Genres Books

I just ran across Satan and Adam a few weeks ago and have thouroughly enjoyed the 3 CDs they released. This book is a very interesting look into some of the experiences they had while touring as well as an outsider's view of making into an insider's position as regards Adam's acceptance into the blues community.

I have been following Adams teaching for a while. His new book "Journeyman's Road" only increases his street cred. After reading the book I got a better feeling for talking the talk and walking the walk. If your a harmonica player, a New York blues fan, or a street musician this book is a must read. Adam Gussow give a first hand look at music in Harlem, his adventures with Mr. Satan, and becoming a respected musician.

Over the last several years I have written a lot of reviews for Crowsfeet Productions. They handle publicity for several labels. Betsie Brown has been my contact for the West Coast. It has been a pleasure to bring the wonderful entertainment of the East coast to the attention of readers and listeners here in Washington. Occasionally the review I'm asked to write is on other than music releases. Such as in this case. When I was asked if I was interested in reviewing this book I jumped at the chance. Even though book reviews are a lot more time consuming, than reviewing CDs or even DVDs, I feel that they are a media source that need more coverage in Blues reviews.

The secondary title to this book might suggest a very highbrow and hard to read tome concentrating on the literary works of Faulkner. Fear not. While there is a healthy chapter dedicated to the analysis of Faulkner's relationship to the Blues the majority of this text is an appealing, and easy to follow, observation of life as a street musician, jam session veteran and club performer. There are highlighted profiles of New York area Blues musician's that are compelling as well as occasionally touching.

Gussow is not only an award-winning scholar and an Assistant professor (English & Southern Studies-University of Mississippi). He is also a very accomplished harmonica player and recording artist who has been nominated for a W.C. Handy award. His partnership with Sterling "Mr. Satan" Magee was remarkably unlikely from the beginning. Adam Gussow was young, white and Ivy League and "Mr. Satan" was older, black, street-wizened and an accomplished one-man band. Nonetheless together they built a very large fan base, made a few albums, and performed all up and down the East Coast. In reading this book I became so intrigued that I bought two of their three CDs and have played them on my radio show. For my money that's why it's good that we, on the West Coast, can hear about this stuff. We need to know that there is some wonderful music that normally doesn't get distributed to this side of the country.

There are many parts of this book that I can point to as a highlight for me. Gussow's words of disgust for southern racism are similar to my own beliefs. His mentoring of young Bluesman Jason Ricci is a good read because I was participated in a post-concert interview with Jason and heard of his victory over his troubles with substance abuse. I found him to be a sensitive and talented artist. Addam Gussow can claim a little credit for that. My favorite part is Adam's writing about his own mentoring by Sterling Magee. This relationship is covered well in Gussow's first book, "Mr. Satan's Apprentice". There is enough of the Satan & Adam storyline here to serve as an excellent backdrop to the bigger dissertation. It blends together well compilations of articles Gussow has written for Harper's and Blues Access as well as critical essays. The comprehensive examination of William Faulkner's relationship with the Blues is covered here fro the first time. It is deep but I found it enlightening. It made me think about the famous author's place in literary history a little more.

What I assumed would be a slightly self-indulgent semi-autobiographic of Mr. Gussow's life in Blues actually became more of a modern day true life text book. This would serve well any class on black history, Blues history or literary history. There is so much more to Journeyman's Road- other than what I have outlined here. Find out more by visiting his web page & on YouTube (www.modernbluesharmonica.com & www.youtube.com/kudzurunner). To purchase contact www.utpress.org ($30 hardcover)

Well done Mr.Gussow! I believe I shall now have to find Mr. Satan's Apprentice. I can't wait to read it.

I first became aware of Adam Gussow through his YouTube blues harmonica lessons. That is how I became aware of the fact the he was writing this book. I have read many books. This is the first time that I have ever felt the need to write a review.

At first glance it would seem to be a collection of short stories or articles which could stand on their own if read as such. It is much more; it is a book that should be read from front to back in its entirety. It is actually several books in one, each with their own appeal.

It is the story of Adam Gussow, an interesting man, who is both a street blues musician who played the streets of Harlem, and toured the blues joints, and a teacher of much more than the blues harmonica. He bares his soul through his music (his CDs are available at Amazon.com), and with this book.

