Writers Books

There are books written by people that have never made any movies at all and there are books that are written by people that HAVE made movies. This is a book about the second case scenario.

This is essential reading for someone interested about what its like to get your movie script up and running and produced, all the ins and outs of the movie business you need to know about. Its a no nonsense approach to the business end of movie making, nothing more and nothing less. It is brief and easy to read and gives your purely the facts. It is not some etherial, hypothetical and theoretical conceptual model of what someone thinks the movie business might be like, it is cold hard facts by someone that has done the business, writing The Thomas Crown Affair and Bullit as his major calling cards.

Only minor drawback was that some of his writing is a little hard to understand I think because he is using coloquial lingo that Im not familiar with because I dont live in the same street as him, but regardless of that it was a good quick read.

Well recommended, gives some illuminating insights into the movie world everyone wants to get into.

My best friend gave me this book for my birthday. I'm an aspiring screenwriter and needed to get all the insight I could into the business. This book is great. Buy it!

When you think of great screenwriters, Alan Trustman is right up there on the top of the list with the Goldman Brothers and Ron Bass. This is a great book. Trustman doesn't beat around the bush. He tells it the way it is for better or worse. I couldn't recommend this with any more enthusiasm.

Two of my favorite films are "The Thomas Crown Affair" and "Bullitt." Alan Trustman wrote both of them. How lucky we are to have a screenwriter of this ilk share his thoughts on the business with us. It's a great read. I recommend it highly.

This is the only book of which I am aware that describes truthfully the economics of the business and the way it is structured to keep out everyone, and particularly the waves of talented young people who flood to Hollywood every year, hoping to make it in the business.
It is written for the benefit of those kids, so they will understand what is going on and what they can do to crack the magic circle fame and fortune A-list.
Unless you know what you are walking into, you are doomed, no matter how talented you are, unless you are unbelievably lucky, and no one in his right mind should bet his life on odds which are that stacked against you.
Don't let anyone you care about go to Hollywood unless they have read it...

Loved this book, thought it was just another romance novel, but it wasn't - its got everything!

I, too, lent out my paperback copy years ago after reading it a dozen times only to lose contact with that person later. I looked in book stores for YEARS before buying it here at Amazon a few years ago. Considered naming my son Michael as well. :)

I love this story. It's the reason I was an Anthro major in college.

I read this book soon after it came out in the 80's and have read it again since - simply excellent - great story line, intrigue, love, war, excitement etc. Amazed that this has never been made into a movie/ or TV series. I have misplaced my copy and am in despearte search of another.

I read this book when it came out years ago, 20 years ago. I fell inlove with it. I loaned my copy to a friend and forgot about it. When I decided to re-read it, I couldn't find it and had forgotten who had borrowed it. Everytime I go into a used book store I would look for this book but with no luck. After a time I even forgot the name and author. A few week ago I began searching using different title combinations on Amazon and could not believe my good fortune to find it. I have ordered it and can't wait for the arrival. This book is wonderful. Yes, it has a romance but it goes far beyond. Its illusion of what seems to be an island paradise is interupted by WWII. The illusion begins to fall away when you discover the flawed but remarkable characters who live through hiding in the jungles to captivity in a Japanese civilian war camp and then begin searching for lost love. Beautifully written. What happened to Kay McGrath? I've never found another book by her?

The best book I've ever read, full of everything you could want in one book. This book would make an excellent movie...love, war, suspense, life, death, tear-jerker ... all of the components for an award winning movie. Where is Kay McGrath and why hasn't she written anything else? She should if it's as good as The Seeds of Singing. I'd love to have my own copy of this book (I borrowed from a friend and she borrowed it from someone else whom we've lost touch with.) If you have a copy or know where I can get one, please let me know!

Self-Help For Writers, Winners Show You How, written by Erna Holyer, a successful author of children's books who has signed her name to thousands of articles as well, offers sure-fire methods and examples to motivate and inspire either professional writers or students of writing. This book will interest anyone wishing to transfer their stories, beautiful thoughts or practical advice into salable material, as her students, who pocket thousands of dollars each year, will attest.

