Television Books

Do get this book. And you'll be swept-away into another world where a crazy-girl named Francis, aka Judy Garland, got away with all kinds of mischief and adventure. Somewhere in her kooky, chaotic, vaudeville life, she surely got the idea that it was all a show about nothing.

Judy was a passionate person, and Gerold Frank captures her spirit, her sense of humor, her highs, her dark-side and the range of her anger and inspirations. "If you ever want to know who I was, listen to my songs," she said. What does one do with all that talent and energy? Frank gets into it. I think Gerold Frank does a fabulous job of filling-out the life of a human being. We sometimes forget that Judy was more than a performer. It is stunning to watch her films, knowing what was going on behind the scenes, how she was consistently exploited. She was young. People never had psychological terms for boundaries in those days, so she continued to remain a somewhat open and exploited person, "performing" right up to her death. And she was damn-angry in the end.

Judy had no outlet for her anger, except to strike out at things, objects and people. She was at a loss to know how to care, because she was never taught or given models of respect. So she stopped caring and began to take advantage of situations and people as a method of personal survival. This was the thing that alienated her from her children. Deep down, she didn't want to be this. So she let them go, and consequentially, a little bit of her self, as well. Bipolar disease is very difficult to manage without these psychological skills.

Judy never really had much of a chance to be anything than what she was. This happens to actors and people who need to showcase themselves in public: they get stuck. She learned how to play the victim. She just reached a point where she quit defending herself about it, that's all. Was Judy a bitch and a diva? Those were roles she took on, in the victim-mode. Women in those days were acculturated to be subservient, and therefore victims and blamers. If one is physically and mentally challenged, one needs help. Judy never got the right help and couldn't find it. Yet she always reserved a soft spot in her heart. She held on to her theme song, Over the Rainbow, and cherished it. So we have to look to someone like Gerold Frank, who is able to dig down under all this, and finds her; a woman who had a heart, and who was aching to share it with us, in spite of everything.

Never mind other books on the subject, icluding Lorna Luft`s "Me and My Shadows - living with the legacy of Judy Garland"...

THIS IS IT! This is the definitive biography. The detail is amazing and Gerald Frank is by far the only one who has captured Judy the woman and not ONLY the star. John Fricke`s "The World`s Greatest Entertainer" is good, but a tribute to a star, up there somewhere..... It`s written by a fan and good as it is, it sadly looks perspective.

This must NEVER be out of print and belongs to every library in the world. Indeed, I thought I knew evrything about Judy(I`ve been a fan since 1977), but THIS book is filling in holes I NEVER KNEW EXCISTED!

Thanks a LOT, Gerald Frank:-) This book i s of Pulitzer Prize calibre, although I realise a biography will never be given that honour...

Gerold Frank's biography is probably the single most comprehensive book written concerning Judy Garland: meticulously researched, debunking many myths, and richly detailed, it is certainly a standard for any one seriously interested in Garland. Even so, I have several issues with the book.

My single greatest complaint about the book is that Frank often seems to include detail for the sake of detail, and at times these details don't seem to make any cohesive statement. That aside, while Frank places Garland under a microscope, he never really quite delivers any sense of the world in which she moved; consequently, we never really have any background against which we may judge her. There is no context.

These are serious flaws, and while the book is certainly readable and enjoyable, I do not think it is one to which the average reader would return, nor would I particularly recommend it to any but the toughest of hard-core Garland fans.

Gerold Frank has taken a subject of innumerable facets, a larger-than-life personality, and an almost indescribable talent and has put the history of her life to words as no writer before or since has been able to accomplish. Judy Garland, one of the silver screen's most beloved stars, is accurately and honestly conveyed in this biography. Frank's style is unique: when he tells of the tradgedies or failures of the star, he is not incriminating against the subject. Frank's book is one as written by an observer, sometimes voyueristically so. His thorough research bring Garland through in all her glory: as the vaudeville headliner, the little girl on the rise to stardom, the MGM superstar, loving wife and mother, and the sometimes self-destructive woman, taken from this earth too soon by the disease brought on by a lifetime of pills, but most of all, the woman trying to find her place in the world and the love she always craved and needed. Judy Garland is a human being, not a media figure, in this book. Gerold Frank is to be well commended for his excellent portrayal of Judy Garland, and readers will also be delighted or surprised by the informative tidbits along this Yellow Brick Road into the life of the great Judy Garland.