It is the story of blues musicians, and indeed, it is even the story of the blues itself. A story of the call and response music form that is the cry of love lost, or unfound, and the promise of how good life could be if you can just find it.

He reminds us of the "bad old days" that spawned the blues, where the black man's call for love went unanswered. It is a bit painful to read, but he takes the reader to a place of hope. Perhaps the influence of the music itself is an answer to that call.

It is the story of Sterling Magee (Mr. Satan), and Adam's relationship with him. It is a story of respect and love for the man that he apprenticed himself to.

Mr. Gussow gives the love to the blues men, and women, who gave him the gift of their music. He passes on their gift, and he finds the love. The long awaited response to his own blues call.

The first readers of this book will undoubtedly be blues harmonica players. The book deserves a much wider audience than that. It will appeal to a wider audience than that. I hope that many people discover this book, and read it. I'm glad that I did.

I've read the first 2 in this collection (Julip & The Seven Ounce Man) and I have to say that Harrison is quickly becoming one of my favorite American authors. His language is witty, but diverse. He can describe the heck out of a patch of woods using concision only guys like Fitzgerald could find, and then go ahead and give you a wildly humorous anecdote about a mistaken bar fight (one of my favorite scenes from The Seven Ounce Man). This will appear all within the same story and--more importantly--the two segments will actually be connected. Some authors make you forget that every word, every sentence, means something. Jim Harrison is not of that school. Every word is an important part of the story.

Harrison is merciless with his subjects. In Julip, he brings to bear all of the violence, fear, promiscuity, hatred, incest, drunkennes, and irresponsibility that permates the lives of these characters. Somehow I come away from the story liking each character (some more than others, mind you) and I don't feel like I was given any kind of direction to. I feel like I ought to have strongly disliked some of them, actually. But Harrison's style is such that it creates these beautiful portaits of such terrible things. I know the content is disturbing, but I love how well everything has been rendered!

The Seven Ounce Man is more overtly concerned with reservation of the North. B.D. is a remarkable character who--again, even though I can't sympathize with his lifestyle--I admire as a character. It's easy to see how his character is misrepresented time and time again, while he goes on to admit (during his stint in 1st person position) that a lot of the time he's just thinking about sex or how to avoid getting beat up. Meanwhile, well-intentioned, but ultimately hyper-empathetic characters like Gretchen are wrongfully attributing descriptions like 'fascinating' to this drifter. I can't help but like him myself, since he seems an honest narrator and overall quite a good person (barring some minor role in contributing to the national statistic of marital infidelity).

Jim Harrison really knows how to create a dynamic character. And by reading the stuff in this book, I am led to believe that he has an intimate knowledge of the landscapes in which his characters move. If I am wrong, he is faking very well.

Not the best by Mr. Harrison, but enjoyable. The 7 Ounce Man is especially funny. I liked all of his characters and they even reminded me of a few people I know. Read "The Woman Lit by Fireflies", it's one of my favorites.

read these 3 novellas on plane from New Zealand to Jakarta. Not much business to be had in Indonesia but the book made the trip worthwhile. A new writer for me and I was impressed with the ironic, slightly weary style and with the gentle humour - not taking itself too seriously. Highly recommended.

This collection of novellas by acclaimed poet and novelist Jim Harrison is to savor. He once said, "Art should be a process of discovery, or it's boring." Reading Julip is an engrossing emotional discovery as we share the lives of characters that only this author can create.

Julip, the title piece in this presentation of three stories is about an irrepressible 21-year-old whose name is "the mixture of a flower and a drink." Apt description that. Julip tries to convince her brother to say he is insane so that he might be released from prison. Brother Bobby is there for shooting (not fatally) Julip's three wealthy boyfriends.

In The Seven-Ounce Man another appearance is made by one of Harrison's familiar characters, Brown Dog. Many met Brown Dog, a rapscallion and ex-Bible student who lives in Michigan's Peninsula, in The Woman Lit By Fireflies. This incarnation finds Brown Dog the victim of Native American activists. B.D. enjoys the simple life - he reads Popular Mechanics and likes pork and beans.

The Beige Dolorosa, the title of the third story, is the name that a defrocked academic, Phillip Caulkins, has given to a bird, one bird among the 700 North American varieties he has decided to rename. Caulkins's daughter comes to his rescue and deports him to Arizona, where he becomes interested in ranch life and being a cowboy.

