Television Books

...and yes, someone needs to undertake a follow-up volume for the new episodes. However, this would be an intimidating task because Dawidziak has writen such a tremendous volume.

This is a great book rich with detail and exclusive interviews. I've read - and reread - the book a number of times.

This is a fine book - I've read it cover-to-cover. It's all you need if you are interested in the fumbling, bumbling ways of this great detective.

I hope that Mark Dawidziak revises it someday to include the newer additions to the Columbo saga.

This fine book shows just the sort of attention to detail the great detective would appreciate. It is a work of love, and is a good read for any fan of Columbo. The only problem is that the book is a little out of date now - well over a dozen episodes have screened since the last one listed. A new edition is in order. Please, please, give us the REST of the story!

I refer to the book many times when I watch Columbo episodes I've taped over the years. I think it's a great book, but like others, I think it should either be updated, or a sequel book, possibly titled "The Columbo Phile - Just One More Thing" that just covers the newer cases and updates the statistics (such as how many times William Shatner has been a murderer on Columbo, which used to be 1 and now is 2). Maybe they could use color photos in it, too.

Companions of the Blest was my favorite book this year. The characters were believable and likeable. It's a very interesting story and one I didn't want to end.

An absolute joy to read. The author has done an excellent job of intricately weaving important Texas historical events and characters into the evolution of his fictitious family in modern Hill Country society. I highly recommend it.

Jim Boyd has captured the essence of the people that live on the land in the Texas Hill Country better than any other. His descriptions of this wild, and still untamed part of Texas, put me right out there in the that magical country right along with the characters in the story. I had trouble putting the book down because I longed so much for Mac Taylor and Rene to ride off in the sunset together - unfortunately this was not to be. A really great read. In the past I have been blessed to know many Mac Taylors, my own father was indeed one of them. The author is most correct on this point: the Mac Taylors of the world are disappearing from my own personal view, and I doubt seriously that I'll see many more like them in this lifetime.

Companions of the Blest captures the essence of Texas culture. Reading the book is every bit as good as attending a concert by Willie -- or Ray Price.

The culture portrayed in the book endures in spite of increasing urbanization. Hopefully, the spirit of Mac Taylor and Juanita Navarro will remain a part of who we are and what we stand for.

I greatly enjoyed the book, and I'm buying copies for friends.

An absolute joy to read. The author has done an excellent job of intricately weaving important Texas historical events and characters into the evolution of his fictitious family in modern Hill Country society. I highly recommend it.

I borrowed The Complete Beatles Chronicle from the library hoping to get more info on the making of the White Album (my favorite). But, because of how well the book is written, I wound up starting from page one.

This book is interesting because it doesn't miss the big picture. At the beginning of each year is a concise chronicle of what happen that year and its significance. One needn't get bogged down in the details. Just read the first few pages of each chapter for a good overview.

But, if you read the whole account, you'll discover the true genius of the four lads from Liverpool and how they somehow managed to create high-quality songs in between appearances on TV shows, sitting in on radio broadcasts, making movies, going on far-flung concert tours and dealing with mobs of desperate Beatlemaniacs.

Some of this data must be conjecture (even though it's not presented as such). For example, unless it was revealed in an interview, how would the author know that Billy Preston was brought into the Get Back sessions in order to break the tension within the group.

Still, it's an easy read filled with facts. I must now buy this book. So should you.

[DW]

The best book about the Beatles, with "The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions", of same author.

