Television Books

As an American, it hurts to admit that Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the quintessential expression of American cheekiness and derring-do, has been best chronicled by a Britisher. Of course, I'm teasing a bit. But there is no question that Keith Topping seems to have a better grasp of what is important in the Buffyverse than many of his contemporaries on this side of the ocean.

What Topping does not do is write one agonizing reprise after another of all the episodes of Season Six of the show. As viewers will no doubt remember, Season Six was quite agonizing itself without that point being hammered home all over again. Instead, Topping provides very short synopses, followed by myriad details of things that are unique, funny, or perplexing about each episode.

You will be treated to paragraphs on 'A little learning is a dangerous thing' (the power of misinformation), 'Denial they name is...' (Self-delusion in Sunnydale), 'It's a designer label..' (clothes, of course), valley-speak, geek-speak, logic errors, and ever more items that bring to light the aspects of the production which the viewer, caught up in the story, is likely to miss. All of this is done in a style that is an enjoyable mix of tongue-in-cheek and respectfully serious.

Topping is an excellent researcher. His ability to find countless relationships, both intentional and accidental, to other atavars of popular culture is uncanny. Nor does he hesitate to introduce the reader to the more analytic writings on Buffy and the Scooby gang. Despite the spottiness of Season Six, Topping manages to ferret out all the good parts - to the point where I have to admit that the book is better than the season.

If you are a fan then you will want this book. And you will want to track down Topping's other efforts on the show that nearly ate South California.

I have the edition of Slayer for seasons 1 through 5, and it is really a good guide of the series. This book continues with the same fun observations, facts, and quotes. I know some people hate season 6, but for those of us that love it--this book is worth it. If you don't like season 6, maybe this book can help you see the good things about the season.

For those who liked Keith Topping's British perspective in his earlier 'Slayer' volume, here is an update. This book covers only the 6th season - Buffy's resurrection, the Trioka, the musical, Willow-as-evil, etc. Each episode receives 5-to-8 pages of coverage, organized under various thematic headings: Plot summary, music, memorable quotes, comments on the women's clothing, continuity errors, logic flaws, pop culture references, etc. Topping seems to have caught everything, down to the tiniest continuity error.

There are also separate essays on (1) series creator Joss Whedon, (2) the network switch to UPN, (3) an update on BtVS novels (about a paragraph on each), (4) an update on BtVS and the internet, and (5) predictions for the 7th season, which was the last season of this underappreciated series that never gained the viewership it deserved.

Season six is in my opinon the best Buffy season ever.
If you don't like it read this book. It will change your mind.
If it doesn't, then go back to watching Bewitched or Buffy season one. I guess the true spirit of the Slayer is lost on you.

This book covers the sixth season of Buffy and is the next volume in Keith Topping's 'Slayer' episode guides (the previous 5 seasons are covered in a single volume, also available from Amazon). Keith does his usual thorough job covering each episode in detail. Even if you disagree with his views, you can't dispute that he has a deep love for the show and a healthy respect for all those involved in its production.

As I have stated in other reviews, Keith Topping's Buffy and Angel books are the best unauthorised episode guides on the market. If you are a serious fan of Buffy and Angel, you only need the official guides and these books.

If your career aspirations lie in the show biz world, don't forget to consult actor/producer/casting director Steve Stevens Sr.'s So You Want To Be In Show Business: A Hollywood Agent Shares The Secrets Of Getting Ahead Without Getting Ripped Off. Stevens also has a background representing struggling actors: his 50+ years experience in the acting trenches lends to an eye-opening industry reference crucial to learning about casting, agents, and more.

I picked this great guide up last week, finished it in a day, and am totally changing the way I approach this business! There are so many little things that the authors recommend doing that I would never have thought of--I am much more confident, because now I feel like I am fully prepared when I go into auditions... Thank you!

This is my first review of anything, but I felt like I needed to give this book a plug--even though it comes from a small, independant press, this book should be in every acting/directing/theater class in the nation. Cady and Stevenson take you through the inner workings of the agent business, the right/wrong approaches to auditions, the way to work in Hollywood while keeping your sanity, all while maintaining an easy tone that gives one the confidence to take a chance and try to be a star! Great work, and a bargain for those of us who thought they knew the business.

