Johnny Depp Books

A very well written novel. The author is fairly descriptive and paints a great picture of the characters various escapades.

Combined with the personal history and experience that the author brings to the table - this book is a must read for those who would love to read intriguing and exciting pseudo-biographical thrillers.

This is one of the most interesting, exciting and enriching books I have read in recent years.

Overlong, overwritten, over-self-conscious and under-edited, Shantaram is a book that almost sinks under its own weight. While the details on the slums and the criminal underworld of Bombay are fascinating, the second-rate epigrams of Karla and Didier, the endless uncalled-for philosophical symposia, and the final jaunt to Afghanistan all became a bit too much and I was skipping pages by the end. The author has had many unique experiences, but I would have preferred to hear about them without all the fictional-philosophical encrustations. There is an interesting speech on YouTube (search for Gregory David Roberts or Shantaram) where the author recounts some of the same experiences, complete with accents and movement (in particular, head wiggles). It will be interesting to see if the old adage about "Bad Book = Good Film" comes true in this case. How on earth can so much be compressed into an 90 minutes?

The author's criminal background in itself doesn't concern me, but the extremely poor writing in Shantaram (and web site! and author's fan mail! and philosophical pointers!) strikes me as a successful con job. There is not a single believable character, no depth or complexity in the author's observations, and the narrator's voice wears very thin very quickly. Reading literature is always an option, though: try Vikram Chandra, for instance.

Finished the book last week and it's the best book I've ever read. I LOVED it so much I started reading it again for all the beautiful insights a few days later and I'm half way through the book again. This is one of those books that changes something little in your life in a good way. It's a great story which includes philosophy, some very very funny moments and some very sad moments. You find it all in this book because that's what life is.

I wish I could tell the whole world about this book.

BTW, Gregory David Roberts does go to Leopold's a few times a week and if you go there and ask the proprietor of Leopold's he'll tell you when he comes around so you can catch him.

I also want to mention how I found this book. I was traveling in India and found this book in a bookstore. I was too long and thick for me to carry around so I put it down. Then I forgot the title. I was reading Amazon reviews of another book by Vikram Chandra and someone recommended Shantaram. When I read what it was about it was the exact book I wanted to get in Delhi but had forgotten the title of. It was pure fate that led me to read this. I truly believe that.

Up there with Bukowski as "must read but be prepared", I've been avoiding Fear and Loathing for a while for no particular reason. I'm glad I finally broke down and read it, it's really a great book!

For the uninitiated (do you exist?), Hunter S. Thompson was a man famous for drugs, brilliance, and hard-living -- and in roughly that order. This story is 'journalism' in that it actually happened(!!), sorta... Thompson would embellish profusely, but in life he was fully capable of Fear and Loathing's boozy, head-on, wildly narcotic journalism.

This is Thompson's masterwork. Within the vague framework of "Gonzo" journalism, he packs in surges of cultural subversion and hallucinatory absurdity-as-humanity. Reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a singular experience, a rarity in contemporary lit. You will be shocked and amused. You will both yearn for mind drugs and fear them. You will, at times, feel as if peering into the soul of humanity. And you will laugh, always. Don't miss out.

Also, a secret: This is a *tremendous* book to read aloud.

I went into this novel thinking about all of the other publicly spoken peer reviews I have heard. Of course the drug crazed part sounded hilarious, but also after my very brief prior knowledge to Thompson's writing, i knew it would have some redeeming literate values. Picking up strong from the start, the novel made me laugh in disbelief at some of the experiences the reporter and his lawyer went through. Some of them even made me question reality.I am not a psychadelic enthusiast so I cannot judge if it is actually possible to hallucinate to the point of actually seeing huge lizards devouring humans.

This piece works in very strange ways, almost putting you in the journalist's position. It made me feel very "strange" to say the least. Overall, this novel is a fine choice whether you are looking for anything from a bathroom read all the way up to an analysis. A warning though is to not be too closed-minded when reading this novel. Expand your thought train and think about what the 2 are going through, whether you approve or you don't. My best comparison would be to read this tale as you would listen to Dark Side of the Moon.

Pick this visionary piece up and enjoy it for yourself.
there are so many things in this book that you can stretch out and mold in your mind to better suit your imagination. It was a great read.

This is one of the great books. This Modern Library hardcover edition is beautifully made - good paper, clear font.

"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream" by Hunter S. Thompson

Hunter Thompson practiced total immersion journalism. This form of reporting is called gonzo journalism.

Hunter Thompson drove to Las Vegas to report on a motorcycle race and ended up writing a story about himself writing a story about a motorcycle race. If he would have written a conventional report on motorcycle racing it would have been interesting to motorcycle enthusiasts for a few days. Since he wrote a gonzo story he had a very wide canvas and he used it well to create a classic.