This book is written by a teacher who overcame great obstacles on her road to success and is an inspiration to her students. A native of Germany, Mrs. Holyer moved to the United States with her American husband. With unflinching determination and courage the would-be writer set out to conquer the english language. She pursued her studies in spite of physical handicaps due to a heart condition which had caused her to endure one of the first open-heart surgeries in Germany. Along this writer's journey, she endured a second, nearly fatal, heart surgery, a later cancer surgery, and the death of a spouse.

This book includes hundreds of examples taken from the files of this popular and successful teacher. An important facet in the early career of Erna Holyer was the study under the tutelage of successful, selling writers who shared their skills and techniques, which she now passes onto her students. This hard-earned education ultimately brought success as sales began to trickle, then flow in abundance in the form of hundreds of articles and at least one children's book per year.

Self Help For Writers, the culmination of a life-time of service to the writing community, is a memorial to the hundreds of students who have attended the classes of Mrs. Holyer and is a testament to her courage. Filled with remarkable insight, this book contains 116 pages of power-packed, technical details and hundreds of motivational examples. These remarkable nuggets of information will be a valued addition to the library of any college or writer.

This book is very enjoyable. It gives you courage to think about writing,sharing your ideas and experiences with others, and to experiment with your thoughts. I am no longer afraid of putting my thoughts into writing, I just write what I feel. For me, this book gave me a lot of confidence because of the fact that english is not my native language. I also liked the fact that the author brought up different people with different experiences, and how they overcame their personal fears of writing. I recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming a writer or improving their skills.

This book is very enjoyable. It gives you courage to think about writing,sharing your ideas and experiences with others, and to experiment with your thoughts. I am no longer afraid of putting my thoughts into writing, I just write what I feel. For me, this book gave me a lot of confidence because of the fact that english is not my native language. I also liked the fact that the author brought up different people with different experiences, and how they overcame their personal fears of writing. I recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming a writter or improving their skills.

I greatly enjoyed the many examples of writing success by "regular people," and how they achieved it.
A must read for writers who need encouragement, inspiration, and the prodding to persevere.

The author, Erna Holyer, is herself the epitome of perseverance, first overcoming her scant knowledge of the English language, then pressing on to follow her heart's desire to become a published author.

Five stars, for sure.

Erna Holyer's book, "Self Help for Writers: Winners Show You How", uses real life experiences from her students to motivate authors and instruct them in the craft of writing. Some of her topics are: Opportunities in your daily life, Write about your adventures, and Don't let handicaps stop you. Each of these topics help you see opportunities for stories or articles in the events of your daily life.
Other chapters encourage a professional approach to writing. Holyer inspires you to persevere in your writing and to do market research.
Holyer teaches with anecdotes, which makes her book easy to read and the points she make memorable.
This book is a useful tool for writers.

I am very, very pleased with this book. I found all of the information on Shakespeare fascinating and the activities will be very good for the programs our art organization is offering.

It was great to revisit one of my favorite places in the world = Stratford-Upon-Avon = and to learn about London and the theatre in the 16th century. I loved this book and my teenage boys loved it, too. It is beautifully written and well researched and the activities are a lot of fun.

If you like Shakespeare and you like kids, you'll love this book. I found this to be an original and colorful introduction the life and times of the Bard of Avon, which can be enjoyed by children as well as adults.

Although this book is geared towards children, anyone can learn something new and interesting by reading this extremely informative and fun book. Not only can a younger reader learn to juggle like the queen's entertainers, but he or she can also learn how to write a sonnet or stage a sword fight. This book includes historical and political facts as well as what Shakespeare's life and the theater was like. Give this to any child and they will be quoting "A Midsummer Night's Dream", telling you about life in Stratford-upon-Avon and even staging their own productions!

I bought this book on the basis of the fine reviews. It is good, glossy, and an easy read. My disappointment is that I did not realize that this book is not geared to high school students. I had hoped to find activities that would spark my students, but --there is, for me, too big a stretch between text and activity. I can see the making a bird feeder and the references to birds in Shakespeare's works at an earlier level, but not for high school seniors. The book is, however, filled with historical references and good pictures.

When I first saw the title of the book I just had to buy it. Being from Long Island myself I could picture the places in these stories. Having been away now for many years, it brought me back to my "home".

The stories are as different as the writers themselves.

I really loved Tom Hannon's stories. Crystal's Secret is about a man and a woman who meet again after 25 years and share more than he knows but is about to find out. Great ending with a few twists.

