F Books

The cosmos are very perplexing, as well as awe-inspiring, and its wonderful how this book packages this very scientific information in a friendly and approachable way. Many people like myself, who are not scientists but who yearn to learn the basic theories, look up at the night sky and wonder how planets, stars and galaxies came to be and exist. This book is a great Cosmic Companion which guides you through the stars in a comprehesible fashion: although space terminology can get complex, it is easy to follow along with Dr. Odenwald's voice of the book. If you love interesting details about the heavens, then this book is perfect for you: you'll ingest this neat info so quickly, that your mind will be like a miniature black-hole, and the details will be unable to escape from your mind's event horizon. It's a wonderful book that I feel can be used to teach younger students many important and fascinating facts; I say this as an experienced teacher and journalist. It helps us to understand the ever chaotic cosmos a whole lot better.

I am only 11, and I thought this book was very easy to understand, but he kept it interesting. I recomend this to kids my age, as well as adults. (My Gramma found this and liked what it was, so she got it for me.)

In his frequently asked questions book, Odenwald doe s an excellent job at answering technical and rather pseudoscience sorts of questions. However, while Odenwald does show he knows what he's talking about, his writing style and organization leave much to be desired.

This reference consists of 365 questions submitted by the public and Odenwald's answers, taken from the author's "Ask the Astronomer" internet website. These questions cover topics from the solar system to galaxies to the Big Bang. The general reader may find this easy to read reference an enjoyable way to learn about these topics.

Augustus F. Sherman worked as a clerk with the Immigration Bureau of Ellis Island, photographing over two hundred families, groups and individuals as they passed through customs. Augustus F. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits 1905-20 represents the first published collection of his work, featuring a hundred of his best photos of peoples from cultures around the world. A historical essay by Peter Mesenholler places the period of time and photos in perspective, providing both a critical analysis of Sherman's work and this collection, and lending important background to the portraits. An outstanding presentation of historical portrait photography.

Augustus F. Sherman was simply doing his job when from 1904 to 1920 he photographed the individual arrivals of multiple nationalities at Ellis Island. It was his duty to document those new immigrants who were detained for further investigation before they were allowed to step onto the Great Hope that was America. But what resulted from this duty is a portfolio of portraits of world peoples that is as tender and as touching as any ever captured by professional famous photographers!

According to essayist Peter Mesenholler, Sherman was interested in anthropological documentation of the different physical characteristics of these Eastern, Western and Southern European proud folk. He captured the inherent pride of origin of these people who often donned their finest native folk costumes as they entered New York harbor. Sherman was sensitive to the psyches of his 'sitters', knowing that in addition to the overwhelming urge to enter America, the Land of Dreams, each of these people brought with them the memories both sad and happy of their native lands, 'heroes' if you will who were brave enough to leave their roots and aspire to higher dreams and goals.

These one hundred portraits are some of the more wrenchingly beautiful from this important time of mass immigration into America, images of the folk who would comprise the melting pot that we so cherish as our national treasure. All of this art is gained by the honest eye of a non-professional photographer who took the interest and care to pass along that rarefied moment of our country's history. And there is much to be learned from slowly perusing the faces and honest captions of these important photographs.

The quality of the reproductions in sepia-toned presentation is superb as is the accompanying wise essay by Peter Mesenholler. There are few books of photography that can be more widely acclaimed than this. Very highly recommended. Grady Harp, July 05

Augustus F. Sherman's book of many portraits is a glimpse into 15 years of daily life at Ellis Island. Due to his office position at Ellis Island, Sherman had both time(remember these shots took a long time to set up and take) and opportunity to capture the many interesting clients Ellis Island served.

If you are looking for a portrait of your grandmother/father who came through Elllis Island, this is probably not the book you will find them in.

Rather, these portraits focus on immigrants wearing unusual native clothing/costumes; religious or military outfits; large family groups; ethnic groups; and even those suffering from congenital birth defects. Included also is a group of deportees whose crimes range from anarchy to being a stowaway.

Sherman sort to take as many photographs as possible in natural light, so the reader sees children playing in the Ellis Island "playground" - located on the roof; or a group of ladies from the Caribbean standing on the front "lawn"; a family from Africa; and much more.