The reader might be turned off by the obstreperous behavior, extreme self indulgence and offensive inconsiderate language. If you can look past this offensive conduct and you will see that Hunter Thompson gave us an insight into the American character of the 1970's.

See also: Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga (Modern Library)

I completely enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.

Burton on Burton is a great read for anyone who loves Tim's movies and who would like a glimpse into how movies are made. I've always connected to Burton's films because they're unusual and full of heart. I loved walking around in Tim's head for a few days.

bought this for my son, who's a burton fan. he liked that it's a window into burton's thoughts, but would have liked more illustrations/pics.

I absolutely love Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, so when I saw that the book was about Tim Burton and there was an introduction by Johnny Depp, I had to buy it! The book includes the first foreword Johnny wrote for this book and it also includes the more recent foreword he wrote.

With regards to the wonderful Mr. Burton, this book is a compilation of interviews put together to draw an intensely intimate portrait of him! No website or five minute interview can get more information in it than this book does. The best part about this book is that the words belong to Tim Burton; there are no assumptions of who he is and what he believes according to the writer. "Burton on Burton" chapters are broken up into the movies Tim Burton has created but it also examines what he was doing at the time, how he felt, and what he was thinking when he was in the process of creating his films. Being able to get into the mindset of Tim Burton enhances the enjoyment one acquires while watching his movies. In any case, while I believed some symbols he uses often meant one thing, Tim Burton stresses that they meant something completely beyond the metaphorical condition(s) an audience has set.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone willing to understand Tim Burton and his breathtaking talents. This book is enchantingly captivating and makes you feel as though you truly know Tim Burton by the end of the book. Mark Salisbury (the editor) has surpassed his job in this book and stays true to Tim Burtons words. If you read this book and enjoy it, I would also recommend the more recent, "Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," written by Mark Salisbury and Tim Burton. Everything created by Tim Burton is truly magnificent and this book will allow you to view a more personal side of Tim Burton through the thing(s) he does best: art.

This book covers everything. It's a serious must for film students. I got a complete idea of how to put ideas on the screen and how it affects peoples views. This book never covers up anything. I enjoyed it and it's worth the money

I've Only been living for a little more than 12 years but i can tell tou how great of a director Tim Burton is.
i havnt read the book yet but i know for sure its gona be good.
think about it this way, tim burton has made all these great movies, like Edward Scissorhands(my personal favorite), the nightmare before christmas, corps bride, and a lot more so if he made all those awesome movies, its gona be good

The review for this stated, "..this extraordinary package includes a specially designed box that contains the book and a limited edition gallery-quality photograph by Thompson. ...offering of only three thousand individually numbered copies available worldwide..." This was a gift for my wife: A huge Gonzo Fan, alomst of mythical proportions. Not too sure what happened to the box it was supposed to come in, or the Gallery-quality photgraph for that matter. Couldn't find anything indivually numbered except each page. Kinda like any book. However....Got her this and a Bukowski piece and Bukowski lays forgotten and she loves Gonzo. It is a beautiful book that inspires joy and laughter in someone who I know would have left me for Hunter in a heartbeat.

I got this for a gift a year ago and it is a brilliant well made book. If you a fan of Hunter S. Thompson you will love this and if you do love this book I have some other reading suggestions for you:

"Gonzo" by Jann S. Weener & Corey Seymour
That too also has a introduction by Johnny Depp

and "The Gonzo Way" (Coffee table book) by Anita Thompson (Hunter's former wife)

This is one of the greatest journalists that ever walked in the shadow and light on this Earth. This is a wonderful book.

I went to see an exhibition of these photos in a very exclusive gallery in London and enjoyed them very much. However the gallery was selling the 1st edition of this book for £150 and i couldn't help thinking that the only people who might have the means to afford it at that price would be people whose lifestyle was the antithesis of Hunter's. I'm glad of this non yuppie priced release and will be buying it as soon as i have a bit of spare cash.

"Gonzo" is almost a coffee table book. It's worth EVERY penny! Beautiful pictures of HST and his first wife, Sandy and their son Juan. The images are glorious and creative. Don't be distracted by the price. BUY IT! (HST would approve :o)

Purchased this book as a Christmas gift for my boss and he LOVED it! He's a huge Hunter Thompson fan but hadn't seen the book yet since it was only out a couple months. The book is filled with an incredible collection of Thompson's personal photographs and excerpts from his books that take the reader on an emotional journey of his life. Thompson fans will not be disappointed!