Tom has a great imagination on Purple Haze and Guilty was absolutely my favorite. 1942 had a really interesting twist. Tom is so good at the surprise endings. A Walk on the Wild Side is intriguing, naughty and again, a surprise ending. If you like surprises read his stories.

Paul Moran's Still Waters was great as was Rekindled Senses. That really tugged at my heartstrings.

I enjoyed all six authors and their different writing styles. I recommend this book to everyone. These short stories are great and keep you wanting more.

Enjoyable reading. Really shows the will of a group of talented writers who combined their skills to create a single work of art. Bravo! Well done!

This book has honestly made me rethink the idea of reading short stories. I never thought I cared much for short stories before, but I truly enjoyed reading this book, and I think that anyone would; there's something in there for everyone. Give it a try!

What a surprise! Six Long Island wrters (Easy Writers) have combined their efforts to prepare this feast for gourmands. A smorgasbord of friendship/fornication/forgiveness; horror/humor/hubris; death/delusion/destiny all stirred in with a pinch of incest and some funny bits seasoning this spicy jambalaya. My personal favorite is "Solitude." Have a taste.

This book has some very fine writing dealing with some common American themes: Loss, Disillusionment, Family. Anyone interested in truly pure, raw writing should give this book a chance. There are some shiny gems alongside some truly macabre tales that make for an interesting mix and (dare I say it) reflective of contemporary Long Island culture.

The book leads off with a punch (literally) "Sucker Punch" by Michael S. Brady - a story of a kid dealing with the loss of his sister and struggling to find himself. The first line:
"I remember Tom Hyland's cheek feeling soft as my fist connected with it."
is a compelling one. It's a good hook (pardon the pun) and his narration is muscular with some emotionally vulnerable passages to give the character, Jason, complexity and room to grow. In the background is Long Island "The rage came in slow waves like the Long Island Sound on a calm day. . ." The rhythm of the prose and the character's tormented soul reminded me of a song by Arcade's Fire "My Body Is A Cage."

Mr. Brady had 1 other story worth noting. "Taking things in stride" a story that uses running as a metaphor for life. I could very much identify with the character who is struggling to find balance amongst many of the normal stresses: work, family, marriage. The story spans the length of a run and evolves through discussions between Tom Kelly and the ghost of his high school running coach. His dialogue is quick and evocative. The ending, while slightly unexpected, worked to affirm Tom's self-knowledge gained in the story.

D. Scott Foreman's "(She's) The Devil on My Back" is an unusual story, a demented story, a wonderful story. Nestled in with more standard stories of suburbia, this one seems out of place until you realize that it is an extension of a marriage story with a little counseling thrown in - a concept to which many folks can relate.

Elizabeth's Stevens' "Some Sunday's Suck" was a charming little story describing a woman's struggle to maintain her principles in a shifting society and devolving dating scene. I liked the author's self-deprecating style and especially liked this line: "If rules were glass, the bottoms of her feet would have been sliced opened by then." Ms. Stevens' used similarly smart similes to convey the emotional challenges and pain of the character.

Overall, these stories are worthwhile reads and the authors should be commended for the perseverance and moxie to self-publish. For anyone interested in writing, the story that resulted in this book would be good to read sometime as well.

[Reviewer's note: I've known one of the author's for ~20yrs.]

Fantastic book! Egan is one of my favorites and this book doesn't disappoint.

I cannot review this item. The incorrect item was ordered and returned to
seller. The return went very smoothly with no snags or complications at all.

I was well pleased with the way transaction was handled, although, I thought
the freight charges were rather high on an item that weighed as little as
this one.

R.Brown

Somehow, Egan talks about things I have also done or thought about, and uses just the right words to describe them...Amazing. Like the others in the series, these are repeats from Road and Track. Even though I have read most of them before, that does not diminish the joy I feel in reading them again (and again!).

This is one cool book by a very witty writer who digs mostly vintage English cars. If you're in to British cars, or any cars for that matter, you should read it. Peter Egan is wonderful.

Another splendid offering from Sir Peter Egan. Once again Egan has delivered a compilation of our favorite columns - this time from Road & Track magazine. Egan has the uncanny knack of capturing the essence of the open road and transforming it into the written word. The book is full of his tales and ancedotes of driving, restoration and racing. A brilliant book and a must for any automotive enthusiast.