This is an absolute must-have for all actors! After being an actress for over 20 years, I have spent countless hours reading books on the business of acting. "So you want to be in Show Business," is the most complete book I have ever read on the subject. Steve Stevens Sr. masterfully blends humor along with the no-nonsense truth about this crazy business. All while giving encouragement and sharing his passion. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Highly informative and very entertaining... anyone thinking about embarking on an actor's life should read this book! Loved it!

This is a very personal look into the background of songs that shaped my life. It is a good read and I found tears flowing from my eyes every chapter!
Elaine Littau
Author of "Nan's Journey"

Being a fan of Christian music by Bill and Gloria Gaither, I was curious about how they birthed so many comforting, relevant, sweet melodious songs. Their songs have encouraged me through many a trial and sounded substantive notes of wisdom. In her book SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL Gloria gives a glimpse of the impetus for seventy-five of over seven hundred songs Bill Gaither has delivered to the public in the past fifty years These songs, such as "Because He lives,'' "Let's Just Praise the Lord," "He Touched Me" are classics sung by many famous people and are heard on the radio, in churches and at Christian meetings all over the country.

In short vignettes, Gloria tells of experiences, thoughts, problems, scenes which motivated lyrics for musical formats composed by Bill. I was amazed at how succinctly profound words were expressed in a few short phrases. The couple's humility and wisdom in their endless productivity aimed at comforting troubled souls by expressions of God's goodness is also impressive. Gloria was more often stumped for minutes rather than material to express tidbits of timeless truth.

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL by Gloria Gaither is a good book for creative minds which are curious about the process behind the products of famous work. It will enrich fans of Christian music and all explorers of God's goodness.

What can I say about Gaither music? It is fabulous. They are such talented writers. The message in the songs is wonderful & the melodies are great. This is a great double CD & well worth the cost.

Confession time: I went right to the photos before reading this book. The publisher has included a nice cross-section of pictures that span Bill & Gloria Gaither's amazing career in Gospel music and Christian ministry.

After enjoying the photos it was a pleasure to begin reading behind-the-scenes, "insider" info about how various songs were created, key moments in the Gaither's ministry, and more.

Author Gloria Gaither is remarkably transparent and open as she shares from a rewarding and fulfilling career -- readers feel like they're old friends by the end of the first few chapters. Both Bill and Gloria have a way of making you feel right at home, right from the start.

Here are inspiring stories about how the lyrics and songs come together when two creative people seek God's very best. Seven hundred songs later -- Bill & Gloria Gaither are at the center of a vital and fruitful ministry.

You'll love this book for yourself, but it makes an excellent gift also!

Dr. David & Lisa Frisbie
The Center for Marriage & Family Studies
Authors of 8 books, including Happily Remarried: *Making Decisions Together *Blending Families Successfully* Building a Love That Will Last

Over the last 50 years, Bill and Gloria Gaither have shaped the songs we sing and the music we listen to in more ways than many of us ever will realize. Together, they have written some of the most beloved choruses and songs of a generation, including "Because He Lives," "Since Jesus Passed By" and "God Gave the Song." In SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, readers are invited to learn the behind-the-scenes inspiration for more than 70 Gaither songs as Gloria Gaither shares the intimate background of each tune.

In each story, readers discover rich portraits of the Gaithers' family, ministry and life. Gaither shares the fear and uncertainty surrounding the birth of their son Benjamin, which eventually became the seedling for the song "Because He Lives." She tells the story of "Going Home," which was inspired by their daughter Suzanne's joy for returning home after a long road trip.

Describing the inspiration of her husband, Bill, for the song "He Touched Me," Gaither says that when Bill originally shared the lyric "And now I am no longer the same!" she suggested he rework the line to be more specific. While he graciously acknowledged her suggestion, he kept the verse as it was --- just as it came to him. The next weekend, it was being performed live. Since its writing, the song has become the most recorded that the Gaithers ever penned. Recorded by artists including Elvis Presley, the Imperials and George Beverly Shea, it's been translated in dozens of languages and sung around the world. Gloria writes, "I still cringe a little when I think that we could have lost its most powerful line...had he listened to me."