Since publishers and editions change from time to time, I am not certain that I am reviewing the exact book. This book will be interesting mainly to those who were teenagers during the 1960s. These persons will recall the first time they heard each of the Beatles' albums, or they will recall the event of buying these albums. For example, I first heard Sgt.Pepper at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. The album was played before the performers went on stage -- that was Cream on their first American tour, along with Gary Burton Quartet and the Flaming Groovies (a last minute replacement for the Electric Flag). Anyway, the book takes the form of a diary detailing when and under what circumstances many of the songs were composed, recorded, and performed. The book contains 360 pages of small print, and almost every page has a 1/4 page photograph, though some are 1/8 page or 1/2 page, in size. The latter part of the book contains color photos. The reproductions of the photos are better than one might expect -- nice contrast and sharp focus. We learn that the original name of the Beatles was the Quarry Men, where this name came from Quarry Bank High School for Boys (page 12). We learn that the Quarry Men (John, Paul, George, and John Lowe (drums)) made their first recording in 1958 (page 13). We learn that Ringo was the drummer for a band called "Al Caldwell's Texans" even before he (Ringo) jointed "Rory Storm and the Hurricanes." (page 16) We learn that the first appearance of the lineup of John, Paul, George, and Ringo took place on August 18, 1962, and this was at Hulme Hall, where the occasion was the Horticultural Society's annual dance (page 75). We learn that the Beatles' first U.S. performances were in February 1964. An interesting fact is that Charles Finley, then owner of the Kansas City Athletics baseball team, paid $150,000 out of his own pocket to persuade the Beatles to play in Kansas City, and that the manager of the hotel in Kansas City cut up the Beatles' bed linen into 3-inch squares, and sold them for $10 each (page 139). We learn that the trumpet players on Strawberry Fields Forever were Tony Fisher, Greg Bowen, Derek Watkins, and Stanley Roderick (page 234) and that Dave Mason played the B-flat piccolo trumpet on Penny Lane (page 240). We learn that Maxwell's Silver Hammer took 27 takes, that She Came In Through the Bathroom Window took 39 takes, and that Here Comes the Sun had 13 takes (pages 324-327). Again, the reading is fairly dry and fun facts are encountered only on occasion. There is essentially no information on the Beatles' social lives. But for those who were teenagers during the 60s, the book is likely to be a page turner.

This is the kind of book that you would read cover to cover. But if you were a fussy fan you would want this book in your collection for reference.

Mark Lewisohn set a new standard for primary source research in rock music. This vastly informative book combines, in slightly truncated form, his brilliant day-by-day books "The Beatles Recording Sessions" and "The Beatles Live." Also included are film and radio appearances. Along the way are many suitable and wonderful photographs. Great for browsing or for obsessive fans to devour start to finish.

The best book about David Bowie, in a non-bio way.
The meat of the book are its song by song chapter, and album by album chapter.
The song by song covers every Bowie song, taking about its form and whats its about.
The album by album chapter covers each album in great detail.
The book also has chapters about Bowie's art, acting, videos, ect. In all it has nearly everything you'll need to know about David Bowie's career.

If you are a Bowie fan, this is must reading. Pegg is extremely accurate, and his accounts of the songs Bowie has written and the stories about how the songs were recorded are fascinating. He does a great job tying Bowie's lyrics and music to places and times in Bowie's life, creating a full picture of all that was happening. The accounts of Bowie's tours and albums are accurate and excellent reading, very concise without being wordy or over the top. To get the complete picture of Bowie the entertainer buy this book. I have been a huge fan of Bowie since 1984 and this is the best book ever done on him.

The Complete David Bowie is definitely the best account of David's work, presenting in the first part of the book each and every song he has ever written or sung and continues with his albums, singles, movies and live appearances.

Don't get me wrong, Nicolas Pegg has done a great and painstaking job and the book is a great source if you're going to write a thesis on Bowie(!), but I wouldn't call it fun reading, mostly because of its structure, which is similar to that of a dictionary or encyclopedia! However, there are many interesting facts and quotes that will draw your attention, and you get to hear the explanation of many of his songs from David! -e.g. I didn't know what the theme of Heathen (The Rays) was and why it brought tears to his eyes in one of his concerts...

I think it's a very good and detailed piece of work, as long as you know what you're getting!

As a collector of Bowie's music, I found this book invaluable. It filled in some gaps in my understanding of the great ones music and cleverly clarifies the evolution process from one Bowie phase to the next.
The book makes reference to many rare and unreleased songs which is vital to a serious collector.
It is written plainly and factually with no hint of worship.
If you are only concerned with Bowie's music then this is the book for you. Essential.

The Complete David Bowie is definitely the best account of Davidýs work, presenting in the first part of the book each and every song he has ever written or sung and continuing with his albums, singles, movies and live appearances.

