Genres Books

Really enjoyed this book.... had great characters, character development, was funny but very real-to-life at the same time. The heroine did stupid things that we could all do (!!), but at the same time, she worked through her issues and didn't stagnate. Have been reading romances since junior high, and really enjoyed this one. Will be on the lookout for other books by this author.

Ms. Neale's deft storytelling is in full force here; what starts as a kooky Bridget Jones-style farce grabs your heart at several points and doesn't let go. Neale has created a flawed but smart and witty heroine in Nan, and takes her through a maze of emotional roadblocks. Neale is especially effective in striking a wonderful balance of heart and mirth without losing the essence of the characters in the middle. This may be a "beach" read, but the characters and the story will stay in your head long after summer is gone.

Twenty-eight-year-old Nan Cloutier always thought that, by the time she was twenty-five, she would be living a posh, fabulous life in Manhattan, with a great job, an even greater wardrobe, and the guy of her dreams by her side. Three years later, and Nan still hasn't achieved all of the above, and then some. For Nan's so-called "posh" job is working for Seasonal Staffers, Inc. A corporation where she has held positions as a Cindy-Lou Who impersonator, Easter-Egg Carrying Girl In Bunny Suit, and Valentine's Day Purple Box of Chocolates, among other, much more humiliating titles. Which is why Nan is desperate enough to tell a little white lie. While posing as Cindy-Lou Who at the Merrier-Iverson Department Store Christmas display, Nan tells her boss - Mr. Iverson - that she can speak French, and pretends to converse with a French child, reciting her Christmas list to the English-speaking Grinch. After much praise, Nan is beaming from ear to ear, but her smile slowly fades when Mr. Iverson falls and breaks his leg - the fault of Nan, of course. Quickly getting canned from her Seasonal Staffers position, she is offered a new job - by Mr. Iverson - one that involves baby-sitting his grandson, Colm. However, upon meeting, Nan quickly realizes that Colm is actually her age, and that Mr. Iverson was actually playing "matchmaker" for his grandson, and thinks that the two will make the perfect couple - once they work out a few bumps in the road.

I have read many of Naomi Neale's YA books - published under the name Naomi Nash - which is why I was extremely eager to experience one of her adult chick lit books for myself. I was pleasantly surprised, for, from page one, I found Nan's character to be amusing, what with her somewhat...unusual career choice, and the wisecracks she litters throughout all of her observations on being a Seasonal Staffer, and life, in general. She is the ideal protagonist and keeps you laughing from beginning to end, while the many bizarre people in her life will take readers by surprise - a pleasant one, of course - and lead them on a trip down lover's lane. Neale has done an amazing job of weaving together a tale filled with smart characters, witty storylines, and an emotional roller coaster to top it all off. Nan is a character full of flaws - as well as heart - who will stay with you year-round.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

In New York City, Nan Cloutier believes she is the ideal calendar girl pin-up not because she is Playboy perfect, but because she obtains holiday jobs. Her current temporary work is posing as Cindy-Lou Who at the Merrier-Iverson Department Store Christmas interactive display. When she lies about being proficient in French to avoid window duty, Nan meets store owner Mr. Iverson, but her actions leads to the gentle elderly man breaking his leg.

Her former employer offers her a job to baby-sit his grandson Colm. Needing the money with Christmas over, she accepts. When she meets Colm, he is her age and believes she is a hooker. Mr. Iverson explains he was matchmaking because he believes these two delightful youngsters are good for one another. Colm courts Nan, but her personal life is overfilled as she feels she must save her former college boyfriend and fellow member of the Elizabethan Failures Society from an English invader. Still Colm keeps the pressure on and they fall in love even as their respective families try making them over rather than letting them make it.