I've admired Fitzgerald all my life and regard his work as singularly underrated as time goes on. He was a brilliant and witty writer who could turn a phrase as well as any American author of the 20th century. This biography is the best I've ever read on Fitzgerald. It's particularly strong in the depiction of his gaudy, booze-soaked life with Zelda, especially when they were ex-pats living in France. Bruccoli really draws the reader in with deft descriptions of their marital rows, woes, break-ups and innumerable reconcilations. I was happy to see that their daughter, Scottie, was also illuminated so brilliantly.

The material on Sheila Graham, Scott's lover in Hollywood, was also intriguing. Graham's own book about Scott is a great read, but the author brings out elements to the story which Graham omitted. I was genuinely sad when Scott dies and the narrative concludes. The debauchery, booze and high times of the Flapper era are all here. This is a highly recommended, beautifully tribute to one of the great writers of the past 100 years.

I am a writer, and first took out the book suffering from similar problems to Fitzgerald's at the beginning of his career, hoping to get some guidence. Reading it, I was struck by the profundity of the advice on writing he gave his daughter Scottie, which is copied in excerpts. I felt like I was getting the same benefits he gave her, and I also got the sense that he would want this. He meant what he had learned to be accessable to everyone; in a way, it was what his life was based around. Then, I got a good deal out of the analyses the biographer devotes to transcibing the process Fitzgerald went through in mapping out each of his extaordinary novels- I took notes I'll keep for ever. I only wish I could find a source like this on my other favorite writers. I'll have to appeal to Amazon's reccomendations for advice.

I bought this book and read it before reading any of the works of F. Scott Fitgerald.

The book opens with an interesting literary hook as we follow the last few hours in the life of Fitzgerald on December 21, 1940. He is an unemployed screen writer living in Hollywood at the apartment of his companion Sheilah Graham. On the previous day, he had symptoms of a heart problem. That morning on the 21st, he was working on "The Last Tycoon." He was sitting in a chair, stood up, grasped the mantlepiece, collapsed, and died at age 44.

That book is one of seemingly dozens of short stories on F. Scott, Zelda his wife, and others. The book is not a seamless story but is a chronoligcal collection of short - almost disconnected - stories about his life and works.

It is an excellent reference book to consult as you read the works of Fitzgerald. I found the book on its own too dry with too many facts and it gives no idea of what the writing was like. It was not until I read "This Side of Paradise" did I understand what all the fuss was about with F. Scott Fitzgerald, and it was at that point the present biography came to life. For example, I quote a passage from Chapter 2 of Book I, as Amory sits on the steps of his dorm at Princeton after his first day on campus:

"Now, far down the shadowy line of University Place a white-clad phalanx broke the gloom, and marching figures, white-shirted, white-trousered, swung rhythmically up the street, with linked arms and heads thrown back:

"Going back-going back,
Going-back-to-Nas-sau-Hall,
Going back-going back-
To the-Best-Old-Place-of-All.
Going back-going back,
From all-this-earth-ly-ball,
We'll-clear-the-track-as-we-go-back-
Going-back-to-Nas-sau-Hall!"

Amory closed his eyes as the ghostly procession drew near. The song soared so high that all dropped out except the tenors, who bore the melody triumphantly past the danger-point and relinquished it to the fantastic chorus. Then Amory opened his eyes, half afraid that sight would spoil the rich illusion of harmony."

One learns more about Fitgerald's writing from that passage than the entire biography.

Having said the above, this is a fact filled reference book that acts as a wondeful guide and supplement to the F. Scott's life and the background for the works. There are many photographs and other documents among the 61 short chapters. I especially liked the ledger notes that were kept by Fitzgerald that clearly outline the characters and plot details for the books. Bruccoli has included a huge notes section and appendix at the back of the book, about 100 illustrations, plus many more documents. I have read many interpretations of "Tender is the Night" but it is a lot clearer when you actually read the author's own notes as produced here in the present biography.

Highly recommend: excellent collection of short stories and documents.