This is an "early" review since I haven't finished this very long book yet, but I will say that I don't like very long books (I find them daunting and time-consuming) but this one is good and holds your interest despite its detail and depth. However, I know that it leaves out certain parts already about her early life. For example, various sources (such as Marcella Rabwin, who is featured in the book prominently, and a family friend of Garland for many years) said on the E! True Hollywood Story TV program, that Judy and her sisters, mother, and father left Grand Rapids because Judy's father, Frank, had an affair with "a young man" and in those days that was "scandalous" and they "had to" move away. This story is nowhere in the book. This book also supposedly had the cooperation and the blessing of Liza and Lorna (not sure about Joe), Judy's children, so you know that despite the book's detail and depth, it's going to be "safe" with nothing too controversial that the children didn't want published. That's too bad, because for a biography to be truly inspirational (let alone just plain "accurate"), you have to include the skeletons in the closet (sorry for the pun, there, Frank). I haven't read Gerald Clarke's "Get Happy", which might include more scandalous stories. It's funny how there are 2 major Judy biographies that are very very long with authors named "Gerald"; easy to confuse the two, as I did at first. What a remarkable life; what a remarkable book. I still recommend book this highly, for Judy fans and also because I recommend biographies in general as a way for people to put their troubles in perspective, to gain inspiration from people we all "know", and as a parable to learn what to do, and not to do, to be happy in life. This would also be a great "primer" for young people to understand the history of Hollywood, or if you want a case study of a great American if you're patriotic, a great woman if you're a feminist, an unfortunate addict if you have an interest in drug and alcohol abuse issues, and a great musician/actress if you're an artist.

This is one of the best biographies I have ever read. You can tell the authors put a lot of time and effort into this work - it's a true labor of love. Filled with beautiful photos and extensive bibliographical notes, this one is a keeper. Who knew Miss Francis was such a "wild child"? Whether you're a film scholar or a movie buff, Lynn Kear's book deserves a special spot in your bookcase.

This is a very detailed book about the life of Kay Francis. The authors present a chronology of Kay Francis' life based on her diaries and other extensive research. Kear & Rossman provide intimate details of her life in an unbiased and thoughtful manner. The authors were able to convey their love of Kay thru the book. We receive a glimpse into the life of a Hollywood actress in the 20s & 30s. This book will appeal to people interested in Kay Francis and Hollywood. I enjoyed it because it shows the individuality of Kay Francis. Her charity work, midwestern values, sexual encounters, and career are all presented in the book. The pictures were great and interesting.
The book left me wanting to know more about Kay Francis and the movies she starred in. I highly recommend this book.

I must admit, I didn't know a lot about Kay Francis going into this book but I had seen her in a couple of films and I went the extra mile to delve deeper into her life and career. I was glad I did! Oh, what a life! Oh, what a career!

This book is the definitive reference to Kay's life, both on and off the screen. Her exciting career, her steamy sex life and the best part...much of this book is based on Kay's own personal diary entries. You can't get better than that!

If you know nothing about Kay and you're intrigued with her life, the way I was, you'll learn everything you want and need to know by reading "Kay Francis: A Passionate Life and Career." If you know everything about Kay Francis, you're wrong. You only THINK you do! Without a doubt you'll learn something new here with the turn of every page!

Great book!

This year movie buffs are extremely fortunate because out on the market is not one but two wonderful new biographies of the actress who "couldn't wait to be forgotten"--Kay Francis. Lynn Kear and John Rossman have done a superb job of detailing Kay's life with an especially rich section about her early life--prior to Hollywood stardom. The book also captures the essence of the jazz age of the 1920's when women were coming out of their shells and becoming less uninhibited. In many ways Kay Francis was the epitomization of the free spirited women of the jazz age. The book, as usual for a McFarland product, is lovely to look at and the picture quality is superb. Both books quote from Kay's diaries which were long forgotten at a University archives. The diaries provide much of the dynamic revelations in the narrative--Kay's candid thoughts about her life and (many) lovers. Kay Francis certainly did, as the title says, have a passionate life--and a career which movie buffs and fans can easily appreciate. We are fortunate to have this wonderful book as a reminder of that life and career.