This is an amusing Manhattan chick lit romance starring a delightful lead female protagonist and a fabulous secondary cast. The story line never takes itself seriously as Nan and cohorts struggles with life, but refuse to believe they are failures. Colm provides a wonderful newcomer into her circle though she wonders if he is a deadly virus or her forever soul mate. Chick lit and contemporary romance readers will laugh with Naomi Neale's naughty and nice tale of a Who who finds love.

Harriet Klausner

Thank you for your excellent service. Even though I had entered the wrong Zip Code you still mailed it to me correctly and answered all of my inquiries, and that reflects on your customer service. Thanks and I will be shopping with you again. Evan K. Cruse

This is an excellent arrangement. Michael Buble sings with a whole jazz band behind him and this music manages to capture the feel of trumpets etc with just the piano.

The arrangements in this book are excellent. They are definitely not for the beginning pianist, however. The rhythms are challenging, but spot on.

The vocal melodies are not integrated into the piano part, but are shown as an individual vocal part in the book. This means that if you were to play the songs purely instrumentally, you would not have the melody explicitly heard - the performer would have to combine the vocal line above the grand staff himself/herself.

But let's say you're listening to the CD while you play the arrangements in the book. They are practically exact to the pianist on the CD! It's such a joy to play along that it's as though you are accompanying Michael Buble himself!

I have in the past purchased the Piano/Vocal Books for the self titled Michael Buble album, and for the It's Time album, and each book is better than the one before. As a pianist, I am overjoyed to find every small detail of the songs written in the accompaniment, not to mention this book does not do what so many others do and write the melody in the piano part. I wish all Vocal/Piano books were written in this style!

As Sutherland points out, the 1835 act prohibited marriage with a deceased wife's sister. However, aside from this, she was not "too young to marry for a month or so." A girl could be married at 12 in Britain until the Age of Marriage Act of 1929, although the age of consent for sexual intercourse was raised 1n 1881 from 13 to 16. Whatever Roger Prynne's reasons for staying away, Massachussetts was not a place "where they like to burn witches and wizards." (They hanged them). I enjoyed combing for nits to pick.

"Can Jane Eyre Be Happy" is only one of the many questions about classical literature you will have answered by this book. Other novels explored include "Great Expectations", "Mansfield Park", "Hound of the Baskervilles," and other novels of that genre and category. Sutherland's insights are simple and straightforward and his questions are probing and answer those sometimes irrelevant things your curiosity won't let you sit on! However, this book loses one star because Sutherland often does try to contradict the author and occasionally discards the author's motive in writing the novel. Also a warning: Don't read through the table of contents before you have read all the books addressed therein. Some of the questions assigned to each book will give away or ruin in part the ending to the novel. Luckily this is not a major setback. I do heartily recommend this book, but the reader must be open to new ideas about some of his or her favorite novels and authors, and must also take Sutherland's ideas with a pinch of skepticism.

Lovers of Mr. Rochester beware - in this, his second book of literary puzzles, John Sutherland turns his considerable powers of literary analysis towards, amongst other things, undoing the good reputation enjoyed by Jane Eyre�s brooding hero. Bronte fans, brace yourself for some idol-smashing. As in his first book of devoted to literary head-scratchers (the wonderful Is Heathcliff a Murderer?), Sutherland here sets himself out to answer some of Western literature�s most intriguing questions. Though you might not always agree with some of the conclusions Sutherland comes to (we have to have a talk, he and I, about Mr. Rochester�s moral integrity) as a writer he is always witty, as a thinker always innovative, and as a guide through literature�s most baffling conundrums, always genial. Buy this book and I promise not only will you learn something (and, if you�re anything like me, get into some very heated debates with fellow literature lovers about Jane Eyre�s prospects for bliss, etc.) - but you�ll also have a heck of a lot of fun.

God, I wish I had the brains John Sutherland. Why the heck don't we think of these things when we read? These puzzles are fascinating. I am amazed at the information John Sutherland brings out in these puzzles. A must for everyone who loves Victorian fiction.

This is an immensely enjoyable book from a very talented regional historian!

