Movies Books

I will try to make this review as succinct as possible. This is to urge you to read this book and act on it.

I have read many many books on film (and the craft). I am a film producer/director who has won several festival awards and countless official selections. I was in utter awe at how much information was in this modestly sized cheap book. I base most of my book collections on Amazon reviews and peer suggestions. In that aspect alone this book refers to books on every single subject of filmmaking!

That alone makes this book solid gold. It took me about 2 years to compile my current film-oriented library. If I had this book before hand, I am undoubtedly sure it would not take me 2 years to build my collection.

So, what else will you find in this technical masterpiece? "Everything you need to create a successful Independent Film". Literally.

Every chapter flows swiftly (at the end of every chapter is a reference to what seems an endless list of contacts/books/sources). And before you know it, you're done. And boy will you want more. ;)

Simens packs so much information in a tiny amount of space, it makes other books i've read seem redundant. Read it once and you'll be a better filmmaker 10 fold. Read it twice, and you should have no reason to hold you back (aside from the lazy).

Thank you MR. Simens... I have read many a film production book. None of them compare to this one. This book is clear and the most organized piece of work I have yet to come across. He speaks in terms that is easy to follow and understand, with a large dose of reality. Reality that can get your movie made. He wants you to do it. He has made your production list for you. No need for other books (money saved). Please, if you have read thus far and have not purchased this book, do so now. You will not be dissapointed... And for the expert(s) (with the three stars or less) Get real. Swallow your pride. This book is perfect. Mr. Simens knows what he is talking/writing about. EVERYTHING you need to succeed is right here. Get your first movie off of the ground, then go from there. Again, Thank you Mr. Simens.

I reference this book all the time. From Reel to Deal cuts to the chase and offers no bull. It is an easy read and loaded full of practical and useful information. I have produced eight short films in four years and currently preparing for my first feature-film. Dov's book it geared for those making a feature-film but useful for shorts as well. I always recommend From Reel to Deal to any filmmaker who has not read it already. Do yourself a favor and buy or borrow this book. It is a must-read for filmmakers, or as Dov's says PRODUCERS.

This book is awesome. I recieved it as a gift with my first feature film coming up (coming from shorts). I went from having a little bit of a clue, to knowing almost every in and out of what I should do, how to do it, and how to get the upper hand in doing it.

The author is great. His points are humourous because they are so blunt. He'll add little comments that tell you a ton, and totally make fun of something in the process; but whatever it is is so true that it's the information you really need to know. For example, he puts "TOP SECRET" signs by any huge point that makes or breaks films, that 4-year film school and HY avoids telling people. All points helpful, enlightening, and direct.

It also is a huge directory book for studios, executives, rental houses--basically contact information for every single thing he goes over in the book. It also lists other books, films, etcetera to go and read and view and further your knowledge. You can't learn from just 1 book and go out and make it.

I'm going through this particular book, thought, 3 times--at least. To (2) index everything and then (3) pull everything from it together into a timeline that works best for me.

Now, [[[ CONS ]]] . Like other reviews have mentioned--he goes off on how "the other 97% of you probably had a hard time parting with the money to buy this book" when talking about budgets, hinting that you probably are making a 5000$-50000$ feature--and then turns around and gives his most detailed, step-by-step process of making a film, about 15 chapters, all around making a 250,000$ film (which, as you'll find out, is marketed as a 1,000,000$ film). You have to take this relatively. Take what's there, and shrink it down to your budget. He explains SOME things you can cut down on to make a film with lower budgets afterwards, but only spends about a few paragraphs on it. So you go through all the process of the 250,000$ film and take from it everything you can. Bring it down to your level. It has all the information you need to get started, as listed, but you're going to have to get creative and cut down hard on the 250,000$ budget--starting with the things he mentions during those paragraphs.

The other con is, this book is published in 2003, so written during 2002 or earlier. This book doesn't know about HD, HD cameras, and HD tapes. Among others. It's either film or miniDV. And DVC--ha. It's surprisingly savvy on Internet distribution, primarily because it hasn't evolved there yet, but obviously there is other information about it that is present now that you won't find in the book. The main thing is, again, it's a little dated on digital stuff, which is dissappointing, because digital is like the light of ultra low budget film making. However, some updates on this topic can be found at his web school.