As always, Harrison's prose is entertaining and humorous. He is an original.

- Gail Cooke

Dr. Ward's work adds much needed academic perspective on America's cultural history. This is not a book you can just breeze through, but the payoff is high. Dr. Ward writes with a true passion for the music as well as a subtle wit.

Brian Ward is currently teaching "The Southern Civil Rights Movement" at the University of Florida. As a scholar his knowledge on the civil rights movement is exhaustive. Not only that, Ward knows his music. In Just My Soul responding Ward displays extensive knowledge of black music ranging from fifties R&B and Doo Wop to seventies Funk & Soul. Not surprisingly Ward has written several publications on the relation between mass media and the civil rights struggle.

"Just My Soul Responding" focuses on the relation between the struggle and Black music, and black popular music to be precise. Ward doesn't take Jazz into his analyses by stating that this was music for the intellectual crowd. Ward is more interested in the influence popular music had on the advance of the movement and what it meant for race relations.

The strength of this publication lies in the fact that it's not burdened by a drive to prove cultural imperialism. Some scholars on the subject of black music at times tend to get blinded in their effort to show how the white co operations tried to steal or destroy black music. Although Ward acknowledges such mechanisms, he paints a much more subtle picture. Ward shows us how black and white music influenced each other, that the lines weren't always as sharp as they seemed. Most tellingly is his analysis of Southern Soul, now often seen as the epiphany of black music. Ward dissect Southern Soul and shows how much of it is actually a multi-racial effort. A lot of the music was backed by integrated bands. White musicians brought Country into Soul and vice versa. Ward doesn't take the road of easy analyses but tries to pierce the way segregation worked, and how far it extended. Through the course of the book we get a picture of where the racial lines blurred and where the space of advancement lied.

Ward's publication is interesting reading for those interested in the civil rights movement but also for those just interested in the music as well. The book is littered with amusing anecdotes of Black music's most influential artist. Going though the book it becomes clear that for true appreciation of Black music knowledge of the civil rights movement is essential.

what i dig about this Book is it's honesty.Music along with Sports have brought people of all Races together but when it's over folks go back into their Enviroment.The Music Speaks of Being Free&that's How People Get into Music but not Viewing the person as a Human Being is very sad.this book points that out&more.it's cool to Emulate James Brown, but being him?the business has always been Unequal.the charts have Pop,R-N-B/Rap(now Lumped as one)then Country,etc.....this is a Must Read.I Understood it all&then some.

I found this book informative and readable; a thoroughly documented guide to black music in the 50s, 60s and 70s by someone who is evidently a fan yet who does not allow his passion for the music to lead him into simplification or wishful thinking. Some parts of the book are a very useful corrective to this tendency in other books I have read - for example his treatment of black consumption of white music. He is particularly interesting on the subject of the sexual politics of the music and its relation to the social and political background. An accessible and entertaining book which maintains scholastic rigour throughout and is never guilty of sloppiness or turgidity.

very good book
for fans of the band
information not written anywhere else
very cool pics of original newspaper/magazine articles
pic of original ad which started the band

overall = awesome

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This book offers a look at the killers past that hasn't been told before with great photos that help tell the story of this band's drive and talent.
without focusing on just one member it gives an interesting look at each members role, how they came together and how hard they worked to be the successful band they are today.
normally skeptical about unofficial biography's.. especially on band's that I love.. this book is different I think it is an honest,accurate portrayal of the band and one all killers fans will love!

If you've ever lived in Las Vegas, you know why the Killers' story is worth reading: They made it out, and in a very big way.

If you haven't lived in Vegas, and don't know how many bands have tried and failed to do what the Killers did, this book will fill you in.

Jarret Keene was the perfect journalist to detail the Killers' rise to fame, as he was there from the start. Not many other rock star biographies have that luxury.

It doesn't get much better than "The Killers: Destiny is Calling Me." The writing's great. The pictures are amazing. The band is unforgettable. Read itv and let the process of forgetting Slaughter begin.

Sometimes bands seem to come out of nowhere and suddenly they're everywhere... This book is awesome in that it shows just how hard the Killers worked to go from playing for 10 people in a cafe and tiny clubs (the book has the photos to prove it!) to being the huge stars they are today -- really inspiring if you're in a band that's just starting out or trying to get signed...