Donýt get me wrong, Nicolas Pegg has done a great and painstaking job and the book is a great source if youýre going to write a thesis on Bowie(!), but I wouldnýt call it fun reading, mostly because of its structure, which is similar to that of a dictionary or encyclopedia! However, there are many interesting facts and quotes that will draw your attention, and you get to hear the explanation of many of his songs from David! ýe.g. I didnýt know what the theme of Heathen (The Rays) was and why it brought tears to his eyes in one of his concertsý

I think itýs a very good and detailed piece of work, as long as you know what youýre getting!

This was absolutely my favorite books as a child. Each night I would pick out a book for my mom to read to me and to her surprise (or not so much), I chose this almost every night. I know she hoped that I would pick something new, but I loved the way she used expression and voices with each character. The sweet message to this book is learning why it's important to share...even when you don't want to.

I had to buy this because my older son could not stand to part with his for his brothers sake! My eldest has the original that I had as a kid, so when I found this for such a good deal I couldn't pass it up to give to my youngest for his library. :)

This is one fun book, especially if you take on the character's voices. I read it so many times to my children when they were little, that after the book got destroyed, I was still able to quote it almost word-for-word! Time has dulled my memory, so wanted another book to refresh it. It's a delightful Sesame Street Book!

This book was hilarious. My daughter could not wait for me to get to the next page so that she could see what was going to happen next. It's even more fun when you do the actual voices of the characters (you have to be a fan of Sesame Street to pull this off). The book is also a teaching tool for sharing. It makes reading fun, and now my daughter can read it to me, word for word!

This is a very cute book. A witch owns an enchated cookie tree. Seeing Cookie Monster from Sesame Street on the horizon, the witch makes a quick spell to allow the tree only to give cookies to those who share the cookies. Cookie Monster ("Me need someone to share with")tries to convince all of his friends on Sesame Street to go back to the cookie tree so that they can share the cookies. Back at the cookie tree, the witch has become extremely unhappy with her spell: since she has no one to share with, the cookie tree won't allow her to have any cookies. Eventually things work out for everyone! This is a delightful story with great humor from Cookie Monster and your favorite characters from Sesame Street. A fun story with a great lesson for everyone!

After reading The Witch's Daughter, I picked this up. WOAH! This one was really good, It was a very good addition to the series, I still don't understand why they cancelled this series after only 8 books!

i dont usualy read books but as soon as i read the blurb i couldnt put the book doun!it was amazing and it had wonderful diskriptions i felt like i was almost ther since i read the witches daughter i carnt get enouf of the files in fact it only took me 4 houers of one night to read!i hope there will be more books from cade merril because he is a wonderful writer and im shur many feel the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cade Merrill is seventeen years old and the owner of a website, theblairwitchfiles.com. After his cousin Heather disappeared while filming a documentary on the Blair Witch, Cade has used his site as a means of gathering information on the unexplained events that take place in Blair Woods.

When Cade is contacted by photography student Laura Morely he initially dismisses her claim that she feels she has a bond with Heather. However, Cade finds himself drawn to her, and soon he has invited her to Burkittsville. At first, Laura comes across as enthusiastic, intense and determined, but Cade quickly discovers that lurking behind his initial impressions, there is something wrong with Laura. A trip to the ruined house of a serial killer causes her to experience strange visions of the owner's childhood. The photographs she takes prove to Cade that she is telling the truth, but Laura's behaviour rapidly becomes more erratic and out-of-control. As her visions reveal more about the dark secrets in the past of murderer Rustin Parr, Cade must discover the link between Laura and the serial killer before tragedy strikes again.

The fact that I haven't seen the movie itself didn't stop me from enjoying this book. The story is faced-paced and suspenseful. I recommend it as a great horror story for teens, but it probably wouldn't be suitable for any kids under twelve years old. ....

The Blair Witch Project leaves you wondering what really happened. This book does the same. What do you see, or is it all your imagination. The story is about a girl who does not understand why an old, recurring dream draws her to Burkittsville to go on a hike to Rustin Parr's house. A few good twists and an awesome look into the past events of Parr's life, if all of it is not just crazy hallucinations. Pick it up...!

