Gwyneth Paltrow Books

I would like this to be a practical review, because I almost don't buy this CD, since there is not much info about it and the tracks are not detailed, but it's oh so worth it!

**First four tracks are the books in English (Brown Bear, Polar Bear, Panda Bear, and Baby Bear)

**Tracks 5-8 are all four books in Spanish (It doesn't state whose voice it is, but she sounds like a native speaker, the lady is actually funnier than Gwyneth!)

**Track 9 is Bill Martin Jr. himself reading "Brown Bear" (I didn't like it, but it's interesting)

**Tracks 10 and 11 are interviews with Eric Carle.

So, I hope this helps! and, don't hesitate, go ahead and buy it! Think about it, you can look at the book you have, and hear the audio in Spanish, it's a great learning tool.

My young grandaughter was mesmerized by the songs and words. A great gift for young children.

As much as I enjoy audio books I'll admit that my initial reaction to this one wasn't overly enthusiastic. The first in this series was written forty-some years ago, and has captivated generations. It has been reprinted almost countless times in a variety of editions. The Bear stories are known and loved by millions.

To top that, what could these stories possibly be without seeing Eric Carle's iconic illustrations?

I learned the answer to that question with the first few minutes of this reading by Academy-Award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow. She offers a warm, winning narration of the Bear stories that enchants both young and older ears. So captivating is her voice and delivery that the stories come to life in listener's minds as if for the first time.

It's a special treat to have all of the tales available on one CD, there couldn't be a more perfect bedtime story.

- Gail Cooke

My husband and I have really loved watching the TV show and we hope to go to Spain sometime soon. While watching the show I felt like I should be taking notes on the great places they visited, But having this but is much better! I am looking forward to trying some of the recipes soon they look delicious.

Spain, A Culinary Road Trip by Mario Batali (with Gwyneth Paltrow) is, quite simply, a wonderful book. I received it as a gift and immediately plunged in, seeking out those Spanish culinary delights that I've come to love during my annual treks. Much to my delight, I encountered numerous items that I normally wouldn't try. However, given the interesting descriptions, I've decided the next time I'm in Spain I'll be expanding my palate.

The book itself may seem like your typical coffee table tome. Don't be fooled. Sure, the book contains many photographs but they are handsomely integrated with the recipes and text. Batali and Paltrow put the food into cultural context, one of the things I appreciate most about this book. Furthermore, the photos show a bunch of people having a great time. The enthusiasm and love for the people and food of Spain literally leaps off the page. You'll meet ordinary people as well as famous chefs courtesy of this duo.

Of course, I'm an easy sell in this department. During my many trips to Spain, I've come to love the culture. Still, I've seen my share of travel, history, and cooking books. This one is among the best. In some ways it brings to life portions of H.V. Morton's A Stranger in Spain. If you are even remotely interested in the subject, don't hesitate to plunk down your cash. You will not be disappointed.

OK, I admit it. I have a fetish for food porn - those luscious, mouth watering, steaming, salivating photographs that should be a part of every cookbook. OTRA certainly qualifies as a card-carrying member of that club but in this case the reader is fortunate. It is not just the food but the land itself and, of course, the gorgeous Claudia and Gwyneth that provides pleasure. In case you haven't guesses, this is a stunning book.

It's not mandatory that one first see the video but it certainly helps, especially putting events, travels and food in context. Some complained that this is not a "cook book" per se and they are right - it is a book about food and the culture of food. I had feared that the show would devolve into a tiresome journey through fancy, incredibly expensive restaurants with sparkling silverware and candles. Instead, they scour the countryside and the sea, absorb the local culture and cook in open natural areas like vinyards and beaches and backyards.

Mario has transferred some of these culinary delights to CASA MONO, his homage to the Spanish tapa. Every dish was serious yet playful in its ingredients, preparation and simplicity. The JAMON was great as was the infamous MONO sundae. Yes, this is a coffee table book but it is also a great help when preparing a small, informal dinner party. My grade - A

The gorgeous Spanish coutryside as visioned in "Spain" (the series) is amazing. I look (dream?!) @ the book and remember each episode, in detail.
Enough said...just enjoy.

"Spain-A Culinary Road Trip" would be best described as "Jamon,Jamon (Ham,Ham)" like the Pedro Almodovar movie. There are plenty of hams on this journey--between Italian divo Mario Batali and actress/mother/wife of Coldplay's front man Gwyneth Paltrow. "Spain" is more of a scrapbook than a cookbook. There are plenty of gorgeous sights--from the Costa Brava and Gibraltar to Frank Gehry's modernist Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. It is a feast for the eyes. As medieval pilgrims journeyed to Santiago de Compostela,so does the quartet- Paltrow,Batali,as well as New York Times food writer Mark Bittman and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols-make a pilgrimage through Spain.