This book had such a slow, uneven start that I almost gave up on it. Kay had a very interesting life, but it was hard to determine that from the way the early chapters of her story were written. Lots of childish exclamation points, and chronological lists that read like "the begats." I adore Kay Francis, and wanted to find out about her life. The authors had the access to her diaries that other biographers were lacking, and her private life was definitely a wild one. That she escaped public, career-ruining scandal is nothing short of a miracle. Once the authors reach her apex year of 1932, and then her war work, the style of the writing really picks up and the story becomes a veritable page-turner. It's definitely worth getting through the first third of the book in order to enjoy the best parts. I respectfully disagree with the reviewer who thinks Kay would have loved this book - she would have hated anyone delving into her private life (she didn't even want anything done with her ashes, she was so private), but speaking as an avid fan of Miss Francis, I'm very glad it was written.

A very moving book. I knew Joel from a distance, all we would say is "Hi" to each other. Nothing more. Reading this book should be a school requirement. It does not get any better. What a fascinating man he was. He will be MISSED!

Who ever suspected Joel Siegel led such an interesting life? I couldn't believe all of the experiences he wrote about and the funny insights into his family. He included a chapter on Yiddish words which was informative and amusing. Of course throughout the book was the touching message to his son.

A man, approaching fatherhood late in life finds that he has cancer. What can he give his very young son that would impact the child's life. This book is Joel Siegel's legacy to his young son.

It could have been overly-sentimmental or morbid. Instead it is funny, profound, and deeply moving. Those of us who have faced the same eventuality that Joel Siegel has faced, will find great wisdom here, and solace.

The only quibble I have with the book, is that there are a few chapters that seem to have been added to flesh out the size of the book. A chapter on Yiddish phrases, for example, seems a bit "fluffy," though quite funny.

In all, a wonderful legacy for Dylan... and us all.

This book is a treasure in the fact that a man who has a young son (who should have been his grandson) at that age realizes that he may not be around to share all of these stories and this valuable insight to Dylan in person, and he put in print the things he would have told him (maybe) had he been a young father. The last twenty-five (27) years were a trial for him, as they were for me, as a divorced woman with a son the same age at the time of the divorce. You feel that you've just got to be there to see that son grown, then get on with your life.

He is funny. The Jewish jokes were okay, and the one he had Bobby Kennedy tell about the price of meat was okay, but this whole book is written in the joking way he thinks. Serious times about lowering the flag to half-mast on the UCLA campus the day JFK was assassinated. He was there when brother Bobby died and heard the shots. He and Dylan's mother lived in an area of New York where they were able to watch the Twin Towers burn on 9-11. This is history he passes down to his son in intimate terms.

He writes fondly "some of my best memories of my father are of him laughing while he and I watched TV. We didn't go to movies much; most families didn't in the early '50s." My sister Evelyn took me to my first movie about that time (before she ran off and eloped, ending up spending the rest of her life up North) and I marveled at the beauty and splendor of Tennessee Theater. I don't remember the movie, but I will never forget how I felt looking up at the mural on the interior dome. In the middle and later Fifties, I went to many movies there and even sang in a local talent show on that stage. It was no big deal.

As a film critic, he explains that movies are a fraud and goes into detail about how they are made. But, those he chose for viewing with Dylan were a varied and motlely group, not my choices at all. He tells how old he was when he saw them and how he felt. He dishes the dirt about some of the big movie stars. The index is full of big names. You think of one, he has met him or her and has a funny anecdote to share. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, I can understand why he would want to explain to his son what is happening and why. Since he is such a funny man, I guess he would choose the Marx brothers' films. I did enjoy Groucho on the t.v. game show!

Of course, he wants 'I Love Lucy' and 'The Honeymooners' to be available for Dylan to enjoy and share a few laughs. His remembrance of live t.v. in Los Angeles, 'Time for Beanie,' brought back memories of 'Your Startime' hosted by Bob Lobertini for me as I was one of his regulars, and later he had a 'Popeye' show in Nashville where I took my sons. He told them on the air that he and I had appeared on t.v. together in Knoxville; that was stretching it -- he was the star, I the adorer.

