbutz... however with
the caveat that you can also have a great kibbutz experience without
necessarily being a big beer drinker."
*************************************************************************
"Read
your book in one single turn, made me go back into time again.
It's the book to read before and after a stay at a kibbutz. To
try to catch the thought you need for being a kibbutz volunteer
or to dream back remembering all those marvellous experiences
-- because the book describes the whole lot. Great writing John!"
*************************************************************************
"Beer
and Bagels for Breakfast was a very enjoyable and informative
book to read. I really felt that I was actually there sharing
the experiences of life as a kibbutz volunteer. I would recommend
this book to anyone, especially those who are wishing to join
a kibbutz or anyone else who fancies learning some Hebrew and
Israeli culture in between laughing.
Thank you for giving the world this great book."
*************************************************************************
"As
an old volunteer I praise John for his great book. It is his own
story and life on his kibbutz, yet it feels like I wrote this
book. So real and so honest at the same time. This is what you
do, what you see, the people you meet on a kibbutz. And what a
country to visit! Every time I come back from my kibbutz I try
to explain what it is all about, but it is not that easy. Thanks
to John, things are easier now and I reckon this book should be
read by everybody interested in partying, Zionism, Israel, friendship."
*************************************************************************
"It's
an excellent book and I would recommend anyone to read it. If
you have been a volunteer on a kibbutz it will bring all your
memories to life again -- apart from the drunken ones that you'll
never remember."
*************************************************************************
"I've
always wondered what it's like to be a kibbutz volunteer, and
now I know... parties, girls, lots of booze, trips around Israel,
the odd terrorist alert and drug raid -- oh, and milking of cows
and sowing the seed! Forget Bill Bryson, forget The Beach,
I think John Carson could be the next 'big thing' in travel books.
Once you read this you will be strapping on your backpack and
heading off to the Middle East..."
*************************************************************************
"A
very interesting and enjoyable book; the graphic detail made you
feel as if you knew everyone and had been there."
*************************************************************************
"Beer
and Bagels for Breakfast manages to capture brilliantly the
experiences of a young man on a kibbutz in Israel.
As the title suggests, the author is more interested in the finer
things in life; a preoccupation which results in many amusing
anecdotes which keep the story flowing nicely.
This is not a book with any great plot, or a grand master plan
lurking in the background; rather it is a work which takes on
a journey with the author -- a journey which he obviously enjoyed
immensely, and I did also."
*************************************************************************
"The
book is very easy to read; the descriptions of life on a kibbutz
brought back all my memories. I went back in '97 and got into
the same kind of situations as the author. Every aspect of kibbutz
volunteer life is explained, including the bad times too, but
overall you can tell that the author had a fantastic time and
misses those fun days. Highly recommended!"
*************************************************************************
"This
book is witty and outrageously funny. Carson made his experience
come alive through the pages of this book. His encounters will
bring a smile to your face, even if you have no idea what he is
talking about culturally. This book is guaranteed to make you
want to get on a plane bound for Israel.
I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good laugh, or insight
into a different way of life -- kibbutz life."
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