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Book Reviews of The Man Who Ate the 747

The Man Who Ate the 747
The Man Who Ate the 747
Author: Ben Sherwood
ISBN-13: 9780553582802
ISBN-10: 0553582801
Publication Date: 1/29/2002
Pages: 272
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 51

3.6 stars, based on 51 ratings
Publisher: Bantam
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

19 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

staceid avatar reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 65 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is a cute story with a very entertaining premise. It's great for those days when you really want to just get lost in a book, no deep thinking involved.
hudsonsmom avatar reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
cute book not great but a good read
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 22 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Interesting take on a love story...cute and light read!
GeniusJen avatar reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
How far would you go for someone you loved? We've all heard people state that they'd lie or die for a loved one, but would you eat a Boeing 747 jet plane?

Such is the case for Wally Chubb, a man on a mission to garner the attention of Willa Wyatt, the town's newspaper editor. Wally has been in love with her ever since she was the only schoolmate to attend his tenth birthday party--and now that he wants her attention, wants her to see just exactly how far he'd go to gain her approval and admiration, a jumbo jet has fallen from the sky like manna from Heaven.

When J.J. Smith gets an anonymous letter summoning him to Superior , Nebraska , to meet a man attempting to eat a 747, he's not sure what to do. For The Keeper of the Records--the man in charge of verifying all records for The Book of Records (similar to The Guinness Book of World Records)--the thought that someone would attempt to eat an airplane is intriguing. It's been awhile since he's found a great record, and his boss is starting to intimate that after fourteen years, J.J. is burnt out.

But John Smith, a small-town boy who got out as soon as he could, measures his life by the records that he verifies. He's seen greatness a thousand times over, and in turn felt justified in living a life of little emotion, of little love. Until he pulls into Superior , Nebraska , and witnesses "the greatest love, ever."

THE MAN WHO ATE THE 747 is a testament not just to how far a person will go for someone they love, but how a town reacts to momentary greatness, how it recovers from loss, and how you can find love in the strangest places.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and if you did, too, I would recommend Ben Sherwood's second release, THE DEATH AND LIFE OF CHARLIE ST. CLOUD.
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 103 more book reviews
i really enjoyed this sweet and simple story about love.
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 22 more book reviews
I was actually pleasantly surprised by this book. It is so well written and easy to read I devoured it in one day. It's humorous and heartwarming and sprinkled with true "World Record" facts throughout the book.
"And so begins the enchanting, unforgettable tale of J. J. Smith, Keeper of the Records for The Book of Records, an ordinary man searching for the extraordinary. J.J. has clocked the world's longest continuous kiss; verified the lengthiest single unbroken apple peel; measured the farthest flight of a champagne cork; and tasted the world's largest menu item, whole-roasted Bedouin camel. But in all his adventures he has never witnessed great love until he comes upon a tiny windswept town in the heartland of America. Here J.J. discovers a world record attempt like no other: Piece by piece, a farmer is eating a Boeing 747 to prove his love for a woman."
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on
This was one of those books you could read in a night. I will never forget this book as it has really captivated my attention. It is a book that stands out on it's own, a story unlike any kind I've ever heard and the title makes it all more exhilarating. This book was one of my favorite books I've ever written because it was witty, clever, intelligent and still encompassed a love story all in one. I also loved how Sherwood was able to embed world records into the piece of fiction and still have it flow smoothly.
I really never thought I'd like such a book, but it's one of those books that everyone should read.
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 12 more book reviews
Way too simple and not worthy of all the praise.
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on
Good book
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 7 more book reviews
Light, funny story about a man who loved so much. Great read for anyone who thinks they have read it all.
MichaelS avatar reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 50 more book reviews
Excellent story by Ben Sherwood. I also loved The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud by him also.
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 8 more book reviews
This actually is very entertaining. It's a love story...
lee avatar reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 131 more book reviews
Funny, wierd. Good though.
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 10 more book reviews
In a small town, a man is eating a plane to prove his love. This is their story and that of the Keeper of the Records for the Book of Records.

this is a very enjoyable book. nice love story.
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 293 more book reviews
I enjoyed this. A very fast read. This was just a nice story all around. Good characters, interesting facts added in. A love story but with interesting turns.
RobbieM avatar reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 71 more book reviews
Will someone please request this book? I WANT it to have a large readership. I loved it. It is quirky and charming and well written. It's a terrific book.
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 51 more book reviews
A sweet, sad, and moving story. Better than this author's first novel, now a major motion picture. A good read you can share with anyone. Highly recommended.
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 51 more book reviews
What will one guy do to impress a girl?! Find out in this story - very interesting characters.
reviewed The Man Who Ate the 747 on + 21 more book reviews
This is the story of the greatest love, ever... And so begins the enchanting tale of J.J. Smith, Keeper of the Records for The Book of Records, an ordinary man searching for the extraordinary. Traveling the world, J.J. has clocked the world's longest continuous kiss, the lengthiest single unbroken apple peel, the farthest flight of a champagne cork. But he has never witnessed great love -- until he comes upon a tiny town in the heartland of America. Here J.J. discovers a world record attempt like no other. Piece by piece, a farmer is eating a Boeing 747 to prove his love for a woman. But Willa Wyatt is no ordinary woman, and J.J. is astounded to be struck by love for her too, throwing his carefully ordered world upside down and proving that hearts, like world record, can be broken and that the greatest wonders in life can never be measured.