Along the way readers will discover the phrases and ideas that captured the Gaithers' hearts and imagination. They'll discover the birthing stories of the songs --- some of which came easily and others with much more difficulty. The best part of the book is that you do not need to know every song in order to appreciate the richness and depth of the lyrics, the revelations of God and His kingdom and theological reflections that line the pages.

Poets and songwriters will enjoy the insights into writing that dot the pages. For instance, Gaither says that at times secular interviewers will ask them how they keep writing tunes with religious themes. After more than 700 songs, don't you begin to run out of ideas? Gaither responds graciously that it is no more possible to exhaust the story of Jesus than to run out of the stories of life. The story of God's love is new every morning!

As a bonus, the hardcover features more than a dozen pages of color photos from the Gaithers' career. Images of Bill playing for a youth group in his father's farmhouse as well as the Gaithers with Larnelle Harris and Bill George are welcome reminders of their legacy and impact over the years.

In essence, SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL is the soundtrack of Bill and Gloria Gaither's lives. Reading this book is a reminder of God's grace, power and redemption. It is a must-have for fans of the Gaithers, songwriters and music lovers.

--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines

It was the most intriguing and interesting book, I felt like I was right there at the circus.The stories were so informative and at times very funny. It was hard to put this book down.

This book is a veritable delight! It is all at once humorous, credible and compelling. The authors' use of language creates a visual mind picture that is like an outing with a friend. An easy , interesting look at the thought processes that we can all relate to at one point in life or another. Definitely 5 stars!!!

This book is the genuine experience! The author has an incredible knack for triggering each of the senses as she describes with vivid, page-turning detail the life she actually lived and observed first-hand in the circus. Anyone who remembers attending a classic, tented circus as a youngster will find most compelling her ability to virtually bring you back there again, but this time with the privilege of an extended personal tour that completely bypasses the ticket office. With the close of its last page, you'll feel that you, too, have actually lived the experience, and that you personally know each of the personalities who formed its fabric.

As thoroughly dazzling as this book is, it is NOT fiction, making all the more engaging the author's candid illustration of every facet of circus life. Surprisingly, the author also has a great deal to say about the far broader world at large within which the circus existed, told with a perceptive and poignant honesty and frankness, but also with an acquiescent reverence and humor that's accepting of the persuasions of that era. These observations were as engaging as those of the circus -- like watching vintage film footage of a 1930's baseball game but being just as intrigued by the look and dress of the audience in its stands.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to truly visit, or re-visit, the bona fide circus of yester-year. The author realistically tells of a time and place that you'll want to step back into and hang around in long after you've finished reading it...and as authentically as this author captures it, you'll feel that you easily can.

C. B.

"Spangles, Elephants, Violets and Me" by Victoria Cristiani Rossi her intelligent memoir is the best circus book since "I Love You Honey But the Seasons Over." Victoria Cristiani Rossi born into the Famous Cristiani Riding Family while her family was touring with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. From Ringling a very young Vickie moved with her family to another huge railroad show under the Big Top - Cole Bros. Circus. The Cristiani Family occupied an entire railroad car that was specially built for the family. Victoria takes us not only behind the Big Top but her days attending privates schools away from the circus. Our author spends her late teens on the Cristiani Circus Family Circus. She writes about 1958 tour from Sarasota to L.A. via Chicago and her near fatal Hollywood accident that landed her in the L.A. hospital and romancing her future husband Ben a featured cowboy roper and rider on her families circus. Ben within a short time also had a circus accident and was omitted to the same hospital. The (Ozzie & Harriett) Nelson Brothers Rick and David were regular hospital visitors. This is all great reading that once you pick "Spangles, Elephants, Violets and Me" up you won't put down until completion. This book is about real circus and elephants by someone that actually lived the story...Victoria's book is a significant circus memoir. The book is correspondingly an account of her own search for the "violets" in her life.