A delightful glimpse at Ellis Island's early history - one wishes there were many more photographs the reader could view.

into what it must have been like to go through the process on Ellis Island. I had visited Ellis Island earlier this year,on a trip to New York and was struck by the atmosphere and history. The photographs in this book catch the essence of this landmark and the diversity of the people. There is also an explanation of the process that the individuals had to go through before being allowed to enter the US.

This book - if you can find a copy - is a witty and entertaining companion to the television series. It covers Cooper's life from childhood [and his first audio recorder] through his FBI career [including the tragedies surrounding his partner Windom Earle], and finally ends where the TV series begins. It offers more insight and exploration into Cooper's character beyond what we already see in the show and film.

This, along with The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (A Twin Peaks Book) and the faux travelguide: Twin Peaks: An Access Guide to the Town, completes a set of official book companions to the series.

One last note: as with "The Secret Diary..." there are a few inconsistencies between the description of some events in the books versus the TV series and the film prequel "Fire Walk With Me", but not enough to detract from the book's value overall.

^o^

This is a wonderful tie-in to the whole "Twin Peaks" mythos. The book is written in the style of a transcript of tapes that Dale Cooper made throughout his life - from childhood, through the initial Windham Earl affair, and ending with the call for Cooper to head to Twin Peaks. (Oddly enough, that's where "Diane..." the audiobook picks up.) Author Scott Frost (brother of Mark Frost, co-creator of "Twin Peaks" with David Lynch) captures the quirky nature of Dale Cooper and the Twin Peaks universe perfectly. From amusing anecdotes in childhood to experiments in college (seeing how long he can go without sleep, without urinating) and beyond, "My Life, My Tapes" helps fill in the unknown quantities of the enigmatic Dale Cooper. If you're a "Twin Peaks" fan who hasn't found a copy of this book yet, I encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful read.

Dale Cooper, How could someone like this write spmething like this? it's beyond me. Dale's life seems to much for anyone but he managed to keep himself together. His closest friends and family all desert him one way or another yet somehow he keeps his head up. I was so amazed by this book and this life thatI am in the process of writing a dramatic script to coinside with it. This book is someone's life this should be shared with everyone. Dale Cooper His Life- His Tapes

I bought this book when I was in eight grade and I connected with it instantly. I'm 24 now and it is still as touching as it was then. I really feel for dale coopers's character. He has so much go wrong and yet he keeps his inocent perspective on the turbulent world around him. This my sound lame, but I think this is a truly great coming of age story.

I suggest this book for anyone who has a love for the game of golf. It puts simple movements of martial arts into your swing and gives your great results! It's the best.

If you will spend 15-20 minutes a day doing the drills, eastern and western, you will really improve. The 123 drill was particularly helpful in reducing my last round by 8 strokes. His drills work they really do!

This is probably the most interesting and helpful golf book I've ever read, and I assure you, I've read many! Kiegiel really gets it, and the idea of what we can learn from Eastern thinking is both fascinating and ultimately rewarding. I couldn't praise this book more. If you need to improve your game, this book will help you immensely. Thank you, Mr. Kiegiel.

I got the opportunity to work for Ted Kiegiel at Carolina Country Club while I was in school at NC State University. I got to see him play golf and give lessons. You can really see his results in the game of the junior golfers. I have never seen so many junior golfers shooting so close to par. Everything he teaches is easily understood and easily reproduced in your golf game. Although, I never had the opportunity to get a lesson from Ted himself, I did have the opportunity to get one from one of the assistants. His teaching was similar to Ted's because all of the assistants listen to what Ted says and puts it into their own lessons. Ted Kiegiel has discovered a way to help the average golfer master the game and improve his score tremendously. If you read the book and do what it says, you will be playing balanced golf in no time.