I was unsure whether I was going to like The Blair Witch Files 2: The Dark Room because I hadn't read any previous books by author Cade Merill. But, as it turned out, I found this book to be simple to follow, its not like a sequel, just really one great book by itself. The writing is at times repetitive, but all elements of the story lead up to a well thought-out climax. All the characters have numerous sides to them, it gives you something to think about after reading a few chapters. And not to mention the freak factor! The Blair Witch Files 2: The Dark is probably the scariest book I have read in a long amount of time. You can see all the terror in your head after some chapters, but, like the characters, you're forced to keep going because it's the only way to find out the mystery.

Being a huge Dawson's Creek fan, I just had to purchase this book and am I glad I did! The postcards are great! They truly capture the essence of the show!

Because I have already made it clear that I love Dawson's Creek, it's obvious that I would love this! The poscards are great! The pictures help to show why the show is so great!

My name is Jenn and I want to be just like Jenn on the show. she is my role model. i hope to one day be as experienced as her. think about it she gets to fool around with Dawson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book is sooo awsome. I love the pictures and of course I will never send them. Ther just to cool. In all the pictures Pacey is soo cute. I love this postcard book!

I loved this postcard book. All the photos are great! I would NEVER actually send these postcards to anyone because the pictures are just too great!

Mister Rogers clearly had a way with children and adults when he was alive, and his words still have a powerful effect. When reading this book, you do feel that he is talking to you, addressing your concerns and helping you. The selection of letters is just right for getting his points across without overkill or over-emotion.

Although this book was written for adults, you can read it to your children and they would probably enjoy it. You learn lots of the inside things about the show that are fun to know or point out to your kids. Understanding that this is a book geared towards adults, you will learn lots of things that will help you understand children. You will also find parts of the book to be funny and touching. I have enjoyed the book and would recommend it for Mister Rogers' fans.

I bought this book primarily as a gift for my cousin, whose son is a big fan of the show. I thought that at 2 1/2, he would soon start asking the type of questions addressed in the book, and this would help his parents answer them. I also enjoyed the innocence of the sometimes silly questions asked by the letter writers, and how Mr. Rogers dealt with each person with the compassion and understanding that has made him a family favorite for the last thirty years. Even though he is gone and will be sorely missed, I'm glad that I could help pass on his wisdom to a new generation of fans.

If you love Mr. Rogers, this book is worth your read. Through his letters he reminds us once again how to be a good "friend" and respect the feelings of all the people in our neighborhood.

I watched Mr. Rogers as a child, I watched and respected him and his TV "ministry" as a Kindergarten teacher and mother. I think he was the most genuine and caring person on television! Very calming and great for kid's self-esteem....what a wonderful role model and human being. This as well as the other books about and by Fred Rogers are priceless. This book is very touching....letters from his viewers with his own responses. A beautiful thing!

I thought this was just going to be a piddly little book, but it was a really nice quality. It's got nice, thick, glossy pages and tons of photos. It has all sorts of inside information. Definitely worth the money.

I love Degrassi and all things Degrassi. :) The book was cool.

If you like dramas, then this is the best show ever! The characters are interesting and the story line is fantastic.

For those who are fans of DeGrassi: The Next Generation ... this was one to watch to understand how some of the story lines blended together. Joey and Caitlin break up for the final time (sort of) before starting all over again as adults a decade later. For those of you who believe you never get over your first love ... the Joey and Caitlin drama seems to follow that thinking pattern. The first series ended in 1991 after several years in production and was revived in late 2001. The very first episode was the DeGrassi 10th anniversary reunion and the reconnection of Joey and Caitlin. It's almost like a Canadian version of Casablanca when Joey meets Caitlin at the airport and she gets off the plane ...

Joey: Caitlin. All those years ago, when I broke your heart, I thought I'd lost you forever.
Caitlin: And, yet-here you are, standing in an airport with me on Christmas...

I guess for these two it is a case of "We'll always have Toronto. We'll always have DeGrassi" ... Kind of makes you want to watch The Notebook.

Degrassi: The Kids of Degrassi Street Series, Degrassi Junior High - The Complete Collection, Degrassi High Collection (14 Volume Set), Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 1. If you haven't heard of any of these television shows, then you don't know what you're missing! What began in 1979 as a brainstorm of Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler quickly became one of the most innovative, entertaining, and envelope-pushing shows of the eighties and early nineties.