During the 1958 Winter/Spring, one of my best friends was the young Jewish usher, Joe Feldman, at the Tennessee Theater. I had moved to the YWCA to finish high school and, that Easter, he took me to eat Easter dinner at the S&W Cafeteria on Gay Street. I still have his senior picture from Young High School.

Dylan is a darling child and so much like Ken Young when he was younger. I sincerely hope they will share many good times as he grows up -- and away. That time will come before you know it.

There are no athiests in foxholes or in an oncologist's office. Siegel, an entertainment critic for ABC's GMA, faced a terminal illness, and created this story of his first 58 years of life. (He passed away on June 29, 2007 at the age of 63).

At the age of 54, Siegel became a father for the first time and learned that he had cancer. In "Lessons for Dylan," Siegel shares all the things he wants his son to know, in case he is not around to tell him, things about his family history and Jewish heritage, life's pleasures and disappointments, the challenges of growing up (at any age), and, most important, who his father is and what Joel values. As Joel and Rabbi Larry Rafael discussed, Joel wants his son to be normal (but not average).

Siegel was born in East Los Angeles in 1943. His Romanian Jewish grandmother survived the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in March 1911. (Her father banned her from going that day.) His father, a Levite, was an electrician, and he got the first African American and the first Mexican American into his local IBEW union. In 1965, Joel delivered a bag containing $800 in cash to a minister named Martin Luther King at a UCLA luncheon. ("Dr. King, I've come with dessert.") He ended up spending the Summer working for King. Siegel says he invented the names of several Baskin Robbins flavors, including German Chocolate Cake (my favorite) and Pralines and Cream. Siegel was nominated for a Tony Award for his work on a musical about Jackie Robinson. Siegel was a joke writer Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, and witnessed Kennedy's assassination in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He is co-founder (with Gene Wilder) and president of Gilda's Club, a non-profit support facility for cancer patients.

Only Siegel can make the story of his chemo sessions and a colostomy funny. Siegel candidly writes about the end of his marriage (his third) to Dylan's mother and the experience of having cancer. The famous ad man and partier Jerry Della Femina bought pot for Siegel during his chemotherapy. Siegel also shares great stories from show biz (featuring Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, Paul Newman, Brad Pitt, Stevie Wonder, all four Beatles, and more); lays out the History of the Jewish People in Four Jokes ("Why make trouble?"); and offers fatherly advice on sex ("ask your mother"), work, what to cook for Rosh Hashanah (recipes included), and a list of movies he would like to see with his son.

One of his letters:
Dear Dylan,
One day you might remember--maybe triggered by a photograph, or a sense memory of a texture or a color--the soft, grey cashmere sweater I bought for you for your second birthday. As an adult you may wonder, "What kind of schmuck buys a cashmere sweater for a two year-old boy?"

The answer is: A schmuck who tempts fate.

"Lilo and Stitch" was the perfect summer family film. Lighthearted and heart warming, it contained all the elements of the best Disney has to offer. The great thing about this film is that it did this without all the fanfare and majesty that, as of recently, has been dragging down the Disney films. This pseudo-making-of book offers the same unpretentious vision. As most fans of Disney animation know, this type of book is released for every feature. While quite a few have been really nicely done, most have been bogged down in the technical aspects of animation. While it is an awe-inspiring and often misunderstood process, hearing and re-hearing about the animation process gets a bit stale. These publications began to feel like the same book with different pictures. Thank goodness the creators of this book have taken a refreshingly different approach to telling the story behind the story of Lilo and Stitch. Personal accounts and artistic insights prove to be just as entertaining and engaging as the sketches and watercolors that fill this slim addition to the Disney Making Of Library. Like the film, the book doesn't feel the need to show off the technical merrits of the production. Too often authors of animation books come across defensive about the medium, forcing comparrisons with other more respected mediums (film, fine art, literature) as if there is a need to defend animation. In a way they are preaching to the choir. Most people who purchase these books already respect the process, the amazing artists, and the mountains of work that goes into each production. Lilo and Stitch the book finally offers some insight into the creative minds and, more importantly, hearts of the creative forces behind the magic. Let's just hope that Disney, particularly their Florida unit, continues to produce animated features with this simple charm and storytelling. With more films and books like Lilo and Stitch it would make it easier to overlook the occasional "Atlantis" or "Treasure Planet".