Merrill Unger has clearly and scriptually expounded on the baptism and gifts iof the Holy Spirit and His ministry to gloriy Jesus Christ. I have heard and witnessed alot of scriptually twisted misgivings about the Holy Spirit and His ministry and gifting of believers in Christ. I also have witnessed and been bomb barted by way off base teachings about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I am glad for real expository teachers and writers like Dr.Merrill Unger and men like Dr.Charles Ryie and many others who go not only to the text of scripture but to the original and grammatically correct usage of the Bible's original language Hebrew, Aramaric and Greek. They also keep it in its proper context. Not pulling out a verse of a chapter and twisting it to say the wrong thing and building a mountain of emotional misguided fluff around it. Inorder to support something the Aposltes nor our Lord Jesus Christ never taught to be promoted as proof of true faith in Christ.

The late Dr. Merrill Unger's book, BAPTISM AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, was a well-read book on the subject of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the charismatic gifts for many years. Alone with James Dunn's BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, the book served a generation of students within the dispensational, cessasionist camps. Dr. Unger was a professor at the dispensational Dallas Theological Seminary, a school long known to oppose the charismatic movement.

The book is a study of the Holy Spirit's work in the life of the believer. Dr. Unger looked at all major passages about the baptism in the Holy Spirit and takes a brief look at the charismatic gifts of tongues and prophecy. As expected, Dr. Unger takes issue with the Pentecostal/Charismatic views and opposes them strongly.

The positives of the book are that the book is written in fairly easy to understand language. Dr. Unger avoids delving into the Greek tenses or verbs. Further, the book advocates one baptism in the Spirit at the new birth (1 Cor. 12:13) and one baptism alone. Unger believes that the Christian need not seek anything more than our security and sufficiency in Jesus.

The negatives of this book are that the book is somewhat dated. Many of Unger's arguments have been answered by Pentecostal/Charismatic apologist (see Anthony Palma's BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT and Howard Irvin's SPIRIT-BAPTISM: A BIBLICAL STUDY). The book also embraces a strong view of dispensationalism (as expected from a DTS professor) but in so doing Dr. Unger embraces an unbiblical view of eternal security much like Dr. Charles Ryrie or Dr. Charles Stanley (see Dan Conner's THE BELIEVERS CONDITIONAL SECURITY).

Overall this is a good book to read in better understanding Dr. Merrill Unger's teaching about the work of the Holy Spirit. While somewhat dated the book is still found in many non-charismatic camps and much of the arguments can still be found today in like minded churches.

Dr. Unger does a great job of explaining what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is. First he presents the Pentecostal viewpoint of the Spirit-baptism, points out why it is deficient, and goes on to define and explain what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is. He deals with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels, at Pentecost and Samaria, at Caesarea and Ephesus, in 1 Corinthians / Romans / Galatians, in Ephesians / Colossians / 1 Peter, and talks about how the Spirit-Baptism relates to spiritual gifts and to power.

Dr. Unger adheres to the dispensationalist viewpoint and states that the baptism of the Holy Spirit applies only during the dispensation of the church age from Pentecost to the Second Coming. He believes that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs upon a believer's conversion and the Spirit-baptism is a separate event from the filling of the Spirit.

I found this book to be a very helpful overview of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as presented in the Gospels, Acts, and the New Testament. Even if you don't agree in the dispensationalist viewpoint, I believe you will find this work to be quite informative. If you hold to a Pentecostal / Charismatic viewpoint on the Spirit-baptism, I would recommend Howard Ervin's book "Spirit-Baptism: A Biblical Investigation."

Professor Unger tears away the improper context of today and unverifiable experience to expound what the Bible says in its true historical context about the Holy Spirit. Quite simply one of the finest studies of the work and office of the Holy Spirit in this dispensation of the Church. A classic.-Kelly Whiting

I purchased this book for a class and am very happy with it. It is a beautiful edition of a standard work on art history with high quality prints of masterworks and illustrations. It is also very well written and makes history and art very approachable without dumbing it down. Good Book.
I liked the CD that comes with it - very practical study companion.