Mark Opsasnick's fervent attention to detail is merged with a deep understanding of artistic and social forces that shaped rock music during the third quarter of the 20th Century. The result is a captivating account that is simply a delight to read and reread.

On the surface, Capitol Rock is a nostalgic, hybrid portrayal of the DC area's musical history: the people, the bars and clubs, the records and labels, songs, and most of all, the artists. On a deeper level, Opsasnick careful scholarship asks, "Why did these dissimilar artists make this new music? What were its roots? Why did people react so intensely?"

Unlike so many other books with an obvious thesis to grind, Opsasnick's presentation is literally in the rich details associated with the music and musicians. He avoids the intellectual posturing that dominates too many books about popular culture. Opsasnick simply gives you plenty of facts and lets you generate your own interpretation.

We need more from Mr. Opsasnick and more writers need to imitate his subtlety and comprehensiveness. In the mean time, also try Larry Starr and Christopher Waterman's American Popular Music from Minstrelsy to MTV, another very good book, though without the regional connections.

Essential and detailed history of the Washington DC music scene from the 50s into the 70s. A must-have for locals, but any music aficionado will enjoy this book; includes numerous details on many of the world's most renowned guitarists: Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan, Roy Clark, to name a few...This is my fourth Capitol Rock book - I keep giving them away to my friends and colleagues!

'Capitol Rock'is a treasure of memories for me, as Opsasnick, author, has painstakingly researched and documented the Washington DC music scene over a 25 yr. period.

Opsasnick provides facts about songs, musicians and clubs that are very personal to me. In the early 80's I did a little radio spot weekly and got to know Jerry Dallman who also had a spot. Until now, I was totally unaware of his major contribution to the 50's local music scene. More amazingly, I will never forget the original broadcast of the dance called "The Bug" that I watched on The Milt Grant TV show, and JUST learned from this book that Jerry wrote 'The Bug.'
Read about ALL the famous acts/artists Opsasnick lists who played at the Bladensburg Firehouse (WOW !!). Having grown up in PG County, it was thrilling to read about the history Opsasnick provided about the emergence (and demise) of each club.
There is even a chapter on my HERO, who many agree is the most talented AND influential drummer from DC's music scene.
What an awesome delight to read about the local musicians, many with whom I played, to follow chronologically, the migration of bands with whom each played, and to see who have become household names.
Opsasnick provides addresses, current and old, of many of the DC and MD clubs. This allows the reader to visit 'Stricks' (as I did) to see where artists like Patsy Cline, Jimmy Dean, Roy Clark, etc held house gigs.
I'm fortunate to have gotten to know the author, and it is clear, learning how he does his research, that what he writes IS accurate.
Thank you Mark Opsasnick for providing this beautiful snap shot of a very exciting time when hillbilly music spawned rock'n'roll and in turn, rock.
Thank you for the 'whole' story. From the teenagers who learned to sing, play guitar and drums for the teen club dances, grow up and settle down, to the ones who developed their craft and made a name for themselves, this book immortalizes them.

Opsasnick spent countless hours in libraries poring over old newspaper nightclub ads and interviewing musicians involved in Washington D.C.'s very vibrant rock and roll scene. The book covers 1953-1976 and includes several interviews with such notables as Nils Lofgren(now in Springsteen's band)and Jack Casady (bassist w/Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna). Also covered are some genuine guitar heros such as Roy Buchanon,Danny Gatton,John Fahey,Roy Clark,and the incomparable Link Wray , as well as scores of other bands.
Evidently the DC area was a real hotbed of clubs and talent, especially in the Prince Georges County area,although the M.L.King assassination riots began to put the nail in the coffin for a lot of venues. The book concludes with the advent of the punk and new wave scene (Slickee Boys, Bad Brains, etc)and has some succinct decriptions of these bands , too. My only complaint is that this book could really really have used an index at the end!!
Hey, kids, did you know that Led Zeppelin played at the Wheaton Youth Center in January 1969?...that the'Milt Grant Show' predated "American Bandstand' as the first television rock show in 1956? Find out this stuff and more with 'Capitol Rock'!