Another personal con is all the endorsements and stuff. So a few big names have succeeded by involving Dov's information--it's sad that that's what it takes to sell the book. If you bought the book because tarauntino or queen latifa's names on it, you probably aren't going anywhere. Luckily, he doesn't mention these people anymore than anyone else once you dive into the text; only as references to first-time film makers, etc.

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Great information, I think it lives up to it's claims, and the personality of Simens makes it interesting all the way through. His personality is extremely direct, and if you can't take the heat, you probably won't make the cut in the industry, so it's probably a great thing.

Enjoy

I've wanted to take one of Dov's workshops but they're never close to where I live so I bought this book which I like. However, with a copyright of 2005 I would have thought it would have more web information (urls, etc) in it. I suspect most of the information was compiled before the web got popular which has been a while. Oh well. I emailed Dov last year too and nobody bothered to reply. Still, for the price, very good info.

Many books have been written about the horror and monster film genres over the years, but few have been written by fans specifically for fans. That's what makes "Horror 101" so special and unique -- as you read the essays contained within you can't help but share the enthusiasm that the writers have for the films, even the ones you've never seen. The books runs the gamut from silents like "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" and "The Golem" to modern classics like "An American Werewolf in London" (a personal favorite) and "Ringu" -- and everything in between. No matter whether you're a neophyte just getting into the genre or a horror fanatic with dozens of films under your belt, you'll find plenty of reasons to pull a chair and audit a course in "Horror 101."

This book is an absolute must-read for horror film fans of any stripe. It covers everything from silent classics to more modern films in a series of conversational essays written by knowledgeable genre fans from all over the world and from a wide variety of backgrounds. It is, in short, kind of like hanging out with a ton of horror fans talking about their favorite movies. There are (as to be expected) spoilers throughout the discussions, so anyone who hasn't seen any of the films is advised to watch them before reading those films' particular chapters. As a guidebook and listing of horror movie essentials, it's hard to beat, giving the novice horror fan a solid foundation of classic films. As a book *by* horror fans *for* horror fans, there's simply no better book out there.

What makes "Horror 101" so good, for me being a huge fan of the genre, is that it doesn't leave out much of the favorites and even much of the classic unknown films that so often happens with books written about this subject. Here, we jump right into the mix of such classics as "Halloween", "The Shining", and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", etc. It even includes such obscure films as "Deathdream" and "Them."

The author gives a thorough review of each the films listed and politely doesn't give away much of the twists. It is a must read for us horror fans...and people researching the horror.

Buy this book!

Anyone who considers himself a serious fan of the horror genre would do well to pick up this book. It contains in-depth reviews of 101 of the most essential horror films and monster movies of all time, spanning the Silent Era up until the 1990's. Probably the best book of this type I've read in a long time!

Horror 101 is the ideal book for the lonely horror fan. We poor, misunderstood wretches who have no one close by with whom we can share our love of malevolent spirits, monsters run amok, and the undead in their manifold forms, hungering for living human flesh and blood! (Sorry, I got a little carried away there.) The articles in the book, ruminations on over a hundred of the greatest horror films, are written by horror fans from all walks of life, and are both entertaining and informative. It's like having a great group of knowledgeable friends always available to talk scary cinema. Bravo to all of the contributors and likewise to Dr. AC for compiling a terrific and unique collection. I highly recommend it to all horror and film enthusiasts, and can't wait for volume 2.

One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel

Audrey Hepburn loved her children and all the children of the world...Sean honors his mother...we all honor his mother...a mother to so many...indeed...an elegant spirit...

The photos here are lovingly chosen by her son, and the entire book is an absolute joy.

This book was pleasant and thoughtful, as is its subject. Though admittedly the writing was far less enchanting than I would have expected; I like to think it was kept simple to further emphasize the simplicity and sincerity of Audrey herself. This book did not add any revelation for the reader about her life; but instead, allowed for a glance at Audrey Hepburn's everyday existence. I was constantly amazed at how strong and genuine her character when faced with life's sometimes complicated decisions. This book shows Audrey as a person who effortlessly put others before herself, and seemed to never question her sense of what is right.