I found out about this new circus book on Buckles Blog which is a fantastic information source on the circus.
So I ordered this fantastic book and it was so good I could not put it down until I finished it.
It is about the famous Cristiani circus family who were on many famous circuses and who had at one time the largest tented circus that traveled the United States.
They flipped backwards from horse to horse with four horses going around a circus ring. This feat has not been repeated as they were the best ever.
The author who is a daughter of the famous group takes us step by step up their success ladder.
She was there and was part of this famous circus group and she tells us all about it.
There is a great section of photos that covers the Cristiani's career.
If you are a circus enthusiast like I am, this is a must.
You will really enjoy this great book.
Harry Kingston
Circus Fans of America

I love SpongeBob! It's on my top three favorite show list! It is funny and wholesome and is great for chilren. My classmates watch stuff like the simpsons but I choose SpongBob. I look and imagine what it would be like if everyone was as how they are now. ROCK ON SPONGEBOB!

i had this shipped to my dad for his birthday and he loved it and said that it was packaged nicely and shippment was fast.

This is a fantastic, wholesome cartoon. Finally, something that is fun for young and old alike. I find myself calling the kids in so I don't feel guilty about watching it alone. This cartoon has everything: a good messsage, and a lot of fun. This book is a perfect companion. We've had a lot of fun with trivia questions when were out.

Very cute book for fans of Spongebob. Has lots of pictures and info on Spongebob and where he lives. It is definitley worth it for the price.

I am a big fan of Spongebob, despite my age. Yes, the cartoon is for young kids, around 5 - 10, but the producers made it sure that there are jokes that is aimed for mature audiences, to entertain watching parents or to those who are simply looking to feed their inner child.

Now the book, I can say is very informative and funny. You can learn a lot that surrounds the life of our yellow, squared friend; from what he thinks about his friends to the menu and price of the foods in the Krusty Krabs - all said in Spongebob fashion - stupidly funny. There are only a few quizzes though(so why call it trivia book?), like a driving quiz(it starts like a real driving test, but ends up very funny and silly, number 9 and 10 cracked me up!), and match up who said certain quotes(which I admit is quite challenging). Infos about the cartoons (and out) are in this book too.

I gave it 4 stars because for a Spongebob fanatic, there are only a few things that you dont know. Most of it, you do; and some parts here are taken from episodes, like how to blow a bubble("do this"?, to those who seen it in TV we know its from an episode, but to those who hasnt wont get it - they should have added pictures to those!). I think it is more aimed for newer fans, and to the very fanatic of fanatics... in the end, I still recommend this book, cuz even though we know most of it, the way they explained it still makes you laugh, its like watching reruns of Spongebob, we know what will happen but will still bring tons of laugh.

This book was published too soon to contain any details from THE SWORD OF KHALESS (DS9), TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-ATIONS (DS9), FLASHBACK (VOYAGER), & the FIRST CONTACT film. Otherwise, it's a great book with alternate titles and references to all of the classic & cartoon episodes and films

i thought that the original copy was better with the little chart that helps find certain episodes, but all in all i love this book.

When Bjo Trimble did her first CONCORDANCE in the 1970's it was FANTASTIC,a really good book that covered everything at that time.Now,with the final STAR TREK film done, there is the closing out of the great STAR TREK era and this book covers it very well.There are other good STAR TREK history books,but this is one that stands out.This is a NEEDED part of ANY STAR TREK collection,a well done job.

For those of you who liked the original "Fan Produced" edition and/or the 1977 professionally produced one, YOU ARE GONNA LOVE THIS ONE! BJO has completely revised the book, not only including info from the moveis, but also info about both the live-action and annimated seriese from Gene Roddenberrys and others files that she did not have access to before. The book has got to have at least 10 times the info in the 1977 edition and she has also corrected the errors that cropped up in the older editions and added a lot more "fan art" than before. I can not emphasise this enough! This is a must have for all trekkies. Even Gene Goddenberry himself use the oleder version of this book to keep track of his universe. The star trek Encycolpedia pales in comparison to detali to this one. so if you love your Classic Trek, order it now.