To say that Paganini was ahead of his time is an impossible understatement: we still haven't caught up with him 200 years later. He broke all the rules: parallel octaves, chromaticism, major/minor modulations seemingly at random, etc. etc. This book does a great job of transcribing these amazingly difficult passages. They're HARD, and there's no substitute for practice. Get to work!

Caprices and Etudes for Solo Violin by Nicolo Paganini, Henryk Wieniawski

If, you are looking for a better performance in your bowing, and all the color in your violin, adquire this Book. The level is high and you need to be patient and practice to raise the correct level. I like the book, because has a good presentation, some notes about how perform some passages and the best of all, are three books on one book, The 24 Caprices, The E'cole Moderne(Wieniawski), and 8 Wieniawski Etudes.

Technically challenging and excellent for practice. Caprices are essentially very difficult excercises. Paganini dedicated the caprices to the "artists" and the sonatas to the "amateurs".

An informative and enjoyable guide to Britains popular comedy series that is full of everything you wanted to know about the carry on films and probably more. Intelligent and witty, this offers a critical guide to all 31 carry on films which comes complete with facts behind the scenes of the film, the best scenes in that particular film, best actor/actress and shared memories from the cast. Lovley photographs throughout from stills of the film as well as cast and publicity shots. As well as an informative guide to the films it also offers a faultless guide of the t.v series that began in the late sixties and every stage production of the carry on phenemonan. A must have for any serious Carry On fan. Very enjoyable. Recommended!

An informative and enjoyable guide to Britains popular comedy series that is full of everything you wanted to know about the carry on films and probably more. Intelligent and witty, this offers a critical guide to all 31 carry on films which comes complete with facts behind the scenes of the film, the best scenes in that particular film, best actor/actress and shared memories from the cast. Lovley photographs throughout from stills of the film as well as cast and publicity shots. As well as an informative guide to the films it also offers a faultless guide of the t.v series that began in the late sixties and every stage production of the carry on phenemonan. A must have for any serious Carry On fan. Very enjoyable. Recommended!

This great carry on companion is a great addition to any fans collection. It features all 31 of the carry on films and also biographys of the cast and crew. It's such a great price too, one that any fan can afford. Also there is a behind the scenes section where you find out information on the stars lives outside of the carry on circle. This is a must for any carry on fan and i recommend you buy it today.

An informative and enjoyable guide to Britains popular comedy series that is full of everything you wanted to know about the carry on films and probably more. Intelligent and witty, this offers a critical guide to all 31 carry on films which comes complete with facts behind the scenes of the film, the best scenes in that particular film, best actor/actress and shared memories from the cast. Lovley photographs throughout from stills of the film as well as cast and publicity shots. As well as an informative guide to the films it also offers a faultless guide of the t.v series that began in the late sixties and every stage production of the carry on phenemonan. A must have for any serious Carry On fan. Very enjoyable. Recommended!

I received this book in very good conditions.
And its very interesting read the live of Celia Cruz.

Yo buscaba una Biografía en la que sintiera que ella me está contando su vida, con sus palabras y su forma de ser. No quería que fuera escrita por otra persona y esta reunió esas condiciones, me divierte mucho, me hace pensar y conocerla mas aún. Tuvo una vida increible, fue un ejemplo de vida, y creo que este libro reúne esos pequeños y grandes momentos relatados por ella.

This is my second review of this book which I re-read (I don't know why Amazon lost the first review). The book is a good read and very well descriptive of La Reina de Guanguanco ("Queen of Guanguanco"). Celia spoke of many points in her life which we all can relate to. She also spoke highly about her wishes to return to her homeland. I'm glad we have her in the USA! She is worthy of her success as a human being and a fine negra-latina. Bravo!