A must-have for all Killers fans -- lots of great photos and the mystery of Ted, the fifth Killer, is revealed. Very cool!

I used to think that the greatest thinker of all time was Kim Il-Sung. But now I realize what a mistake that was. His son--Kim Jong-Il--is an even more extraordinary talent.

I have never encountered such a tremendous intellect. I read this book nine times so far and I still don't think I have even brushed the bottom of its profundity.

You should buy this masterpiece right now. If you don't have the money, FINANCE IT! Your life is hollow until you experience the dear leader's thought.

Before I narrowly escaped, Kim Jong Il ordered my entire family put to death for owning a foreign radio.

But reading this makes up for all of that, Hail Great Leader!

It is a true blessing to be able to read and write for which I am eternally greatfull. One of the many perks of this ability is that it enables me to get in touch with novel ideas and great controversies. Reading this book by this great Korean leader and the best man of his country put me in true ecstacy. The depth of his work is so immense. Yet he is able to put the most complex problems of his country in so simple terms that one begins to wander if his career would be better off as a writer or a philosopher. How he explains the evolution of mankind, the importance of science and steel production is pure magic. I recommend that all young intellectuals as well as workers should carefully read this work. Forward to the triumph of socialism!

Proof (if any were needed) that high tessituras and hardline Stalinism can make for a fruitful cocktail. Comrade Kim Jong Il, the Dear Leader ™, is not only the rightfully crowned King of Socialism but also a formidable opera queen in his own right. The chapter "Charlotte Church: Crossover as the Dialectical Logic of Late Capitalism, or Just Some Cocky Welsh Teenybopper? " is worth the price of admission alone. The best work of its kind since Pol Pot's "Maria Callas: The Bel Canto Years".

this is an awesome product to get if you saw and liked the movie "Kingdom of Heaven". wonderful behind-the-scenes shots. the pics are awesome!!! not to mention the fact that Orlando Bloom, one of my fave actors, is in it!!

If you enjoyed Gladiator you should love Kingdom of Heaven. It has all the thrills and color and then some...and it's far more authentic. This is an epic film filled with color and colorful characters. This book points out the details and should really be inspiring to up and coming film makers. The use of flags and banners is especially strong. I think you'll learn a lot more about the Art of film making from this book, a superb collection. Try it!

The latest entry in the acclaimed "Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook" series, Kingdom Of Heaven: The Ridley Scott Film And The History Behind The Story is the definitive film documentary of "Kingdom of Heaven", the large-scale historical epic about the Crusades that pitted the forces of King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem against the armies of the Saracen general Saladin. Directed by Ridley Scale and starring Orlando Bloom, the commentary is in two major parts: "Kingdoms in the Holy Land: The Crusades and the Film Story" and "Swords and Stones: How Kingdom of Heaven Was Made". This informative guide to the film and its making is enthusiastically recommended for fans of the film, as well as professional, academic, and community library Cinematic Studies reference collections.

I already saw this movie three times. It's sooooo amazing. The book has lots of beautiful pictures and interesting information about the movie.
For everybody who loves the movie, this book is a must have. And of course the screenplay which is coming out in june.

FAIT ATENCION!: This is one vast bursting boudin of a book! It'll put the salt back into your snap beans! Tear out its pages and stick 'em in your dancing shoes, cher! Tisserand is THE maven of zydeco! For locals fans, converts and overall BooZoo-aholics, you have a new Bible! For recent arrivals and the general reader 'zydeco' will now no longer just be a killer Scrabble word! For anyone who reads this book, I bet you a six pack of Dixie that you'll soon be booking your flight to SW Louiaiana! You can't go wrong if you play it right, and Tisserand has done it big-time right! Merci beacoup, Mr. T!! Laissez les bons temps roulez!

Stu Klipper (sklipper@bitstream.net) from Minneapolis, Minn., 07/11/98

One vast bursting boudin of a book!!!

FAIT ATENCION!: This is one vast bursting boudin of a book! It'll put the salt back into your snap beans! Tear out its pages and stick 'em in your dancing shoes, cher! Tisserand is THE maven of zydeco! NB: La. locals, fans, converts and overall BooZoo-aholics, you have a new Bible! For recent arrivals and the general reader 'zydeco' will now no longer just be a killer Scrabble word! For anyone who reads this book, I bet you a six pack of Dixie that you'll soon be booking your flight to SW Louisiana! You can't go wrong if you play it right, and Tisserand has done it big-time right! Merci beacoup, Mr. T!! Laissez les bons temps roulez! Stu Klipper (read in manuscript)

I stole a copy of The Kingdom of Zydeco while interviewing for a job at Arcade.