This book is as beautiful as the background watercolors of the original movie The book takes a personal look at the stories behind the movie. Not necessarily linear in presentation, the chapters are broken into narrations by different creators of the film and either how they came to be involved or how they added to the film. The art that is scattered throughout each chapter is often beautiful.

I personally have two favorite images from the film, one a watercolor of a drainage in Hawaii, overgrown with native plants and the second is drawings of how the alien creature, experiment 626, would work showing his skeleton and structure.

This book is listed as for ages 4-8, total mistake. this is not a kids book but would be appropriate for early teens through adult. It is an excellent book for those interested in animation, or as myself, a fan of Lilo and Stitch.

this is a must have for any fan of the "art of" series books. it is as beautiful as the movie itself. it is splashed with all the beautiful rough drawings and amazing watercolor paintings that take your breath away. i wouldnt have asked for any more!!!!!!!!

I could not put this book down...I read it all in one sitting. If you're a fan of the movie this is the book for you...strong recommended!

A charming, lovely book, a great compliment to the movie, and the perfect gift for any fan of Lilo & Stitch. If you count this gem among your favorite films (as I do), this book is a must-have for you, as it's filled with gorgeous sketches and watercolors, showcasing the development of the characters and setting. (I'm gushing, yes, but I can't help it.) And it's filled with little stories from all the key members who worked behind the scenes, reminding you of how very human animated films are. Personally, I think this is the best of the Disney "Art of..." books, but I'm biased, as Lilo & Stitch is my favorite Disney film. It's not hardcover, but it hardly matters. The book is unique, just like the film.

If you are learning to play drums (or play drums already) and are a big metallica fan, then you should play like Lars himself. And this is a great way for you to learn his drumming. And as many Metallica fans know this is one there best CDs so learn to play your favorite songs and have fun. I really recommend this book to any Metallica fan who wants to play the drums like Lars.

Again, like the Master of Puppets and Kill'em All folios, the notations are fairly accurate and there aren't any noticeably major errors in this book. Note position choice is sometimes a little odd, but the notes are correct. This is an excellent book to learn a lot of the early Metallica guitar techniques, as long as you down-pick most of the rhythm parts (Creeping Death won't sound the same without it).

I got this because I really wanted to learn the songs on Ride the Lightning that I couldn't figure out myself and the solos as well; I was surprised by how accurate the tab was for the main body of each song and on Kirk's main parts. However, there are a few problems with this book. First, for a lot of the solos you are expected to play up on the 20th fret even if you're not on one of the top two strings; this is a problem for me because I only have an acoustic guitar, I can play it fine on my friend's electric. Also, the fingerings are harder than they ought to be in places of "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Fade to Black", and a few other songs. Last, this book is not for the average guitar player. It takes a lot of skill and speed-picking to nail those solos, all of which I haven't gotten quite yet. However, overall I definetely recommend this tab book because Metallica kicks ass!

If you love Metallica this is one of the best books you can get. Unless you're simply amazing you're going to need this to learn all the solos.

The Ride tab book is definitely a must-buy for not only the avid Metallica muso-fan, but for those wishing to upskill themselves in various guitar techniques.

The solos are an absolute note-by-note transcription and each riff is intricately tabbed to include even the most subtle of variations.

Includes a very well-written introduction, outlining some very important and helpful tips to assist you in your mastery of one of Metllica's finest albums.

In a one-line verdict: A definite must-have, even as a collector's item!

Regardless of the fact that I just love Howlin' Wolf and his music, this is one of the most well written and interesting biographies I have ever read. What I like most about it is that in addition to getting the story of his life, you also get a lot of the history of what was going on at that point in time and around Howlin' Wolf and the Chicago blues scene. It is very well researched. This is more than a biography, it is a major history of the blues. It's "must reading" for any serious blues fan or musicologist.