This book was truly written by Celia Cruz. You can almost see her speaking to you as you read her words. If you are lucky enough to be bilingual get the Spanish version. You'll love it!!! Celia's kindness and honesty is refreshing and inspiring. I had admired Celia Cruz for a long time, this book made me realize why I had found her so likable. Celia was a great human being and a great inspiration to us all, not just as a great entertainer but a wonderful person. I will always treasure this book.

Im actually in a production of this play right now, and theres only one thing better than listening to the cd, and its seeing it! I highly recommend this and my other favorite Schwartz show Godspell. My favorite song is "The Wasteland" not because thats my solo, but because its a brilliantly written piece of music.

I saw the actual play 2 times and loved it both times granted i saw it at my high school with our own cast performing it. But the songs were still awesome and that intern inspired me to purchase the CD, Some of my favorite songs are :"In Pursuit of Excellence", "The Wasteland", "Spark of Creation", "The Naming", "Generations", "Ain't it good", "The Perfect Day", "Piece of Eight" well lets just say that i loved them all. Stephen Schwartz is an absolute GENIOUS! TINA GONZALES,JEFF GWALTNEY,CHRIS CAUSEY,COLT CLARK,CHELSEY STONE,BRICK STONE, KRISTEN NASH and ESPECIALLY ERIN SMOOT ARE AWESOME! NOT TO MENTION MRS. REEDER, MRS. ATKINSON, MRS. HANCOCK, AND MR.McCUTCHEON (THE DIRECTORS)

Like most of Schwartz's published music, the selections included in this collection are scored well for voice and keyboard alone. The vocal line in never interpolated into the accompaniment figure, allowing the pianist to have much more fun than is often the case with coma-inducing boom-chick reductions. Because of this, the aspiring pianist may have a more difficult time reading the music than his/her trained counterpart, but none of the music should prove overly demanding for anyone who has seriously studied the instrument. The music feels great under the fingers, and-as is the case with most of Schwartz's scores-proves to be a good study in rock/pop pianism.

The ever-popular "Lost in the Wilderness" is scored a whole step lower than the original show key (here it is in G Major). The vocal ornamentation at the end of the "Lost" bridge isn't written out and there are several places in "Stranger to the Rain" where the music director of the cast album allowed vocal liberties that are not represented in the printed music (whether or not you like them we can assume that they weren't Mr. Schwartz's ideas). All in all a good a good source of material.

The Children of Eden vocal selections are wonderful. If you haven't heard the music, make sure you do - it's some of the greatest ever. My only complaint is that the selections left out some of the best songs, namely "Generations."

First, I would like to set the author info straight, Harry Stephens was NOT the Editor of this work, but the AUTHOR.

I received this as a gift and it took me a long time to listen to it. After months, while on a camping trip, I finally popped it into the tape player in our car (what more perfect time for a ghost story!) It was shorter than most audiobooks and the family enjoyed the format, more like a radio show than a book reading.

Since listening to it, I have passed it on to friends to enjoy. I would definitely recommend this audiobook for family and friends. A perfect gift for the holidays, no matter when you decide to celebrate!

This story is so heart-warming. You will enjoy it as well as your family. Sit around the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and listen to it. It will touch your heart and bring a tear to your eye! This is truly one of those "FEEL GOOD" stories anyone would enjoy at any time of the year.

I am a bzzzagent listening to AUDIOBOOKS and recently received CHILDREN OF THE CANDLELIGHT. This would be a lovely book to listen to with your children, ages 8 on up, around the holidays. I can imagine families listening together in the car on long trips, on the way to and from school or while decorating and baking for the holidays. It is a tear jerker so beware if listening in the car if the driver is sentimental.

A sweet and hear warming story bound to bring families close together.