Even the idea of such simplicity has become a fairytale in our lives, and it is so refreshing to read about someone who was capable of remaining so solidly pure, that I cannot help but read a little more. One need only look to her work with UNICEF to know how first-rate she truly was.

She has allways been one of my favorite stars.The book has a beautifull
lay-out and is a pleasure to read.Lots of photographs never seen before
and beautifull passages about her work for Unicef and what a wonderful mother she was.I can highly recommend this book.

Bought this as a gift for my daughter as she is a fan and thought that the personal insights were revealing and poignant.

Read it, buy it, love it! If you love the movie and want to look smart to all your friends who vote and go to college, bust this out and shut their smug faces with it!

It's like the movie, but for the type of jerk that reads books too.

Granted, it's more of a guide to life for people that have had their lives turned upside down by falling into a vat of toxic waste, but a guide to life nonetheless. More importantly, you no longer have to bother jamming a DVD into your DVD player (or a tape into your tape player if you want to watch it the way it was intended to be watched), because you can just pick up the book and read the words. Yee haw.

when i was in the fourth grade i talk my mom into renting the toxic avenger and that may be the reason iam a film maker today. and the novel is a must own if your a fan of this movie it adds so much more to the back ground of the story and after you read it the next time you watch the movie you will like it more ( if thats possible) do Lloyd and your self a favor and buy it

I think that Lloyd is a very talented and gifted writer. He also is a very nice guy. I think anyone that buys this will be very pleased and very glad they made this purchase. I loved it. Great work!

Lloyd Kaufman is at it again. Only this time he's leaving the imagination part up to the fans which if your a Toxic Avenger fan your gonna have one helluva time with this novel! This book is brilliant, not only does it provide a novelization of the legendary film, alot of pressing questions are answered. Tromatons? Tromaville? Its all in here. READ IT SUCKA!!!!!!

Hi, how are you all? Well I know this book is wonderful! Acually i never read the book charmed but i did read the book so little time, which is by the same author. That was a very good book. So if that was a good book that she wote then this should be good also. The book is very intersting and tells you alot of information and some good heads up and tips. Kids my age would like the book, i would belive..... I might not be giving alot of information right now but the more information you want is right inside the book. So i would suggest to read the book and i think you will injoy it! I also think Charmed is a good book to read too.!.!.!.!.! Well i hope i at least helped you out a little bit. And i hope you read BOTH books because reading is good for you , and just enjoy them! Thank you for taking your time out to read this.

I have a penchant for time-travel stories, as they are striking, interesting, not to mention compelling. This book is inevitably one of them. Phoebe being abducted into past by a time-demon during the times of the Salem Witch Trials was huge (amazing)!! I'm not going to reveal details of the story, but what I don't get is that how on earth could the Charmed Ones use their powers in the past, and how the Law of no coincidences is oblivious to the author.


But as this is not the tv show, I suppose authors are able to use their imagination freely. My fave bit of this book is how Piper and Prue was under the evil influence of the root tea Prudence drank, given by Hugh, and they acquired amazing powers, which included being "evil" themselves and coming in handy to rescue their sister. I especially like the fact that Prudence did not succumb to the tainted root tea to nearly kill her own descendant, as the power of good always prevails!!! Also, its nice to involve the Charmed Ones' ancestor to this book, as readers somewhat know more about certain witches from the Warren line. Rosalind Noonan did a good job portraying each sister's characters, and how all their different and unique personalities combined together can pack a huge wallop. True to the series, with dry humour added and the Power of Three situation makes Whispers from the Past all the more enjoyable. And the fact that poor Phoebe, despite "stuck playing cinderella", she was determined to stay focused on the path to solving the problem, is also rather warmth-evoking.

In a nutshell: If you like Charmed, there's no doubt you will like this book. Not as excellent as Soul of the Bride, but close. One of my all-time faves. Well worth it!!!

Finally, a Phoebe episode [well book] that any Charmed fan can get behind. It's a time travel piece and a family get-together. Need I say more?

Fantastic addition to the Charmed series :) Not as good as 'Soul of the Bride' but up there with the best of the books.

I always love a good time-travel story if it's: 1) Well-Written, 2) Believeable. This book gets it on both counts.