Seeing this book was one of the reasons I set about the task of writing Revelation Blind Willie Johnson The Biography in an attempt to emulate this great tribute to a great man, this is surely the definitive work on the life of Howlin' Wolf, a must read to anyone interested in the man and his music!
Revelation Blind Willie Johnson The Biography.

This book is without doubt, an excellent, well-researched and detailed account of the life of Howlin' Wolf. The life of the blues pioneer was one of hardship, sadness, and overcoming adversity, and the authors do a good job of conveying what the Wolf dealt with.

From his hardscrabble upbringing, an abusive and hypocritical father, and mother lost in psychological and religious madness, and just obstacle after obstacle, the Wolf endured, but sometimes I feel never achieved the full happiness he wanted. There's no doubt he loved his family, cared for his bandmates and did his best, but you could tell the sadness that the blues often heals might not have been enough.

There's a good examination here of Wolf's music, his influences and how he managed a signature sound as well as a performance style that blew nearly all the others away. All the same, Wolf was very protective of that sound, demanding of his mates and making sure they did it the way he wanted it done. Sometimes he was overbearing and arrogant, as witnessed by the defection of Hubert Sumlin to the Muddy Waters band. But Hubert later did return, and many would come in and out over the years.

The rift between Waters and Wolf is noted here; was there ever really one, beyond the professional rivalry? It does appear that Wolf saw Waters as a company man, in terms of his relationship with the Chess brothers. Wolf was very careful about his money, making sure the brothers paid him what he was due, while Waters was content to allow the brothers to get him a new car or a home now and then, perhaps a bit too trustful.

But in the end, it does seem they cared about each other and made up any differences near the end of their lives.

I do think there's a certain God-worship by the authors of Wolf. Too much in some places I think, where a writer makes the subject the greatest thing ever, and all others are chaff. Just the same, this is a sometimes funny, often sad look at a great musician, writer and performer, who influenced those who followed, such as the Rolling Stones.

When I hear "Smokestack Lightning" now, I don't hear it quite the way I once did. It has a more sorrowful quality now than ever. RIP, Wolf...you deserve it.

Interesting. Provides an insight into the character of Chester Burnett, especially enjoyable since less seems to be known about him than other bluesmen.

Two years ago, I reviewed Howlin' Wolf: The Chess Box in this very hallowed cyberspace, wonderin' aloud (as Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull would have it) when in the world would someone please write the definitive bio of Wolf and his massive (reportedly 6' 3" and 300 pounds) persona? Well, folks, wonder no longer. Within the past year, James Segrest and Mark Hoffman have written said biography. In fact, I first purchased and eagerly devoured this tome a year ago; it was only upon rereading it that I decided it was time for review. Sam Phillips once reportedly said that Wolf was the greatest talent he had ever discovered. (For perspective, remember that Mr Phillips helped discover such "nobodies" as Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the King himself, Mr. Elvis Presley. To say that Wolf was his greatest discovery was quite a statement, doncher know.) We see the early Wolf, cast out by his own mother because his music was "too sinful", and beaten repeatedly by his father, drive a plow on a Mississippi plantatation, until one day, (reads like a fairy tale, don't it?) first Charlie Patton, then Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) come along to teach Chester Arthur Burnett the rudiments of guitar and harp, respectively. We see Wolf through the glory years of Chess, making his classic records, and giving his incredible performances (including reportedly sliding down the length of a fire curtain when he was 57 YEARS OLD, no less!), through the good and bad times with his multitalented bandmates (including a VERY young James Cotton and Hubert Sumlin, his nonpareli guitarist), through the unbelievable records (some of which were originals; others, such as "Sittin' On Top of the World", "Pony Blues" and "Built for Comfort", he received from artists like Charlie Patton and Willie Dixon); and finally, through the later, sick years (when he recorded London Howlin' Wolf Sessions, six years before his death, he was reportedly so ill, he could only complete one song per day). Hoffman and Segrest's excellent prose leaves you spellbound and wishing you could rush right out and purchase some of his music. TA DAAA!!!! The wait is over. When you are done reading this review, why not just do another search and pull up Howlin' Wolf: The Chess Box and send yourself 71 of the Howlin'est, Wolfingest tunes as an early Christmas present???? WHY NOT????? So don't delay, order both Moanin' at Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin' Wolf and Howlin' Wolf: The Chess Box today, even as we speak. Trust me it's the kind of music (and writing) that will put hair on your chest and make you want to howl all night long!!!!!