I love this book more than my own mother.

THE KINGDOM OF ZYDECO is a superb look at zydeco music - its history, its socio-cultural impact, its traditions, its heroes, its geographical importance... There's no other book quite like it. Reading it takes you on an intense journey through the "kingdom" and brings readers up close and personal with the topic in a way few music genre overview books do. Its lovingly crafted and written, establishing mood and atmosphere instantly. These are real people playing for the love of the music and their observations are funny, sad, deep and emotional. In short, this is a "kingdom" where real life often clashes with art, where the "ethnicity" of the genre clashes with the music biz's "eat-'em-up-&-spit-'em-out" attitude. Exceptional writing and a genuinely interesting topic.

What an amazing first book by author Oscar Ansari. This story takes off in lightning speed and doesn't slow down until you are finished. I am most impressed with the way the author weaves Christianity, humanitarian, and environmental issues into an entertaining story with very likable characters. One of those books where you are sad when it's over, but can't wait to read the next one! Anyone will enjoy this read.

What a story! I read the book with interest and must say that it turns into quite a thriller. I read the first half on a recent plane flight and couldn't wait to get back on the plane to finish the book. If you like adventure and excitement, you will love this book. I can easily see this one turning into a super movie!! I'm anxiously awaiting Oscar's next book.

It's been a long time since a book has churned up so much emotion in me. Oscar Ansari's story of action, adventure, environmentalism and the path that modern Christianity must take is a work or art. If this story doensn't wet your appetite for action, adventure and social justice - check your pulse.

Oscar's descriptives made me feel like I was right there, sharing in the spirit of adventure with his unique cast of characters.

Fantastic read that I highly recommend.

The Kings of Solomon opens with the reunion of three friends - Mark, Jayden and Carter. These wise-cracking, fun-loving guys could be any number of your old friends back home. You like them right off the bat and find yourself wondering immediately what sort of trouble they are going to get themselves into.

The coral reefs, fresh mango, salty humidity, sea kayaking--all of it is so well described. The detail Ansari puts into his novel makes for a very believable visit to the Solomons. I almost feel as if I have flown half way around the world myself!

While basking in their island holiday, Mark, Jayen and Carter come, unexpectedly, face-to-face with the dark realities of Corporate America in developing nations -- the environmental destruction, human rights violations and utter disregard of everything other than bottom line profits. Beyond the humanitarian and environmental concerns of the novel, Ansari weaves a clear, but not "preachy" message of Christianity and the role of faith in each of the characters' lives.

As the novel unfolds and atrocities beyond belief are revealed, our adventurers are faced with the difficult decision of turning a blind eye or pursuing justice. Armed with humanity and faith, we watch as they mature into ambassadors for social justice.

This novel wraps very pertinent themes of our times into an amazingly compelling story. You won't want to put it down! The second half of the book reads like a freight train so hold on to your seats!

A great first novel for Oscar Ansari!


ps: The Kings of Solomon lends itself perfectly for an action-adventure film...

While I am almost a decade past the teenage years I still try to read many books aimed at the Christian Teen. More often than not I finish them feeling frustrated and occasionally angry due to their condescending and simplistic attitudes or their reluctance to deal with any big issues that teens face.

Knuckle Sandwich didn't do either of these. The protagonists are flawed characters that we can relate to. Too often in this sub-genre the protagonist is perfect and never does anything wrong. The situations encountered are plausable, and the lessons we can learn through the characters are both relevant and subtly dealt with.

Adam Palmer is not afraid to go where many Christian novelists fear to tread. Real situations and dilemmas may make some Christians afraid however in this book they serve to make it relevant to today's youth. I wish I'd had books like this when I was younger. Now that I'm an aspiring novelist I hope that I deal with subjects as well as the author does in Knuckle Sandwich.

Whether you're an adult looking for a fun read as you reminisce on your younger years, or a teen looking for a great read I recommend Knuckle Sandwich.