I have been a Sweeney Todd (the musical)fan for some time now and have researched the myth/legend from around 1602 to 2007 through a variety of sources. Indeed, Robert L.Mack's, The Wonderful and Surprsing History of Sweeney Todd: The Life and Times of an Urban Legend (Continuum Books, 2007) is but one invaluable source for the avid admirer of the story and the musical.I was therefore keen to read the Mark Salisbury book on Tim Burton's movie of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. I was delighted by the stunning photographs and drawings, strung together with well selected extracts from the movie. The visually challenged will find it difficult to read many of the explanatory captions however! My biggest criticism is that the narrative is more about justifying the choice of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter as the lead characters ( why not say the old firm of Burton-Depp-Carter was easier to work with after doing so many movies together?)rather than more substanially discussing the rationale for the actual making of the movie itself. In short, too much of the commentary is self-ingratiating waffle. The photographs on the other hand are evocative and, along with the pencil drawings and diagrams, take the reader into the world of Sweeney Todd rather than the production itself. Oh, in case I sound too critical, I enjoyed watching the movie but only wish the book told me more about it rather than the director and the lead players.

I have read this twice in my life. It is not like the film in a lot of ways and really captures the folklore that originally drove this story into the realm of urban legend. This is a slow reading book with many characters to follow. I enjoyed this book, but please realize just because Johnny Depp is on the cover does not mean it is an adaption of the screenplay. If you really want to go to the roots of where this heartwrenching and horrific story began please read this book. otherwise just enjoy a stunning movie and score.

The film and soundtrack of Sweeney Todd are a perfect distillation of what for many was an unapproachable Sondheim oeuvre. Having seen the original Broadway version ages ago, and two local productions since, I can say that this is the definitive essence of every aesthetic and poetic aspect of Sweeney. It may be an acquired taste for some, but once savored, it will be relished for quite some time. Bravo to all!!

It was something else to watch and it was another thing to see how the masterpiece was made. The book goes over the characters, how the actors made the role, the music, sets, costumes and has part of the original script. Plus, it gives great insight on Tim Burton and other artists' decisions into developing the scenes, climax, music, and characters.

The thing that makes this book is the pictures. It's hysterical to see a laughing Sweeney sharing a joke with Tim Burton. Plus, you get to see interesting behind the scene shots and the original set and costume designs. I'm very glad I bought this book and I still look at it even though it has been almost half a year since the movie came out. Five stars!

This is the greatest book ever. That is if you liked the movie of SWEENEY TODD! This is a great book for any movie buff. Especially if you like to know how movies are made. Definately worth buying

I loved the movies, so when I saw this on the shelf I had to have it. Other reviewers have already explained in detail what a great book this is for the POTC enthusiast, so I'll just say that I greatly appreciate having this book and looking through it from time to time. Worth the money!

This is a really informative book about what went into the making of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It's very interesting, and it has bios of the characters and many pictures taken on set. I highly recommend this book!

I saw this at Disneyland, but thought $[...] was a little steep -- thank you Amazon for bringing it in at $[...]! If you liked the "Pirates" movies, this offers some great background info on how they filmed these rollicking good time movies. You'll find behind the scenes photos, lots of glossy pictures of gorgeous sets, locations and people. Interviews with the actors, producer, director, and others involved in the crew....kind of like an extension of the bonus features on the DVD's. A little weak on info for the final movie "Worlds End" (I suspect the book came out either just before or just after it's release. ) But still lots of fun stuff. My 7 year old sons likes viewing it with me.

I love reading this book because I love Pirates of the Caribbean and I love finding out how they filmed it and everything. I'm a big movie buff, so I find learning about how they created a scene and what the actors had to do to prepare for it very fascinating. It's got great pictures of all sizes, detailed explanations of each movie, and explanations of each one of the principle characters. Its a wonderful book and I recommend it for anyone who likes the Pirates movies and/or likes to learn about the behind-the-scenes stuff.

This book is a must have for Pirates fans. The photos and illustrations are just beautiful, and the information within its pages is so interesting and educational as to how the movies were made! I am by no means a book expert, I just buy what I like, and I am a diehard Pirates fan, so I recommend this book highly.

I had to chuckle at one of the other reviews that mildly rebuked the author for not examining the movie trilogy more closely... well, many of us in Pirates fandom have had way too much of that stuff... overanalysis of the plots, the characters, etc. Just leave me happily entertained, and leave the examining to the film critics, who I ignore, anyway! ;)

Once again, a visually beautiful book, worth the price for it's artwork and photography, alone.

It's a well written and comprehensive book about a great actor. It also has a lot of really nice photos.

I'd give 4 stars to that book just because I wanted to know more about Depp's childhood n stuff, but this book tells mainly about the movies Johnny has chosen. Still, it was an interesting read ! I think I would recommend.