I gave this cookbook to someone as a gift. The recipient loves Northern Exposure. I browsed through it and found the recipes to be very unique. I thought this could be a gift for someone who loves to cook, not just someone who loves Northern Exposure.

This is such a great addition to any Northern Exposure fan's collection, and the recipes are actually pretty good, to boot. The cook book is written "in character" and each person introduces their recipes and tells humerous little anecdotes to go with.

Lots of fun to read even when you aren't planning to cook anything!

This cookbook is so much fun and a must for any northern exposure fan. All the recipes you heard mentioned from Adam and the zabaglione he whipped up for Eve on their first date to the Cassoulet Chris had at the monastery. It has a little intro to each recipe done in character by the character. There are simple funny recipes like Joel's Jell-O and Marilynn's potatoes and more detailed ones like Adam's and Maurice's. A fun read and walk down memory lane for any northern exposure fan.

I must say, I bought this because I thought it seemed like a fun gimmick and I liked the show, but the recipes are outstanding. I grew up in test kitchens and I can say that the lamb stew is the best I've ever had-- great borscht, too. Lightfeather Duncan's mashed potatoes are the hit of Thanksgiving... but heed their warning about not using the red horseradish, as pink potatoes clash with holiday decor. Eggs Florentine recipe is also noteworthy; love the pungency of the gruyere.

If you loved the show, this is a must. Allegedly written by Ruth-Anne Miller, Cicely's sage and owner of the general store, the book contains wry observations on the folks and life in Cicely, memories of the show and the food served and discussed on it. Surprisingly, the recipes are good - very good ... at least the ones I'd tried. I'm especially fond of the eggplant parmegian recipe. Guess I'll have to take better care of the book now that it's collectible!!

any thing by pink floyd gets 5 stars, an A+, and ten on ten. an absolute must for anyone who wants to know what music looks like.

I recommend this book to all P.F. lovers, I collect all of there stuff from books, dvd's, cd's and whatever else is available, this book tells of all whose been involved with P.F. since they've been around, real interesting. Shine On!!

At first I thought I wouldn't like it because it was definitely an encyclopia and I was expecting more of a book (regardless of its name) but the more I delved into it, the more I appreciated it. I bought another Pink Floyd book at the same time so it helped as a reference to that, too. My only complaint is how small the print is. Again I understand it is an encyclopia and know it would be thicker or bigger but think it would be worth it to have larger print. But it is very interesting to the Floyd fanatic like me. It has a lot more information than I expected.

This book is great. Things I never new before. Try it, you won't be dissapointed

This is THE most detailed and expansive resource for Pink Floyd info. That said, it's a true encyclopedia. Don't buy it expecting to read through it, because although its really cool to know specifically what guitar David played in WYWH, you'll find yourself skipping over the page to the next section.

Recommended.

Another fantastic book from Focal Press. This book by Jason J. Tomaric is a fantastic resource guide, covering all aspects of filmmaking from start to finish. Well written, and a DVD loaded with extras! Don't make an independent movie without it! Highly recommended!

Newer thought that I would be considering working on a feature film, but reading and viewing Jason great material just gave me the feeling that I also could do it.

Books like this promise a lot but I have to say that Jason has done an excellent job of condensing the complex task of movie making into concise and accurate descriptions of each discipline. I've experienced quite a bit in the film business over 30 years and time and again as I read this book I kept saying "Oh yes, that's true." It is also a great reference for those noodly details one needs from time to time like proper script format. There is no need to hunt through your library for the answer, script format is right here on page 27. The other good thing about Jason's breakdown is the responsibility associated with film making regarding money,permissions, safety and insurance. I cringe when I think back on how we made 16mm indie films back in the 70s. In some cases we were lucky to be alive afterward much less sued! The Power Filmmaking Kit is terrific primer for those who wish to make a movie in the classic tradition for very little money.