...but be aware that this book is from 1976, so you will only get information on the original series from the 1960s and the often neglected (but often bizarre) animated series from 1973-74. So you won't find any info on any of the movies (since the first Star Trek movie wouldn't be until 1979), The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, or Voyager. This is basically those who enjoy the original and the animated Star Trek. The 1976 version of Star Trek Concordance came with a gimmick cover, which you use as an index for each episode, stardate, and other things, and it guides you to what page the episode and stardate are. In the book itself is a description of each and every episode, both the original and the animateds. Description of the cast members are also given in every episode. Near the back is a glossary giving details to each and every character such as Spock, Dr. McCoy, Kirk, Sulu, Uhura, Scotty, etc. (and who played them, like Shatner, Nimoy, Takei, Doohan, etc.), as well as discriptions of various alien life like Vulcans, Romulans, Klingons, etc. The glossary even goes as so far as describing terms that might be a bit over some people's head. They even mention haggis, since there was a famous episode where Scotty said, "The haggis is in the fire now". In the very back is Star Trek fan art, where various people submitted their own artwork of different Star Trek characters and aliens. It's a great and useful book, if you bear in mind when this was published. If you're looking for info on the Star Trek movies, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager, you will obviously need much more updated material.

This is a wonderful book! It also with Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television have inspired much of my research and thought.

Take steps towards enhancing the quality of your life - explore FlowNet and exchange ideas and experiences associated with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's Flow theory @ http://www.flownetwork.com

Take steps towards enhancing the quality of your life - explore FlowNet and exchange ideas and experiences associated with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's Flow theory @ http://www.flownetwork.com

This book is an exploration into the effect television has on the viewer's state of mind. The organization and style of the book read very much like a dissertation that has been reworked slightly for publication. The style of writing is very academic, and is geared to academic rather than general audiences. The first two chapters are pure literature review covering information reception and previous research about television viewing. The next chapter discusses the research methods. The main study involved a group of about 100 adults living near Chicago in the 1970s, who were asked to keep activity and mood diaries over the course of a week. The data from this study were combined with data from a number of other studies that examined television viewing habits of mostly Americans and Canadians. The remaining chapters cover various aspects of the results and discussion, including: how television fits into the scheme of leisure time, how television affects viewer's moods, how television affects family life, why some people view more than others, uses of television, television and marketing, and television and personal growth. As with a dissertation, sources are cited within the text and each chapter has extensive endnotes for further explication and references. The questionnaires used in the study are reproduced in the appendices. A full list of references is included, as well as an author index and a subject index.

So what did they find out from their study about viewers in the 1970s? First, participants in the study watched about 1.4 hours of TV each day, which represented 6.6% of the participants' total waking hours. TV viewing was the most time-consuming activity engaged in at home, and TV viewing absorbed 40% of all leisure time, or another way to look at it, 25% of all time spent at home was spent watching TV. Ninety-three percent of TV viewing occurred in one's own home. Most viewing occurred between 7:30 and 10 PM on weekdays. Twenty percent of the time, people watched TV because they had nothing better to do, giving TV the highest nothing-better-to-do ranking of major home activities including reading, eating, cooking, chores, talking, and grooming.

People tend to watch more TV when they are in a bad mood or when they just want to relax with something mindless. When compared to work, other leisure activities, or meals, participants reported that TV required the least concentration, challenge, and skill of all, and people were most passive when watching TV than when engaging in any other leisure activity. Watching TV had the lowest mood and activation ranking of fifteen common daily activities that included such items as resting, transit, and chores. When compared to sports and other leisure activities, it was found that TV required much less concentration during the activity, and that participants found it harder to concentrate after watching TV than before they began. TV viewing is quite relaxing while participants engage in it, but once they turn the set off, they tend to feel less relaxed than when they began, which is the opposite of what happens with sports and other activities. Marketers are well aware of the fact that people watch TV for relaxation and try to keep people in front of the set by offering soothing or entertaining programs rather than material that will require concentration or upset viewers. The difficulty that people have eliminating TV viewing altogether from their lives suggests that some aspects of TV viewing may be addictive.