This is an excellent biography, full of a great wealth of detail. In truth, Fitzgerald is a pretty easy biographical subject, because his fiction was so closely based on his own life and experiences and because he wrote so many letters and kept such detailed notebooks and ledgers accounting for his own life. He also had relationships with many people (Zelda, other writers, etc.) who left behind many accounts of him. Still, Bruccoli does an extremely thorough job and the book is very well-written.

I would give it five stars except for an extremely irritating tendency Bruccoli has to be dismissive of almost all of Fitzgerald's short stories. Bruccoli is way too arrogant about pronouncing dozens of the stories F. Scott wrote as being "minor," or "disappointing," or even "embarrassing," while reserving his praise for a select few, such as "May Day" and "The Rich Boy." Personally, having read every one of FSF's currently collected short stories (well over 100 in all), I don't rate "May Day" or "The Rich Boy" very highly, but I love lots and lots of the "commercial" ones Bruccoli dismisses. I think he should leave the assessment of which stories are good up to the reader. Bruccoli's literary analysis -- of Fitzgerald's novels -- is outstanding, but the short stories should not be so dismissed (even if Scott himself at times dismissed them and hated having to write them to earn money).

I am an absolute diehard fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald, both his life and his literature. So, I knew when I purchased this book I was bound to scrutinize its every nook and cranny. Well, my scrutiny proved to be a wasted effort. Without question, Matthew Bruccoli is the number one Fitzgerald scholar in the country, and after reading this biography, it is impossible to question why.
Bruccoli covers every aspect of Fitzgerald's life and includes several bits of correspondence to really give readers a look inside Fitzgerald's thinking. --Perhaps my favorite thing about the book is that it does not sentimentalize the author (which I myself have a habit of doing). Fitzgerald is spelled out here in all his glory, yet, we also get to see his unflattering side...paranoia, arrogance, unharnessed alcoholism, and downright neurosis.
F Scott Fitzgerald was a brilliant man whose life became legend. It is my humble opinion that Bruccoli has written the most thorough and best possible biography. Simply put, the read is fascinating. It might be 600 pages, but you will fly through it. It is "never dry" (like Fitzgerald :)) and always entertaining. For Fitzgerald fanatics like myself, this book is a must, but I am convinced that anyone who takes to "human interest" stories would find themselves engulfed in its pages.
Also recommended: "The Romantic Egoists"...a scrapbook collection put together concerning the lives of the Fitzgeralds. It is packed with pictures and is a wonderful companion to the biography. It was also published by Bruccoli.

Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer will not teach you how to write. You need to do that yourself, with practice and feedback from people around you.

What this book will do is take you step by step through the trials of becoming a paid writer: everything from coming up with ideas to write about to structuring to the finished product, from querying editors for the first time to building a lasting relationship. The "rules" set down apply to multiple forms of writing, and not just for magazines, and references to other work are instructional and welcome.

There is also an excellent overview of how to manage your personal business as a freelancer, which for those of us "creative types," is certainly helpful.

The greatest part of this book, though, is its ability to lead the reader into types of writing for pay that many of us would never even consider. For instance, there is a chapter (written by a different author, suggesting the book's author knows her limits) on writing copy. Though I would never have thought to write copy, and almost skipped the chapter, following reading it and having been convinced that maybe this was a good way to suppliment income, I made some cold-calls as the book suggested, and a few days later, I already have a copy writing gig.

I would highly recommend this book to any competent writer that is looking to make a bit of money doing something that they love. If you can bring the work ethic, this book can bring the game plan.

Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer by professional author Moira Anderson Allen is an extremely practical and detailed career guide for the aspiring writer seeking to become a paid professional. Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer comprehensively and accessibly covers how to make time for writing; honing research and interview techniques; find markets for written work of all kinds; writing and marketing nonfiction books and articles, and a great deal more. A no-nonsense advice guide packed with tips, tricks, and techniques, Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer is an absolute "must-read" for anyone seriously interested in developing a successful career as a professional freelance writing.

The first third of the book is a review of how to write, how to do research, and what you should have in your office ("a chair," "a desk," "a place to store your writing supplies"), with which I am sure the average person looking to start a freelance writing career already knows. In fact, if you don't know how to write and conduct writing-related research, or have a place to put writing supplies, a career in writing probably never crossed your mind. For this, the book received four stars instead of five.