"A Culinary Road Trip" does have some recipes. It's classified according to region. There's Valencia Paella,as well as Paltrow's own take on clams (isn't she a spokeswoman for PETA? Aren't she&Chris Martin vegans? Nevermind) They get to see the Alhambra,go to Toledo,Madrid, and Barcelona. Their journey to the Basque region is somewhat disappointing--considering its uniqueness in Europe.

"Spain" is a feast for the eyes,but not so much for the kitchen. It's a standard celebrity coffee table book. Not all who wander are lost...

This is the first time that I am writing an Amazon review, and I am doing it because this novel is possibly the worst book that I have ever read. The book has no plot. It is simply a love story with some irony mixed into the plot. Jane Austen is a terrible writer who takes three pages to describe a simple idea, and clearly she does not know that run-on sentences are not appealing to readers. Some sentences even go on for pages. Please do not read this book or any of Jane Austen's books! They are all trash with no plotline and shallow characters. Yes, I do hate Jane Austen.

For some reason, I always think of Emma as my least favorite Austen, but I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading it. Emma is a very imperfect heroine, but Jane Austen was wrong in supposing that no one but herself would like her. I find Emma to be refreshing as a heroine, and she stands is stark contrast to Fanny Price in Mansfield Park (my least favorite Austen heroine). There is none of Fanny's timidness or inability to stand up for herself. Emma is independent and strong, and much more modern than other female characters in classic literature. Her mistakes in pride and arrogance are such as we all make on a daily basis. She presumes to understand people's emotions and thoughts and thinks she has a right to order things as she would have them be...very type "A", in my opinion. But, as her intentions in every case are good, as she only wants those she loves to be happy and prosperous, one cannot really blame her.

The other characters in this book are also very satisfying, particularly Jane Fairfax and Mr. Knightley. Jane is the poor orphan on whom everyone in Highbury, the village in which Emma lives, dotes upon. Emma, of course, can't stand her at first, but only because of the knowledge that Jane is superior to her in many ways. How many of us have declared that we don't like someone simply because they're better at something than we are? Mr. Knightley, Emma's neighbor and long-time family friend, is her conscience, calling attention to those errors in judgment that Emma constantly seems to make. He often lectures her, but only in an attempt to set her on a better course. When faced with the prospect of losing him, Emma must confront her own feelings and question her own situation in life.

It's altogether an enjoyable read, with plenty of twists and blunders, and should appeal to any fan of Jane Austen...or just anyone who wants to read the real version of the movie "Clueless".

Emma complete illustrated novel by Jane Austen

Austen's witty exploration of social relationships in "Emma" is both humorous and insightful. An enjoyable read for everyone.

Like most of Jane Austen's novels, the theme is around young women and how to obtain marriages with suitable men and be in love with them at the same time. In Emma, we have a heroine who not just sits around and speculates on who would pair up with who, but actively strives to influence and guide the matchmaking. She takes on a protege, Harriet Smith, a young woman of unknown parentage and sees into every interaction with the various gentlemen, more than is actually there. Unfortunately for poor Harriet, whose emotions get tangled around various men "who are all above her socially", Emma learns that manipulation and scheming is doing more to hurt her dear friend than to have left things alone.

The reason I read this book as a mystery, is that the reader is left to speculate (without peeking) which man would pair up with which lady. There are red herrings, where the characters other than Emma, misspeculate, to lead the reader into examining the clues to see if it were the case. Also, one of the male characters purposely set out to mislead where his affections are placed, and there is also a misunderstanding between Emma and Harriet on which gentleman she admires, with Emma giving encouragement because of mistaken identity.

The scheming finally crashes to a sequence of revelations brought about by a sequence of events. One after another, the couples pair off with a sequence of marriages, assuring the reader that the correct matches were made and happiness for the future guaranteed. Even though the middle of the book is very slow, the reader can go back and look at the clues and events after knowing the ending to see where inclinations rested and secrets lay buried.

I have always loved Emma the movie, the one with Gwyneth Paltrow in it. Her Emma is so clueless, so innocent, yet somehow loveable. I finally decided to pick up the classic novel to see if the movie missed anything and to get the full story straight from the author. The book delighted me just as much as the movie did, as I am pleased to say.
Emma Woodhouse is a young, rich woman living with her germaphobe father in the town of Highbury. Bored and eager for some sort of excitement, she decides to matchmake her new friend Harriet Smith with the local vicar Mr.Elton. Emma is convinced that her matchmaking skills are among the best, wrongly taking credit for pairing her governess Miss Taylor with their neighbor Mr.Weston. Many mishaps occur, and many hearts broken and confused, but in the end all is well, with all three of the main couples finding happiness.
It took me a little while to get in the vocabulary of the time, but once I did the book breezed by. Emma is so flawed like all of us; that is why we love her. Just because this book was written almost 200 years ago doesn't make it bad: it makes it better.

Not interesting at all, just a bunch of snapshots Testino takes on his travels, very little vision and planning in the photos or the book itself.