Jeremiah Springfield doesn't play the same kind of music as his dad, a local jazz musician. Instead, he's into romping, stomping, Christian Rock. Jeremiah teamed up with Matt on guitar, Liz on drums, and they named their band Knuckle Sandwich. The three are doing well, and as far as they're concerned, the only way now is up. Then success takes it's toll. Matt develops an ego too big to cope with, relationships crumble, and somewhere between the screaming fans, and the pressure of the music business, God got shoved aside.

Adam Palmer takes the reader behind the tough, competitive world of Christian Music. Jeremiah, Liz, and Matt, discover God's idea of success isn't always the same as ours. Soon the three are faced with difficult decisions that will change their world forever. Knuckle Sandwich is a fast-paced story of three young Christians caught up in a celebrity lifestyle that threatens to destroy them and everything they believe. Teens everywhere will identify with the characters in Knuckle Sandwich. Good answers to problems young people face today, and a strong faith message without being in your face, or preachy. Recommended.

There is a new (to me) genre of Christian Fiction that is quickly creeping up my list of favorites. For lack of a better description, I'll call this the Coming-of-Age-Upper-Teen-Postmodern-Guy Genre. Or from another angle, the young Christian adult trying to live intentionally, but dragged down by the temptations of life.

In the gritty, but loveable style of the Hafer brothers of Bad Idea, Knuckle Sandwich tells the story of Jeremiah and his Christian rock band. Though Jeremiah has been a "life-long" Christian, the freedom that adulthood offers, together with the new status that college can provide a previous band geek, he falls into temptation. Considering those that he is falling with aren't exactly encouraging his Christian values, the struggle is soon on the back burner--behind the doing.

I love where Adam Palmer and others are taking Christian Fiction. There is a whole new generation of adults that are tired of pretending that we haven't failed. In Knuckle Sandwich, our generation gets to read about one (or four) that have fallen, but picked themselves up, dusted off and continued the Christian course. Okay, and I have to admit a lot of appeal is the fact that this book is set in 1994, the year of my high school graduation. He nailed our generation. I've lived this!

This book isn't for everyone. I'll be the first to admit that. But if you are into gritty, true-to-life Christianity lived out, you'll probably dig this book. The sin is apparent, but not pieces and parts--and Jeremiah does overcome.

Armchair Interview says: Story that reaches out to new readers in different ages.

I haven't read such an intriguing book in a while. Witty and fresh, Palmer tackles some tough questions and sensitive subjects. Targeted at the young adult market, the book delivers a good message, laced with biting humor, and the credibility of an insider's view. All too often, characters' spiritual journeys seem contrived. Palmer's ring with veritable honesty. Knuckle Sandwich is a book both teens and their parents will enjoy.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
www.anemulligan.com

See my review under "Die Zauberflote"

I bought this book and CD set a few years ago to learn the opera LA BOHEME. The beautifully illustrated book includes a history of the opera and of Puccini's career, a clearly printed libretto in Italian and English, and information on the conductor and the principal singers. The recording is a fine one, dominated by the partnership of Nicolai Gedda and Mirella Freni as Rodolfo and Mimi. Gedda has a firm, pure tenor and a delightful sense of humor too often missing from portrayals of Rodolfo. I also like his sad sigh in the last act just before Mimi dies: it's a refreshing change from the outright weeping usually heard at this point in the opera. Freni lights up the performance with her luminous, youthful lyric soprano. The supporting cast are all-Italian and make a good team, and Maestro Thomas Schippers paces the opera nicely. This book and CD set is a wonderful bargain for anyone wanting to learn LA BOHEME. Check out the other Black Dog Opera Library sets, too.

Looking for a good, moderately priced recording of "Boheme"? This is it. Schipper's conducts a delightfully theatrical performance. The young Freni is ideal: fresh and touching as Mimi should be. Gedda has a lighter, more youthful sound than Pavarotti or Bjoerling, and makes an excellent match for Freni. Good stereo sound. Excellent supporting cast: Sereni a charming, youthful Marcello. Other sets have great casts and great conductors (and you may want to augment your collection with Beecham's classic recording and Kleiber's live La Scala performance, but this one is a perfect introductory "Boheme", with its user-friendly book and libretto. Beautiful.

Having found opera intimidating I was looking for something to help me understand and appreciate the genre. This book exceeded all expectations. I intend to acquire the entire series.