The evil piper/prue angle was kinda amusing *ducks* The new powers they got were awesome too (though Piper's was kind of an extension on her stopping tme power)

This book does have a couple errors (Girls using their powers in the past to get home) but considering these books aren't written as fast as the series is ('least most of them seem that way)... we need to give the author's a break. We can't expect them to keep up with the pace/storylines of the show.

Considering SOME of the storylines 'Charmed' has taken, maybe the creators should look to some of these books for plot ideas.

I hope Miss Noonan puts in another contribution to the Charmed series again sometime.

This was the very first Charmed book I read and it was solid. I have now watched every episode of every season and there were no holes in it. I love all episodes that the sisters go back in time or forward or relive memories etc. If you are like me, then you will love this book too!

This book was so refreshing, inspirational, and moving. I absolutely Loved it and would reccommend it to All. This was my first time reading your work Mrs. Thomas but it will certainly not be the last. Thank You for enlightening me. This book has really helped me with a lot of things going on in my life.

I ordered this book after reading Jezebel (by Jacquelin Thomas) and seeing all the glowing reviews for this book. This book was slow. The first 150 pages were just about Marin and her husband going to dinner parties and their children. The next half of the book was about Marin's use of drugs and her husband being upset with her. This book had no excitement whatsoever. I can't fathom all these 5* reviews.

**Summary**
Marin, an actress, meets Warner, a pastor, at a religious conference. Warner was 30 something and previously engaged to a woman who died of ovarian cancer. Warner stated that God told him that he and Marin were meant to be together. Marin felt the same way.

After a few months, the two married. Initially, Marin wanted to focus on her career, but when she got pregnant by mistake, Marin was so happy that she decided to put her career on hold. After 4 years and 2 children (Rylan and Gabriel), Marin decided to return to her career.

Marin had a hard time getting acting jobs. She was finally offered a Lifetime job playing a drug addict. Marin decided to try cocaine to get ready for the role. Marin got hooked immediately because she always was told she was a screw up by her mother, felt abandoned by her mother and father, and didn't feel like she was good enough to be a preacher's wife.

Warner found out about Marin's drug use and convinced her to go into rehab. Marin stayed clean for a few months, but then started her drug use again. When Marin left the house to do drugs, Warner cut off all her credit cards, bank accounts, and so forth. Marin ended up prostituting herself and was raped.

After a while, Marin moved to NY (she was originally living in California) with Tisha and another drug buddy. When Tisha and the guy got arrested, Marin went to rehab. While in Rehab, Marin found out she was pregnant.

Eventually, Marin turned to Warner and the two reconciled.

Pros: EXCELLENT writing! easy to read
Cons: Boring, nothing exciting happened in the story; the names in the storyline were pretty bad (Dru, Warner, Marin, Shirley, Garfield)--what kind of names are those for black people??

My main issue was Geneva though. She, being a single woman, pushes up on the pastor and this is Christian behavior? Whatever! Also, it appears that all Jacquelin Thomas' characters suffer the same fate. It kind of makes it pointless to read her books now.

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. I highly recommend you read this book. It is definetly a tear jerker and is an item that belongs in every married African American woman's bookshelf.

I love Jacquelin Thomas books and this one by far is one of the most moving stories. The personification of redemption! Be prepared to stay up until 3am and pull the Kleenex out because you will need it! This book was truly a blessing to me and all my friends that I've passed it along too! I even bought a second copy as a gift for a friend =)

The book brings the stories in the bible to life...reading the book made the story of gomer and hosea make so much since. The one thing I do like is after you read the book you can turn in your bible to that story and see the similaries. God has truely given you a wonderful gift. Keep using it to gorify God