For the most part, I found the results of the study to be quite predictable- -we all hear from many sides that TV viewing is not good for our mental health. There were a few interesting points that Kubey and Csikszentmilhalyi uncovered that weren't fully explored, however. They note that families that watch more TV tend to get along better, and posit that one possible reason for this could be that TV watching helps to diffuse tensions, as well as provide an activity whose skill level is so low that children and adults can participate in it together. The authors note that surprisingly, the most well-adjusted teenagers have the highest levels of viewing, but they point out that teenagers with problems don't tend to spend a lot of time at home, and since most TV viewing is done in the home, there is probably no cause-and-effect link between level of adjustment and TV viewing. They note that heaviest viewers tend to be women living alone and married men living with families (married women with families give up some of their potential TV viewing time to do housework). Elsewhere in the book, they note that Blacks seem to watch more than Whites, and that viewing time increases with education. I have a hunch, however, that the most educated people in their study may have been precisely those married men whose wives were doing the housework, and that their level of education was predicted by their gender, and that their gender and family status determined how much TV they watched, not their level of education. It would have been worth it to pair up people of different family status and similar educational backgrounds to see if the observation that educated people tend to watch more TV really holds water.

By now, the data from the study are quite dated, with our cable TV possibilities far out-numbering the 3 major networks of the 1970s, as well as the advent of the Internet and development of the computer game industry to compete for leisure time with TV watching. It would be quite interesting to re-do the study in light of these developments, to see how TV relates to our leisure time and mental state today.

This is one of the most intense and empirical studies of how people relate to television (not focusing on television's content), nothing judgmental here folks, the data is presented in text and charts. We get to see the surveys, the responses, we are informed of the study methods used...

Various psychological traits are measured before, during, and after television viewing in the subjects homes. Things like concentration, cheerfulness, challenge, memory, and other traits are measured at various times using a self-reporting mechanism. The merits and faults of the methods used to study the subjects are also discussed. The book is intense.

I'm sorry I can't encapsulate it better than this. The authors (Mihaly and Robert) do an extremely admirable job of presenting the information in a readable and complete format.

Again, it should be stressed that this study was empirical. No judgements are made. Content of television was not part of the study, content of the subject's psyches was.

A landmark work.

If you have never read this book, buy it and read it. It is a very powerful and moving account of the most decorated American soldier of WWII. Audie Murphy was born outside of Kingston, Texas in June 1924, grew up poor, was deserted by his father, and joined the US Army at the age of 18 in 1942. His hunting skills as a boy served him well in hunting and killing an estimated 250 German and Italian soldiers in WWII.

An amazing aspect about Audie Murphy is that he was not limited to one feat of heroism in WWII. For almost two years, he distinguished himself as one of the greatest combat soldiers of all time with repeated acts of heroism, earning every medal our country could give including the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, multiple Silver Stars, Bonze Stars, and Purple Hearts.

Audie Murphy was a humble man and a born leader who would rather put himself in harms way than to risk the lives of his men if at all possible. Even though he didn't have a good father as a role model, he was a father to the men who served with him. If a soldier under his command was afraid to do a job, he would do it himself.

The book doesn't mention his life after the war (it was first written in 1949). After WWII, Audie went on to become a fine actor in Hollywood and made a few critically acclaimed films. He suffered for many years from post traumatic stress disorder as a result of his time in combat. He died tragically at the age of 46 in a small plane accident in the mountains outside of Roanoke, VA in May, 1971.

Audie Murphy was not a perfect man (there was only one - the Lord Jesus Christ) and he had his faults and problems to deal as we all do. However, he was a true American hero who deserves our nation's (and Europe's) respect and honor. May God bless Audie Murphy!

I read this account while in high school during the '60's. The impact this story had on me was overwhelming...I literally read this book a hundred times if I read it once. I put to memory many of the passages of humor and used them regularly.