This is a wonderful Christmastime ghost story and completely different from anything I have heard before. Instead of being used as objects to incite fear or horror, these ghosts are portrayed with gentleness and compassion, and used to beautifully illustrate the need for love and companionship in every human family, and the longing for closure after a tragedy. At only 90 minutes, it is easy to listen to in one sitting, and it has just the right balance of mystery and action to keep you interested without being frustrated. So get comfortable, turn off the phone, and enjoy this wonderful book.

This is a GREAT book for students studying Chopin! As a recent student myself, I wish I would have had this book for general information on Chopin, his life, and his works. The book is laid out in a simple format, making easy for anyone to use. It goes into the styles of his songs and what made them unique. It also includes a CD which the book tells you what and how to listen for things that are specifically Chopin. This book is a must-have for any student studying or performing the works of this master of the piano.

Pair a full-length classical cd from the classical music publisher Naxos with a book surveying Chopin's biography and influences and you have the perfect introduction to Chopin - and a pick recommended not just for public library holdings, but for schools seeking to introduce students to Chopin. Descriptions of his works, styles, and diversity come from a New York-based critical music writer whose addition to the 'Unlocking the Masters' series provides newcomers with a most accessible way of understanding Chopin's music.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

These small books from Amadeus concentrate on one composer, one of the masters. In these books a brief biography (25 or so pages) set the tone for a discussion of the man's music. In the case of Chopin, this can be summed up as a case of being considered a musical genius at a very early age, followed by increasing fame as a composer even as he was spending years dying from tuberculosis.

In the sections on the music, an expert author describes what the best consensus of our time is saying about the works. In the case of Chopin these are broken down into the types of works: Etudes and Preludes, Music for Piano and orchestra, The Waltzes, The Nocturnes, The Sonatas, Patriotism and Tragedy: The Polonaises, Individual works, The Impromptus and Scherzos, The Mazurkas, and The Ballades.

A CD included with the book contains fifteen complete compositions of Chopin's works. Having the CD with the book means that the author can refer to the music in his writing knowing that you will have exactly the music he is discussing. This is a great concept that adds imeasurably to the book.

Amadeus Press has filled a underserved niche in the classical music literature with these marvelous little guides to the great composers and their greatest compositions. They fill the gap between the highly detailed, scholarly volumes of the lives of the great composers ... and the too-superficial tiny guides that offer too little program notes on the music or the composer. It gives you a compelling "play-by-play" description of each composition without venturing into musicology that would lose a beginner. The entire series is extremely well written and make a great guides to new discoveries. It should appeal to beginners as well as classical veterans alike. This Chopin volume is proving to be a valuable guide as I explore in depth Chopin's music and the great performances on disc.

Every major category is covered in satisfying depth to give you solid understanding of what is behind each work - and what in particular is historically and musically significant in them. ALl major works are covered: the lilting Waltzes .. the pensive and sometimes turbulent Nocturnes ... the weighty Sonatas, Scherzos and Ballades ... the delicate miniatures ... the amazing early piano concertos ... the showpieces, Etudes, Preludes and even the few chamber pieces of Chopin are explored to reveal many curious historic details.

This volume on Chopin makes for compelling reading and is one of the only modern volumes of program notes on the piano music of Chopin I could find. The number of works covered is large and satisfying with enough detail to give you a deep appreciation of the significance, musical structures and impact of each work. In a way, it reads much like program notes in a CD, but covering the entire range of Chopin's life and works. Other reviews below outline the range covered. The volume, supplemented by classic volume like Schonberg's "Lives of the Great Composers" should give a high quality education to the music of Chopin. This book includes a Naxos CD containing performances by Idl Bieret which gives a quality intro to Chopin, but some listeners will surely want to explore the great Chopin performances of pianists like Rubinstein, Horowitz, Kissin, Perahia, Argerich and many others. Bottom line: these "Unlocking the Masters Series" are a great investment to deepening one's appreciation that will not go out of style any time soon. 5 stars.