Mark Sawicki
Motion Picture Effects Cameraman/Actor and Author.

I was so frustrated with the lack of practical filmmaking instruction that I took two years out of my life to write and illustrate "The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide", so I speak from the heart when I say that Jason Tomaric's "Power Filmmaking Kit" is a rare wonder of practicality, conciseness, and valuable filmmaking wisdom.

There are two ways you learn the things in a solid practical film book like this:

1) the hard way- by doing it and learning from your mistakes (fine if you've got the time and the money) or

2) by being smart enough to study and learn from a book like this how to stretch your time and money and get better results.

After fifteen years in this business, I still found plenty of valuable tidbits, forms, and practical wisdom in Jason's book and the jam-packed DVD lessons to make it more than worth the cover price. I only wish I had access to a book like this back in my film school days.

Yet another big shot in the DV Revolution. Well done, Jason.

Author Jason Tomaric has written, directed and distributed several minor independent features which is a laudable feat. Yet, Tomaric has surprisingly little to say about the filmmaking process. Sure, there's a lot of information here, but nothing you couldn't get anywhere else. Even the skimpy material on his own productions generally amounts to one thought--"Need something for free? Just ask!" What makes similar books like the Complete Guide to Low-Budget filmmaking (Josh Becker) or Make Your Own Damn Movie! (Lloyd Kaufman) interesting is the authors' willingness to share their personal views and stories of their triumphs and failures. Other books like The DV Rebel's Guide (Stu Maschwitz) and Digital Filmmaking (Mike Figgis) are authored by highly-regarded professionals who describe how low-budget technology potentially transforms mainstream filmmaking processes. Tomaric, on the other hand, opts for an encyclopedic "wide as an ocean but shallow as a water basin" approach. The result is a paint-by-numbers text that reads less like a book and more like a reasonably executed career move.

Entering into the lucid and enthralling world of Lauren Lawrence is a magical journey into the hearts, minds and imaginations of the most fascinating and acclaimed people of our time. More significantly, it is a powerful mirror to our common experience of self-discovery and a guidebook for the adventure of life we all share. I simply cannot say enough great things about this profound book; Private Dreams of Public People is in a class by itself.

What particularly impressed me is how Lawrence gets right down to business answering some of the deepest, soul searching questions I'd had for years concerning dreams but didn't know whom to ask. She creates a tapestry based on her wealth of experience in the often puzzling and baffling inner world that dreamers visit when they are asleep.

In her own inimitable way Lawrence employs images, thoughts and emotions to help guide individuals to becoming fuller and more complete. I was totally captivated by her interpretations of the most personal dreams of people like Paul McCartney, Sophia Loren, Gore Vidal, Luciano Pavarotti, Madonna and a host of other luminaries we only know from their external presentations. The intimacy was so great I felt almost like an intruder in their innermost beings.



Larry Geller, author of "Leaves of Elvis' Garden"

Reading the various dream iterpretations that Lauren Lawrence writes about introduced me to an entirely new level of personal understanding. While I enjoyed reading the dreams of "celebrities", what I really found enlightening is how I was able to relate to some of the fears, desires and hopes expressed by these dreams. Some of my dreams have been very similar to those she has written about. In addition to finding the interpretations interesting, I was able to learn about myself and see the similarites between us all. I really enjoyed this book.

Lawrence shows us the interior life of stars. This is a first. Usually stars hide behind personnas. Lawrence lifts these veils and gets at the inner core of the stars dream lives. Particularly liked Paris Hilton before she became Paris Hilton.

I was amazed at how well this book was put together. I loved the analysis on the different people. You learn so much from this book, like information you could never find out. When you buy this book you will rate this book 5 stars just like me, because you we'll see how good it was.

Who would have thought Paris Hilton was sensitive enough to dream? This is the beauty of the book. It is filled with the dreams of celebrities from Madonna to Sophia Loren to Kurt Vonnegut, and yes, Paris Hilton! While the interpretations are terse and insightful it seems Lawrence is softer on the celebs than she is on stock traders in her column in Trader Monthly. She kills them ... but always with humor. All in all the book is a must read.