The Degrassi shows can best be described as teen soap operas, although they're so much more than that. These shows, set in Canada and originally based on a group of kids who lived on Degrassi Street in Toronto, Ontario, brought new meaning to the term "teen drama." Thankfully, Degrassi Junior High - The Complete Collection and Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 1 are now on DVD, so if you missed it the first time around you can catch up with all of us who are devoted fans.

Kathryn Ellis has created the premiere reference guide for all things Degrassi with this book. With photos and detailed biographies of all the characters in each of the four shows, set designs, guest stars, and even an episode-by-episode synopsis, no fan wants to be without this book. Ms. Ellis hasn't forgotten the stand-alone supplement movie, School's Out!, either. She also covers makeup, hair, and wardrobe, the music of the shows, the numerous bands of the characters, and the hard-hitting issues that Degrassi took on throughout the years.

This is a book all Degrassi lovers must have for their collection. And if you haven't yet discovered this Canadian gem, I urge you to pick up a few DVDs to get the ball rolling. I promise, you won't be disappointed!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

I recommend this book. It uses ProTools to illustrate the various aspects of dialogue editing and succeeds in getting the info across in a clear manner. I would have given it 5 stars if the book had been accompanied by a CD containing examples / exercize files.

In my opinion, Purcell has written the definitive book on post-production sound editing for feature film. This is the best yet. Though this book focuses primarily on dialogue editing (a largely misunderstood and under-appreciated craft), there is a wealth of information that would benefit anyone who works in post-production from the picture cutting room to the final mix dubbing stage.

While so many books on this subject are written from the point-of-view of the technician, the academic, or the bedroom studio warrior insulated in his own "home-brewed" workflow, it's clear from the first few pages that Purcell has spent many years working in the professional film industry. Many times I feel like I've been on some of the same crews that he describes.

Overall, this book is not only informative but very funny and cleverly written. As someone who works in the industry myself, I got a lot out of this book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in this field or who wants to broaden their understanding of how the "Invisible Art" really works.

Hey there,

I read the amazing book of John Purcell all night and I couldnt stop.
This book contains everything that sound editor & sound desginer need for Dialogue editing.

The book doesnt patronizing or try to goes a round by his language. Its talking straight to you as an editor. step by step building you as Dialogue editor and construct John famous and modest System.

I was student of John Purcell, and I am using his methods from college time, because of his system I get compliment & awards.

Director that I used to work with John system got compliments for the Sound Editing & Design on her movie from Mike Leigh - The famous Director. that close the case. The book is must in every sound desginer or Dialogue editor who take himself seriously...

Yours With truthful respect
Yaniv

This is the best book I have ever read on dialogue editing! It explains everything from budgeting time for a project all the way up to the final mix. John Purcell clearly loves his job and his enthusiasm comes through in his writing. I highly recommend this book to all filmmakers as a way to learn exactly what goes into the dialogue editing process and I consider it a must read for all sound editors.

John uses pictures and examples to demonstrate what he is talking about. He shows how to organize EDLs and how to use them to find alternate takes and locate wild sound for a particular scene. Though every film has its own quirks, John also demonstrates how to handle common problems with matching rooms tones from different angles in scenes. Those two aspects alone make the book worth getting, but there is a wealth of information in this book that makes it an excellent purchase.

Clearly phrased, easy to read, concise and extremely useful, this book is a step by step guide to every pop, crackle and roll of the core part of sound editing - making the dialogue heard. It also has a great overview of the context - how to transfer production sound from the picture editing room, what you'll need from production as well, favoured/time saving procedures and the required contacts in other departments of production (a crucial though rarely covered issue).
The basic feel is somewhere between a 'how to' guide and a master-class. The book covers a lot more than which plug-in gives you what or how to use your mouse. Anyone with a few basic concepts in editing would probably be able to give it a go him/herself, or at least have a very good clue on what should be done in order to get the job done, and done well.
It's also packed with illustrative materials of most dialog boxes and written materials you should run into while working.
I'd recommend it to editors (both picture and sound) and post production facilities (in case a producer might wander in and wonder what's the big deal with dialogue).