Perfectly timed for the latest 'Pirates of the Caribbean' blockbuster film is Johnny Depp: A Modern Rebel: a biography of the quirky actor whose good looks and lively adventures hide a rebellious young man whose drug-filled adolescence seemed unlikely to create a celebrity. From his volatile relationships and life to his evolving career and interest in independent, adventure-laden roles, is Johnny Depp: A Modern Rebel is revised and updated and comes packed with black and white and color photos.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I thought this book was very well written. It was informative and the many photos were great. I have read other autobiographies and quite a few were not well written and could not keep my attention. This book was able to keep me wanting to read it to the end. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Johnny Depp.

This book's format of Johnny Depp's life, movies and unique story is wonderful. I couldn't put it down. Each chapter is a movie title, showing how each part of his life changed during that movie experience. I didn't want to give it 5 stars, it deserves 10 stars!!!!

I liked the photos as some were ones that I had never seen before. The information was basically what I already learned from the Johnny Depp Photo Album by Christopher Heard and that remains my favorite Johnny Depp book.

This was a great book. It told all about Johnny Depp and all his trials & tribulations. I appreciated the truth which which the book was written.

On pages 62 and 63 there is a picture of Johnny Depp and Marlon Brando in a scene from The Brave. The caption indicates it's a scene from Don Juan DeMarco. I just got the book and skimmed through the pictures so I haven't really read it yet. But this error was as plain as day when I turned to those pages. It still wouldn't stop me from purchasing it. This book in hardback was very hard to get, but I got lucky. I'm sure there are other errors in the book but the fans know from the tons of bios out about him. This one's great for diehard fans.

The only reason this gets fours stars instead of one or two is it has pictures of Johnny. First of all, the photo they picked for the cover makes Johnny look like he's on crack. The first time I picked it up, I found an error. The book has a print from the movie The Brave, and the caption says it's from Don Juan. If it was really an intimate look at Johnny, I would think it would tell the relationship between Don Juan and The Brave -- and Marlon Brando. It sometimes has its timeline off, also. I'm not fond of prints from movies unless they're really crisp. These are not.

What a great find, very informative about Johnny's life from start to present. It begins from his beginnings and runs through 2006 so it has tons of info about how he got his start, what he was like as a child, teen years as well as his music passion and his moveis career. Lots of really great pictures as well.

Johnny Depp,by Kara Higgins, is a great nonfiction piece. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who LOVES Johnny Depp<3.
This book is very informative of Johnny Depp's past and present life.
The book has great information about his past marriages, his music career, and other milestones of his life.
Christina T.

I would recommend the book Johnny Depp, because if you like Johnny Depp this tells you all about his career. I wouldn't say it's the best because it does not tell you about his personal life or anything about him, except when he filmed in his movies.
And what movies he filmed in, and that his idol and who helped him start a career and his friends.

Nicole H.

This book is wonderful in seeing the real Johnny Depp. I found this book to be so fascinating.He is an extrodinary person. It took you from his childhood all the way through to today. I would recommend it to anyone who is even slightly intrested in it. You will learn a lot.

Johnny Depp,by Kara Higgins, is a great nonfiction piece. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who LOVES Johnny Depp<3.
This book is very informative of Johnny Depp's past and present life.
The book has great information about his past marriages, his music career, and other milestones of his life.
Christina T.

I highly recommend this book for people who like Johnny Depp and what he's done. This book pointed out that like a lot of hollywood stars some of them came from a hard childhood, to a hard teenlife and has turned into a well respected adult. This includes Johnny Depp. Most people wouldn't have figured out that he once owned a club, used to drugs, and even had a beautiful daughter. If you love some of the movies that Johnny Depp has stared in then you will find a new respect for Johnny Depp in this biography.
-Cathy C.

When I ordered the calendar, I did not realize it was for 2006. My niece is a die hard fan and still adores the posters. I ordered the 2007 calendar and unfortunately had to cancel the order. Is it possible to reorder PLEASE. They are beautiful posters.

My niece who's 13 just loves Johnny Depp. She had been looking for a calendar on him for some time. But they all had very few pictures of Johnny. This one fit the bill. I went to a dance recital for her and had brought a bouquet of flowers to give her after the performance. I also had the calendar for her. Once she saw the calendar she grabbed it and ran to show the other girls. I was left holding the flowers. So I scored big with my unexpected present.

This calender has beautiful clear photos of Johnny. You can't write any dates in it, and it does not list holidays. The month and date on the calender are too small, but I bought it for the photos. I keep another calender for writing appointments on. The calender is just for looks, but what good looks they are!

Poor choice and quality of photos (news photos taken from appearance in functions), disappointing for fans. Wish Amazon(US)had a better choice on offer.