Usually when a movie is made based on a best selling novel, I tend to enjoy the film version better than the book. Don't know why, just seems to play out that way. Such was NOT the case here. Even though Murphy played himself in the film, I enjoyed the book far better. Somewhere along the line, I thought the film lost the impact that the book retained throughout.
This story is a real page-turner. Whether you're a war buff or not doesn't matter....This is a story about people...people who were just like the rest of us, who were placed in a situation of life and death...kill or be killed, and how they struggled together to perform the task of delivering the world from aggression while always yearning for home.

It's ironic, though, after reading all that Audie Murphy went through during the war, how he was wounded, yet survived the conflict, and came home to be decorated beyond measure, only to be killed in an aircraft accident some years later.

In my opinion, this story deserves ten-stars.

I read this book not too long ago and while I was reading it, I wanted to tell everyone everything that Audie Murphy did. It was especially good because I am a scholar in World War Two history, and I have been an Audie Murphy fan for quite a while. Some of the great things about this book is how many think of war as being an honorable thing to do, but this book opposes that thought. This book is about his experience in the Second World War and explains how hellish it was for himself. I suggest anyone who gets a chance, should read this fine book.

I read this book for the first time as a Sophomore in high school and am compelled to rank it as one of the top five books I've ever picked up (Sakai's "Samurai!" and Galland's "The First and the Last" being the only others that I'd dare compare to it).

Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier of World War II, was awarded every medal for valor his country could give (The Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, The Bronze Star Medal, The Bronze Star Medal with a Bronze Service Arrowhead, the Legion of Merit, two Silver Stars, the Purple Heart...the list goes on and on), yet he tells his story in such an unassuming manner that it is hard to believe it is written by a war hero. Audie seems more content to discuss his friends and their impact on the war and on his life than to talk about himself. In his eyes, they are the heroes, and his book does a fine job of paying homage to the footsoldier of World War II.

His book is also a marvelously frank and vivid account of combat through the eyes an "everyman." A poor farm boy from Texas, Murphy is perhaps in many ways the typical hero: one who, when faced with a challenge, rises to a level beyond that which could reasonably be expected under different circumstances. Despite being rejected by the Marines and the Navy for military service ("You're too small, kid"), Audie refused to give up his quest to serve his country. Faced with the horror of war (and the deaths of close comrades), Murphy continuously and relentlessly rose to meet the challenges presented him when those of lesser mettle would surely have cowered. All the more remarkable is that Audie accomplished all this before the age of twenty!

No review could ever do this book justice. It is wonderful, sincere, sad, and true. Rest assured, you will not be disappointed. HIGHLY recommended.

I just loved this tale of one man's account of America in Europe during WWII. Maybe I'm just an old softy for Audie Murphy but I'd call it a must read for anyone.

John Waters is a great artist, and I mean artist, because he's created things no one else had, and probably never would!!!! this book also gives un an insite on the sequal to a cult hit PINK FLAMINGOS, and while not has good as FLAMINGOS, it's still funnier than most, and it's obvious he wrote some parts far MS.HILL, who was one of the stars of DESPRATE LIVING, also a script in this GREAT BOOK. I beg anybody who likes any type of film, no matter what it may be to get this book, because you'll never ever look at ANY movie the same!!!!

Waters's early work is hilarious, and the book is a surprisingly good read despite the egregious absence of Waters's best flick, "Female Trouble."

Reading these screenplays was more fun than watching the movies, as I could picture the filth in a more vivid way than is possible to portray on Waters' low budget. The happenings in these plays are so utterly outrageous the sheer force of their sleazyness is more overwhelming than "art". What perverse genius! I am reduced to babblesome blandness beside it. I love it more than my own haircolor, the sound of dogs dying & of babies crying--more than my own filthyness even. Gush gush gush gush gush gush gush...