Playwright Peter Shaffer is an exceptional dramatist. His characters are unforgettable, and each one is dealing with a psychological struggle. In "Amadeus," Shaffer examines seventeenth century Vienna and the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his rival, court composer Antonio Salieri. This play shatters the view of Mozart as an innocent child prodigy, and instead paints a picture of a childish, scatologically minded, yet ultimately tormented musical genius. Trapped by the financial demands that are placed upon him, and the demands of a domineering father, Mozart strives to make his music and to be excepted.
The main focus of the play is upon Salieri, whom the audience sees as a sweetmeat loving, conniving schemer who is appalled by Mozart's new ideas and manner. However, Salieri is not one demensional. He is a sympathetic character, who wrestles with his conscience. Feeling betrayed by a god who shows favoritism, he recounts his desire to make music that will provide him with unsurpassable fame. However, his music is ordinary when compared with Mozart's genius, and Salieri is fully aware of this whereas ordinary citizens of Vienna are not. Vowing revenge, Salieri decides to lash out at Mozart: "God's Flute," therefore providing an opportunity for a terrifying confrontation in which Mozart is driven into madness and early death. Everyone can relate to the character of Salieri because we have all felt betrayed when our own specific talents were regarded as inferior to someone else's.
Shaffer introduces us to two tortured individuals who are nevertheless sympathetic and unforgettable. Please give this play a chance.

When I was younger, I almost never reread anything. My hunger was so voracious that I gobbled up a book and then rapaciously moved on to the next. But as I've aged, I read less frantically, returning again and again to a few works that especially move me. At the top of the list of such works are the plays of Peter Shaffer. And at the top of that list is his masterpiece "Amadeus."

What I find remarkable about Shaffer's "Amadeus" isn't so much the title character, Mozart, as the character who becomes Mozart's nemesis, Antonio Salieri. Salieri is one of the great tragic figures in literature. He's an individual who appears to genuinely love musical beauty, and who genuinely wants to dedicate his life to it. (In an early scene, for example, he makes a deal with God. "Signore," he begs, "let me be your flute, your mouthpiece. Let me produce absolute beauty. In return, I'll be your slave.") But Salieri is also a hopeless mediocrity. He knows good music when he hears it, but he's simply unable to create it himself. His compositions are acceptable, and sometimes even pleasing to the ear. But when compared with the music of Mozart, they reveal themselves for what they are: technically proficient, but utterly uninspired. The awareness of his own mediocrity, coupled with his absolute yearning for beauty and his life-destroying jealousy of/admiration for Mozart, is the heart of the play. (Milos Forman's 1984 cinematic production of the play unfortunately rewrites the script to put Mozart rather than Salieri centerstage, thereby missing the whole point.)

When one thinks about it--and I believe that this is what makes Shaffer's play so poignant and profound--Salieri is everyperson. Let's face it: most of us are mediocre. We fall somewhere in that great middle zone of "average." We'll never be able to create artworks that express the yearning for beauty that even the dimmest of us occasionally feel.

As if that's not bad enough, the world, as Shaffer demonstrates in his play, is unforgiving of mediocrity when it comes to art. One can work like a demon, as Salieri does, but it's genius that the world wants, genius that the world demands, and genius that the world rewards. Moreover, the creative genius is allowed anything by the admiring world--in fact, the world expects its geniuses to walk to the beat of a countercultural drummer. The mediocre artist, however, is allowed no latitude whatsoever in personal lifestyle.

The paradox of this situation, as well as the horrible burden of mediocrity felt by artists like Salieri (and the rest of us), is the tragic message of "Amadeus." When Salieri at play's end tells us, in his decrepitude and madness, that we can pray to him when we feel the sting of our own shortcomings and he will bless us, most of us ought to shiver. For, after all, we don't want our mediocrity blessed, do we? And yet the tragedy of the human condition is that, blessed or not, it's what we are. And so Shaffer leaves us with this question: how do we overcome our Salieri-like resentment and frustration at not being able to create beauty long enough simply to appreciate beauty when we encounter it?

The best part of the book is the introduction, which tells of the changes made to the script over the years, based on on-going research by the author. I saw the movie and the play, then bought the script in order to compare the different renderings of this amazing story.

Peter Shaffer's award-winning and highly popular play AMADEUS is in many ways a morality play but seen through the eyes of a complicated postmodern villain. The play is called AMADEUS but the chief character of the story is Antonio Salieri. Salieri is the Court Composer for Emperor Joseph II of Austria during the end of the 18th Century. He is held in esteem not only by the Emperor and Court, but by the masses as well. Then Amadeus Mozart makes his way to the Austrian Court at Salzburg and Salieri recognizes in the young man a musical genius superior to anything musical he has ever heard. He becomes enraged with bitter jealousy. Feeling that God has abandoned him and given the talent that he has trained to develop and possess his entire life, Salieri declares a war against God that he will fight on the battleground that is Amadeus Mozart.