Still, I have to recommend this book to anyone trying to start a career in writing who doesn't know quite where to begin. The second two-thirds of the book are filled with a grand assortment of helpful hints and information that are vital to a successful freelance-writing career. In particular, her advice on figuring out exactly where you should look to publish your work is extremely valuable. An entire chapter is devoted to the submission process, which includes how to deal with editors who don't reply to your submissions and how to deal with rejections.

For me, the query letters she presents helped a great deal. She presents real letters-to-the-editor so there is no confusion about exactly what it should look like and what it must include. I didn't know about "hooking" with queries; I just assumed they were written like resume cover letters. Imagine how much failure I might have encountered, otherwise. And, not to be outdated, she even includes a chapter devoted to e-mail queries.

Overall, I thought this book was an excellent resource for a budding freelancer. I felt as though it would have been better for her to leave out the first few chapters and get to the point. However, once she got to the point, I was thrilled to pieces that I found this book. I'm sure you will be, too.

I remember very vividly when I sold my first article to a major Canadian newspaper. It was in the mid 1960s, when I had just graduated from law school and I decided that the only way to fame, and perhaps jump- start my non-existent law practice, was to write articles on Quebec Civil Law. Fortunately for me, I was in the right place at the right time, and the newspaper was looking for someone to contribute articles pertaining to this subject matter. They purchased the first several of my articles, and boy was I excited!

However, unfortunately, my free-lance writing days came to an abrupt end when no one else was interested in the topic. That is when I decided to devote all of my time and energies into practicing the legal profession. Perhaps, if I had at my disposal Moira Anderson Allen's book entitled Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer, things would have been different. Remember, it was the 1960s, and at the time there were few writing guides pointing you in the right direction to a free -lance writing career.
I did not have Allen to show me how to start my articles, find the right markets, queries and submissions, rights and contracts, and how to expand my horizons.

It is these topics and many more where Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer excels. The book is a splendid, in-depth analysis where even the more experienced writer can reap some benefits.

Divided into six parts, there is no shortage of vital and interesting information as to what goes on in the minds of an editor to how to interview, and from exploring and evaluating markets to writing for special interest publications and markets. The reader is also exposed to such topics as queries and submissions, legal technicalities pertaining to rights and contracts, as well as setting fees and keeping records. After all, without these essential tools, we will never get to first base with our budding writing career, no matter how talented we may be.

What is noteworthy about Allen's writing is her ability to cut away the fat from the meat. Furthermore, she never presumes that the reader should know certain fundamental concepts, and consequently Allen leaves nothing unturned.

Allen's writing credentials are impeccable, as proven by the hundreds of articles she has contributed to several publications over her twenty- year writing career. In addition, she has also being called upon to speak at writers' conferences and workshops, and to act as an instructor at many of these events. Commencing a career, as a free-lance writer, is a difficult task, and one in which a great deal of perseverance and patience is required. It is Allen's vast experience and her ability to effectively convey her knowledge from these experiences that is very much in evidence throughout book, and will surely prove to be invaluable to aspiring free- lance writers.

Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures and Travel Writer

This book contains all of the essential information I needed to jump start my career as a freelance writer. Having some experience in the field in the distant past, I needed a refresher course and this book provided it. (It would be even more useful for someone without previous experience in the field.) Besides providing proper form for query letters and instruction on how to go about finding and approaching markets, it gives specific guidelines on the right way to pursue a freelance writing career, reasonable expectations and how to organize your work as a business.

This book is one of the best I've ever written. I first read it at 14, and have been fascinated by the Taj and it's complicated history, ever since. I was heartbroken when I learned it was out of print, as my own copy was in tatters from constant reading, and I wanted to gift it to some 10 different friends.

It's been reprinted now, and I know what everyone's getting for their birthdays this year!

A story of unimaginable power and suffering and how the two interrelate, Taj is a novel that is both serious and compelling. Unknown to many in the West, the Mughal Emperors of India ruled a vast kingdom and enjoyed unlimited power within their lands. To make their reign the setting for a book is a challenge; the reader must be transported into a very different time and place, and yet made to identify with the characters. The book succeeds on both counts. The characters are well developed and unique, while the details of their lives unfold in all of their exotic difference. Throughout, the question is asked what is the limit of power? The answer resounds darkly: death. The terse Mughal proverb Taktya Takhta Throne or Coffin is repeated along the bloody journey of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who commissioned the Taj Mahal, to the throne and beyond. Along with the historically accurate account of the political struggles of the time, a fictionalized yet plausible love story unfolds between Shah Jahan and his wife Arjumand Banu, a love that culminates in one of the most iconic monuments in the world, the Taj Mahal. The story is fictional because so little is known of the woman for whom the Taj Mahal was built. A few passages from old manuscripts and a giant mausoleum are all that remain of her, yet Timeri Murari does a beautiful job reading the architecture itself and the few written clues available in order to construct a moving tale of love and power.