John Waters may very well be one of the most hilarious and entertaining filmakers of our time. His quest for beauty in the trash heaps can always put a smile on your face. Some folks may find themselves becoming offended by Waters' offbeat sense of humor, but it's all in good(or bad) taste. The screenplays for two of his most notorious films, "Pink Flamingos" and "Desperate Living", are at last available for a fun read. You can recapture some of his terrific dialogue and grasp a tighter sense on the humor the he tries to push. The real treat here is the screenplay for the unmade sequel to "Pink Flamingos" called "Flamingos Forever". Unfortunately, this will never be made because the majority of the first film's stars have now passed on and Waters' feels those shoes could never be filled by anyone else. Don't be thrown off by it's title, "Trash Trio" is definately a terrific excursion into bad taste.

What a treat it is to read three screenplays written by the great director, John Waters. "Pink Flamingos" proved that a cult classic could be created on an extremely limited budget. The actors were uniquely talented and the characters they portrayed unforgettable. Now that the demented dialog they spoke is on the printed page, one can savor every word. I particularly enjoyed the pledges of undying love spoken by Raymond and Connie Marble.

CONNIE: "Oh, I love you Raymond! I love you more than anything in the whole world. I love you even more than my own filthiness, more than my hair color. Oh God, I love you more than the sound of bones breaking, the sound of the death rattle..."

RAYMOND: "And I, Connie, also love you more than anything I could imagine - more than my hair color, more than the sound of babies crying, dogs dying, even more than the thought of original sin itself. I am yours, Connie, eternally united to you through an invisible cord of finely woven filth that even God Himself could never, ever break."

"Desperate Living" is a modern day fairy tale in which an obese maid accidentally kills the husband of the neurotic socialite she works for. Rather than face a trial and possible prison time, they escape to a bizarre village in the forest known as Mortville. In the book, John Waters vividly describes the place and its residents. "Everything is made out of trash and garbage, including the houses. Hideous bums, perverts and psychopaths walk the street as...leather-clad Goons patrol the street harassing the pitiful citizens. In the distance we see a fairy-tale castle." Queen Carlotta is a ruthless monarch, living in opulent splendor while her squalid subjects starve. The power of the printed word was such that, immediately after reading that screenplay, I had to watch the movie again.

The real treasure in this trash trio is the screenplay for "Flamingos Forever," the never filmed sequel to "Pink Flamingos." The action takes place fifteen years after the end of the previous story. Babs Johnson, Crackers, Cotton and Edie the Egg Lady return to Baltimore as the Divine leaders of a filth cult. The late Connie Marble's sister, Vera, is married to Wilbur Venninger, a necrophiliac who owns a funeral home. The Venningers kidnap young children and force them to drink, smoke and shoot heroin. Vera claims to be the filthiest person alive, and sees Babs Johnson as the biggest threat to her title. Vera Venninger's rivalry with, seeming victory over and ultimate defeat to Babs comprises the rest of the story. What a shame that most of the actors in the original movie had passed away by the time this was written, and the sequel will never be filmed.

I love this book! This is the first book in my life that I have not been able to put down. I cannot wait to read the series over again. Cherie Bennett is my favorite author and I am going to read other books by her as well. I highly recommend this book. Especially for teenagers because I really think that people could relate to it. I also recommend other books by Cherie Bennett.

This book was a lot of fun to read. It had a lot of surprises (I really thought Lisha would end up with Sky) and suspense (I never knew what to expect next from Harley). I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

It was really fun, wild, and surprising. I love the relationship problems, it adds reality. I think Sky and Lisha should go out though...

I really liked this book. It has a lot of adventure in it and the ending is certainly surprising! (I thought Lisha loved Sky, not Alan!) I think that what Lisha did, ignoring Harley, was very stupid, although it came out okay, so I guess what she did was okay. This was very well-written with lots of suspense. I reccommend it to everyone

this book rocked. anyone who can read should read this series. the next 3 books are #4 Dirty Big Secrets from Nicks point of view about Chealsea and Jazz and stuff, #5 The Evil Twin about Karma and her twin and #6 Truth or Scare where Lisha has to choose between 2 guys, supposedly the most romantic book of trash yet. I'm not sure if you can buy them yet though and i cant wait!