AMADEUS is a fantastic play. Author Peter Shaffer has revised the play several times since its first performance in 1979 and this version of the show (written twenty years later in 1999) is in my opinion the best because it is the one that portrays Salieri more than just an evil man, but as a human being that the audience and readers can relate to and actually understand somewhat. A must see play that anyone who enjoys theatre should be familiar with.

Like a newspaper article, theatre has to convey its story with an economy of words.

In this way, great playwriting is a rare skill much like land the penny toss at the carnival and Shaffer is that rare playwriter who accomplishes his task so seemingly effortlessly.

Deftly, Shaffer tosses his Amadeus and Saliere together and in so doing plays each against their type rendering his Amadeus into the simple squeezebox which provides the background for the languid single note of Saliere's mournful jealousy.

What's so amazing is that in telling us the story of Amadeus' art, Shaffer shares important insights about his own. Don't have too many or too few notes but just the right number. Don't be so flashy in being good that people concentrate on the flashiness instead of the point.

And don't become so engrossed in your art that you lose sight of the ultimate ends it was meant to service in the first place.

Whether we are each more Amadeus or more Saliere we can connect with this play.

I like this book because it has over 14 pictures of vehicles from episode 1.My favorites are the Naboo N-1 starfighter and the AAT battle tank. Believe me,this is a great book! You should get it!

If you've stayed up nights wondering about the inner workings of a Naboo N-1 Starfighter, or even occasionally contemplate the unconventional solid-fuel concentrate slugs that the strange society of the Neimoidian traders use to give their droid starfighters such powerful thrust, you'll want to read Star Wars Episode I Incredible Cross-Sections cover-to-cover. This handsome book - deservedly referring to its illustrations as incredible - shows us a vroom with a view; more than fourteen vrooms, in fact.

SW Episode I Incredible Cross-Sections is brought to us by the great people at Dorling Kindersly Publishing -- or DK for short - where just about any topic you might think of has already been turned into a beautifully illustrated right-brained adventure in learning. The illustrators for this masterpiece are Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore, arguably the two artists with the best job available in that field this side of Alpha Centauri.

Jenssen, who specializes in technical art, especially machines, lives in England but claims to spend his vacations on Tatooine (no accounting for taste in vacation spots) where he has been known to engage in "moderately disreputable pursuits (he goes all the way to Tatooine for that?)." Chasemore has worked as an illustrator in both the U.S. and Europe on a great variety of projects, one of which was another collaboration with Jenssen: DK's Star Wars: Incredible Cross Sections featuring intergalactic vroom-vrooms previously made famous by the vision makers at Lucasfilms. Chasemore says he enjoys "perilous sports involving boards and high velocities (now, maybe he's the one who should check-out Tatooine).

Rounding out the gifted team taking us on intricate tours of Gungan Subs, Podracers, Coruscant taxis and Republic Cruisers, is Dr. David West Reynolds who earned his PhD in archeology at the University of Michigan. His background as a lecturer, veteran of field expeditions on three continents and as an author of scientific archeological publications should make one thing perfectly clear: you don't have to be a dullard denizen of the local mall scene to be a StarWars fan. If his background doesn't make it perfectly clear, the intellectual acuity of his copy will.

This must-have addition to the shelf of any die-hard StarWars fan is equally enjoyable to tot and teen as to tottering sage. It's a picture-book nonpareil or a detailed account of mid-power repulsorlifts and hydrostatic bubble projector units (if you do more than look at the pictures). It's even a trivia-hunter's true treasure. For instance (be honest now), did you know any of the names of Anakin's co-contenders for the Boonta Eve Podrace? Sure, you say - Sebulba. But anybody knows that! True buffs will want this book so they can win rounds of Star Wars Trivial Pursuit with answers like Ark "Bumpy" Roose, Teemto Pagalies, and the ever-impressive Clegg Holdfast.