Great Book so far. I wish there was a glossary or better explanations of the Hindi and Muslim words used in the book but other than that the book is hard to put down. I love the story.

The book is a well-woven historical fiction. If you have passion for history or cultural studies go for it. The writer introduces us to Taj Mahal glimpses of Mughal traditions and grandeur.
The two parallel narratives cover both sides of the Taj, an epic of love on one end, while the agony of a lifelong dread for the craftsmen on the other end. Taj Mahal is much more than a love story. Uptill now it has only represented the love and Shah Jahan. It is highly indebted to thousands of marginalised workers.
There is an unseen shadow of tragedy bandy in the corridors of the Red fort of Agra continuously echoing "Takht ya takhta". The glory and splendour of the throne justifies the successor killing his male siblings. The treasures are a powerful incentive for the rebellions. There is the unfolded story of Khusrau, Jehangir's son who was blinded by his father.
Nur Jahan is worsgipped by many as a forceful, persuasive, powerful and the legendary beautify. There is a conspiratory role attached to her.
The story is informative and to the point. Writer is well versed in research matter.
It reveals that India is not any ordinary land; full of tales, traditions, mystics and treasures.

This is a beautifully written book, which is a wonderful love story, but also gives a great deal of historical understanding about the Mughals and the construction of the Taj Mahal.

If you like historical fiction, this book is for you!

This isn't a book about writing so much as a book about people who love to write. People who have thoughts racing through their heads of what-ifs and wouldn't-that-be-neats. I enjoyed this book because it spoke to me. One of the reasons why she writes is just to find out how a story turns out, and I have felt that too. She mentions stories that tell her about herself, and I have sensed this as well. She reminds me that you can't please everybody so you might as well please yourself. And she writes because she wants to, isn't that the only reason that will make it worthwhile? After reading this book, I felt a kinship with her. I'd love to meat this woman.

She had many clever ways to present different aspects of writing and even though I already knew the basics that she presented, her approaches made me look at simple things in a new light. This book was sweet, playful, cheerful, and still serious at the same time.

I have read numerous writing books, and while many offer solid, sensible advice (Writing Down the Bones, Bird by Bird), almost all focus on the pain and angst of writing. Yolen celebrates the silver lining rather than dwelling on the cloud. Yes, writing is hard work, but why do it if there is no joy? This is, by no means, just a fluffy, feel-good book. The advice is sage and easy to follow, and through it all is the invaluable reminder that you should be writing because there is nothing else you'd rather be doing.

TAKE JOY is so good that when I bought a summer home and realized my book was hundreds of miles away, I knew I had to have a second copy. Jane Yolen, author of over 200 books gives me permission to follow my bliss, as Joseph Campbell would say. Her creativity abounds, and her words spar me on my own sideroads, jaunts and tangents. This may be about writing, but it's not just about writing. It's for anyone who aspires to live a life of passion and creativity.

Jane Yolen's book, TAKE JOY, was a delightful read. Peppered with charming vignettes, this book on writing has many uses as a "teacher's guide." There are a number of sections that can be adapted to the classroom (most appropriate for secondary school). For creative writing teachers in want of additional ideas, this slim, easy-to-read work would be a good investment.

Checked this out from the library, and it wasn't far in reading that I realized that I had to get my own copy. This is a book that you will want to underline, highlight and keep out on your desk to refer to often!

My personal collection of books on writing is small. I read all I can about writing (the how-to's, the work, the life, etc.) but most all of my reading material is from the library, and I am choosy about what books I buy. This book is a must have to my personal library, and tops on my favorites list!

This is a book from a woman who LIVES writing. She has written over 250+ books! WOW! Her advice is Inspirational,Obviously Experienced, Honest, and Funny.

Great book for writers!