I just loved this book ... but I'am a very big fan of Mario's work and him .. a must for your collection

This a one of the books that I find disappointing. I prefer his work on other publications and if you're a lover Mario's work, buy Visionaire or the V magazine instead.

After reviewing the book, u can definitely notice the editorial staff must have put a huge amount of afford in this book, trying to project something proper from all those utter mediocre material from mr. testino. Instead of the signature nicely crafted testino shoots that he's known for, we got tons of over-blown blurred cityscape snap shots that wouldn't even fit the wall of a DKNY shop! If this is another publication that is supposed to show "the other side" of the testino spectrum, like his previous books. Then it only shows that even a god can be mortal if he doesn't try.
completely overpriced with a un-necessarily large format to round up the disappointment.

Having bought Any Objections? by the same author with which I was dissapointed I was very glad to see a return to form by Mr. Testino. Alive is truly sumed up by its' title. Its full of life, colour, energy & passion with a healthy dose of sex thrown in for good measure. We are given an access-all-areas tour of Mr. Testino's glamourous life filled with fabulous parties, gorgeous locations & sexy models as well as incredibly candid portraits of celebrities. The photography is first-rate and clearly shows Testino's passion for the medium - he must never be without a camera in his hands! The over-all quality of the book is outstanding with hidden images on the reverse of the jacket and special touches that bring it high above the level of other photography volumes. A real must have for all lovers of the dolce vita!

Sorry, but I just don't agree at all with the hateful comments about Gwyneth Paltrow.

Gwyneth doesn't get tattooed, steal other women's husbands, collect orphans, wear a vial of blood around her neck, get out of a car sans underwear, or shave her head in public. She doesn't wipe greasy hands on designer dresses. She doesn't get busted for DUI.

She hasn't been married five or six times and all that other nonsense.

Oooooooooooh....that's so boring.

Gwyneth is a lady, a natural beauty who doesn't have to be constantly in the tabloids.

She has two beautiful children.....and I think her husband is adorable.

She and her family are nice and normal. Sorry if that isn't exciting enough for you Paltrow-haters.

She was wonderful in "Shakespeare In Love", by the way.

Funny I thought I was the only one who noticed she lisps!!

And yes she is the poster child for 'Nepotism'

I agree with roxie52 on this one. Why people elevate actors and actresses to the position on role model... what have they done?? What has Paltrow done but ride Brad Pitts coat tails to fame and then dumped him! Not that Pitt is any great talant (50 million for a wedding band lawsuit) These people are so good at pretending to be someone else, because they have no clue who they really are. Paltrow is someone who has never had to worry about anything in her life, except if her shoes matched her dress. Are we really idolizing the person or there money and fame? I read this book just to see some insight into Paltrow's life. Rich kid, rich parents that's about the whole story. Save yourself a few dollars and buy a good novel instead!

I agree with roxie52 on this one. Why people elevate actors and actresses to the position on role model... what have they done?? What has Paltrow done but ride Brad Pitts coat tails to fame and them dumped him! Not that Pitt is any great talant (50 million for a wedding band lawsuit) These people are so good at pretending to be someone else, because they have no clue who they really are. Paltrow is someone who has never had to worry about anything in her life, except if her shoes matched her dress. Are we really idolizing the person or there money and fame? I read this book just to get some insight into Paltrow's life. Rich kid, rich parents that's about the whole story. Save yourself a few dollars and buy a good novel instead!

Couldn't agree more with roxie and Glenn...she is nepotism at its worst. She was given everything in life. She is a less-than-average mumbling, lisp-infected "actress." She is not attractive in face or figure (and has terrible posture). She is an icon of NOTHING and has done nothing to better the world. Her best role was dating Brad Pitt. Harvey Weinsteing put a lot of eggs in her basket and had to make sure she remained popular. That is one reason she is where she is. The other is her parents. If they weren't who they are, she would be serving you at your local Denny's...ok, maybe that's too beneath "Gwynnie"...she'd be your shampoo girl at the local hair salon...

An average looking if not homely intuitive actress (but with VERY little training)who had nepotism times a billion at her disposal. Without her connections, would have NEVER made it beyond off off broadway. Pretty at times and other times rather ugly, a skinny but formless figure, sometimes quite good acting and other times terribly untrained and clueless and ineffective and absolute BOX OFFICE POISON. She is no Grace Kelly, a true classic beauty. She is not a great actor like her mother, and she sounds valley girlish in all of her asinine ego driven quotes. I keep hearing she's A List. How? Her movies bomb and bomb and bomb. Noone goes to see her and she has smartly stuck to smaller films because she cannot carry a big film and has no fan base. She will not be heard of in a few years from now after she has more kids. Noone cares about her and she's just too average to have any kind of legacy in looks, talent, and everything else. But Apple is the cutest baby in the world. That's the truth.