If you like schematics (or even the word schematics - it's such a great one, isn't it?) you're going to want to pour over this book like hot fudge on a sundae. Featured is a dual fold-out center page affording a panoramic view of the Trade Federation's Droid Control Ship. The resultant artistry of this and the other detailed drawings was generated when the DK team worked directly with the film production art department at Lucas's Skywalker Ranch, mapping out the anatomy of each craft as it was being created. This book comes from the source, folks: from the source ... of the Force.

My ten-year-old loves taking turns with me reading sections of this book aloud and I can almost see his gray matter expanding (hasn't hurt his imagination too much, either) while we huddle by the lamplight. Only problem I'm left with now is what to do with all these detailed schematics of his own left lying about the house - outlandishly labeled creations from foreign worlds contemplating an invasion of Earth, no doubt. Hmm. Maybe I should call George Lucas.

This edition is devoted to the Spaceships and Craft from The Phantom Menace.

As with Star Wars Cross Sections it is very well detailed and even better with todays print technology. Great for children and first generation Star Wars fans alike.

I wouldn't call this the greatest technical book of all times. I wouldn't be suprised if this book wasn't nominated for any kind of award. But Episode 1: Incredible Cross-sections is captivating enough to stand on its own. I enjoyed it because I got to look through the insides of some of the film's most enigmatic ships and vessels like Darth Maul's Sith Infiltrator and the Gungan Bongo. It's good for those who were still puzzled about the ships after the end of the film.

I always wanted to see more and to be able to look inside of the vehicles more closely, and this book provides that information (and more more) in great detail. I really like the mini illustrations of where in the vehicles that events from the movies took place, it helps to "put a name to a face".

Very well written. My husband and I have both read this book. I have given two copies of this book as gifts and the recipients have also expressed their appreciation for the book. The two gift recipients, my husband and I are are musicians and have a deep appreciation for the depth of this story.

I heard about this book in the NAMI "Advocate" magazine. I was NOT disappointed a bit--this is a realistic portrayal of life as a supporter of an individual living with chronic and persistent mental illness. I've been a professional in mental health services for more than 12 years, and one of the most difficult realizations to come to is that you can't do it for someone else...you can't wish for it hard enough, run interference long enough, or care enough to "fix" what we as loved ones perceive as "problems." We must be careful of our value judgments. Nathaniel is a man to be admired because he never gave up. Mr. Lopez's involvement in his life gave him something we all need--a human connection--and both benefited in the long run.

The Soloist is a poignant journey into the harsh world of a brilliant and talented homeless musician whose story will pluck at your heartstrings.

Through the very compassionate and capable voice of Steve Lopez, the reader is led into a world of stunning surprises and shocking insights into the very real domain of mental illness and homelessness where doors are opened and scenes displayed with unrefined veracity.

This novel seems to beg to be read as a clever work of fiction...however it is far from fictional!

This is a true story of amazing strength and of the careful 'baby steps' required to navigate the delicate emotions that continually thunder inside the heads of the mentally ill... and to walk beside a man of enormous talent who is also afflicted with schizophrenia; living on the streets of Skid Row while creating beautiful music for all around him to hear.

Nathaniel Ayers once had a brilliant career ahead of him in the music world and was a stand-out student at Julliard.
Everything changed as his slow descent into mental illness evolved and one day he found himself on the outside desperately seeking the comfort of the euphonious chords that sweetly sooth the scattered thoughts of his present-day schizophrenia.

Nathaniel worships Beethoven as he pushes his shopping cart full of instruments and his survival cache through the streets and tunnels in the slums of downtown Los Angeles.

The chance meeting of Nataniel Ayers and Steve Lopez is what makes this startling story and the friendship that is formed fills the novel with charity, empathy and grace.

This novel will change how you look at the mentally ill and homeless around you forever....Mr. Lopez has helped to shine a bright and fresh light on the 'stigma' of what we call madness.

With true compassion, we see how delicate the path to well-being can be and learn the deeper meaning of "There but for the grace of God go I"

Thank you Mr. Lopez...you really DID make a difference!

A long title gives a good summary of what's inside. Lopez, a long time columnist for the LA Times, happens upon a homeless man playing a violin with only two strings, and is moved by the man's obvious talent. Thinking this man's story could be a good column, Lopez embarks on a journey to uncover the soloist's identity, and in the process, becomes a friend to Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, who once studied at the Cleveland Music Settlement and Juilliard, only to be derailed by the onset of schizophrenia in young adulthood.

Ayers' story is fascinating and heartbreaking - the desertion of his father, the alienation from the rest of his family as he rebels against hospitalization and the mind-numbing medications of the 1970s - but the love of music keeps Ayers alive and fighting to hold on to his patch of Skid Row. Lopez's articles spur an outpouring of gifts for Ayers - violins and a cello from generous donors, and offers for help from local mental health outfits; before long, Lopez is learning much from various psychiatrists and social workers about Nathaniel's disease and finding ways to cajole the soloist back into contact with the world.

It is a long process, and the book spans two years of encouraging steps forward and frustrating backsliding, but Lopez and the gifted musician from Cleveland both gain so much. For Lopez, especially, the relationship opens the door to greater insight and compassion for Ayers and for others like him. It's a touching story of an ongoing and complicated struggle, and one that sheds light on the shadowy world of the mentally ill.

Not so much in book form -- On second thought, I take that back, I think it could be a very compelling story, that's undoubtedly why they're making a movie out of it, right? -- BUT, personally I didn't find Mr. Lopez to be a very compelling writer.

I'm sure plenty other people have gone over all the odds and ends of the book, and I'm sure it's safe to say they did it better than I could do -- but the fact of the matter is(at least in my case), here is this very weighty subject matter and the writing feels as empty as a drum, Mr Lopez simply got lucky and stumbled upon a story that even if you are a second rate writer, you would most likely have success--seems it deserves better -- three stars, ah well...

words cannot describe how infomative and wonderfully written this book is.It gives the reader a little inside look into thier lives and how they got there and what they go thru.It also gives a look into the culture of japan and makes you want to learn more about these women and their life style.A wonderful read.

This book was amazing! I loved it and learnt so much - you really feel as if it is a true story by the way it is written. Would thoroughly recommend.

Memoirs of a Geisha is an amazing Bildungsroman (coming-of-age) literature. When little Chiyo and her sister Satsu are faced with crisis in their house in their little fishing village of Yoroido, they both end up in different okiyas. While Chiyo in stuck in Gion, Satsu successfully gets out. Chiyo was going to be permanently resided in the Nitta Okiya, until she becomes an apprentice geisha, in which her name changes to Sayuri. Sayuri is faced with things that a normal teenager now days aren't faced with at all, but at the same time can still be related. You find that throughout this book, Sayuri is forced to go through life-changing experiences, whether she wants to or not.
As seen through Sayuri's eyes, life was about the same in the early 1930s as it is now except for the fact that it's about 70-80 years later, and we aren't faced with the same situations as Sayuri.
The author does an extremely good job in making the character realistic. At times, you actually think she is a real person. The author didn't do extremely well in describing background scenes, but you really don't need that when you have an amazing character like Sayuri to give descriptive detail on what's going on with her life, and not what's going on around her.
All in all, I would recommend this to everyone and anyone. On particular, I would single out people who are in need of a good read, but it's a fantastic book which I recommend to anyone.

I loved this book. It was a very easy read. I learned so much about the history of a geisha. I never knew most of the things. I also loved how it ended. I totally didn't expect it. I would highly recommend reading it.

Women in japan aren't just considered woman if they are pretty they are considered business opportunities. for one little girl this was just the case. with stunning blue eyes she wasn't just an ordinary japanese girl her life was about to change forever for good and for bad. A geisha is the most renouned type of woman, they get to get all dolled up and go to special parties where they are paid to sing, dance, and entertain men who come in from all over the country. If you are a good geisha you get a danna which pays for everything, housing, clothes, anything you want. for Chiyo becoming an important geisha ment life or death. either she would become the best in kyoto or she would spend the rest of her life as a made in the Nitta Okiya.
This book is a great overview of the life of japanese woman who used their looks to overcome starvation and homelessness. even though their job looks so easy all the schooling and training takes years for them to become anything better than a prostitute. if you like history and enjoy learning about other cultures this book has it all, the life of a geisha how they survived, how they became geisha, and most of all how a little fishermans daughter was able to become so much more but want it all to go back so bad. i recommend this book for everyone it has everything and i think everyone would be able to enjoy this.