To attempt to put the entire history of Western Art into one volume containing all the necessary illustrations that is nonetheless light enough for students to carry is indeed an ambitious undertaking, and the Jansons do an outstanding job of it. I found it pretty darn fabulous up until it got to the 20th Century. Then I felt that it lost focus as a survey of Western Art and became more of a cheerleading squad for particular artists. But there are more things to admire about this book than to denigrate. First of all, the text is quite readable and tells what's important. Second, the quality of the color illustrations is excellent, especially for a book of this price. My biggest complaint is that certain works that I think are important, or were important in their time, are not mentioned. For example, can one really talk about Surrealism and not even mention Salvador Dali? Whether you like him or not, I don't think you can just ignore him when you talk about 20th Century art. Can you talk about Victorian art and not mention Alma-Tadema? The sections on late 20th Century art completely ignore such influential artists as Robert Crumb and Keith Haring, but yet devote a lot of space to work that could only be of interest to frequent gallery-goers. (I regarded these final pages as the equivalent of including some current off-off-Broadway shows in an anthology Western Drama along with Sophocles, Shakespeare, Shaw and Tennessee Williams.) Of course, you can't include everything and the authors have, I'm sure, had a lot of pressure put on them to include works by people who fit certain demographics. An artist friend of mine, who happens to be a lady of a certain age, told me that she had used an earlier edition of this textbook 40 years ago. She said that there was a big protest at that time because there were no women artists included. That is not the case with this edition. I felt that women artists were well represented by top-notch works, and it wasn't just the usual suspects (e.g., Rosa Bonheur, Mary Cassat, Georgia O'keefe). This edition includes a couple of great ones that I was previously unfamiliar with, like Artemesia Gentilischi and Judith Leyster. And then for all the omissions of artists I have a particular liking for, I was delighted to see discussions of John Singleton Copley and Caspar David Friedrich included.

Despite my criticism, I think that this is an excellent choice for an art history textbook. It manages to take a large and complex subject and put it into one plainspoken and cohesive volume. That's an accomplishment: Four stars.

If your an artist or interested in art history...this book is very helpful....I had to get it for class..but i still reference it to this day...

In the introduction to this revised seventh edition, Anthony Janson (whose father, H.W. Janson, still has top billing for the volume) talks about the long tradition he and his father have had toward this volume and the larger work that carries the same name. It has been a standard in Western art education for decades, and the revisions periodically placed serve to bring new interpretations, perspectives and finds into the mix of history.

Prior to diving into the depths of art, Janson provides a primer - art history is a relatively new discipline, and often studied by historians and others with interest but relatively little training in artistic areas themselves. This book is about the visual arts (those of drama, music, etc. are not included here, but architecture is to some degree); Janson gives a brief survey of key concepts that are critical to understanding the mediums (artists, Janson states, prefer to use the plural of medium as mediums rather than media). Geometric and visual appreciation concepts are introduced, as are philosophical/aesthetic ideas.

The majority of the text is divided into four broad sections: The Ancient World, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance through the Rococo, and the Modern World. This is a book that really a survey or history of Western art - it does have a brief section at the beginning of the Ancient World on cave art and neolithic art in North America, but apart from this never wanders outside the main courses of Western art even in the modern period. As an introductory text, this is not surprising - many of the values and concepts of art in non-Western cultures require more explanation for adequate aesthetic appreciation of their art than an introductory survey course could cover. Still, it is a deficit worthy of note for those who are looking for a more comprehensive volume.

The Ancient World covers art of Egypt, the Fertile Crescent and Persia, Aegean/Greek art, Etruscan art, and Roman art. The section on the Middle Ages begins primarily with the rise of Christendom as the dominant political power - this includes Byzantine art, early Medieval art (Carolingian and Ottonian times), Romanesque, and the ascendancy of the Gothic style, including the great Abbey of St-Denis. The Renaissance focusses early on Italy, but also explores the Renaissance influences in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and England. The Modern Period is the most diverse, with movements such as Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Art Nouveau and other schools that had a greater tendency to cross national boundaries. The twentieth century brought about a great explosion of artistic expressions, in architecture, sculpture, painting and photography, each of which get a chapter. While the fourth section begins with a discussion of modernism, it ends with the discussion of post-modernism, a period of transition.

The colour reproductions throughout are stunning, and the use of black-and-white images to highlight details is also useful. Two-thirds of the 600 illustrations are in colour. The photographs showing architectural styles are interesting, far from being boring 'sample' shots. The text is engaging and informative, achieving a good balance between the artistic, the philosophical and the historical. There are maps, chronological tables, a glossary of terms, suggestions for further readings arranged topically, and a very useful index (always a plus for students and scholars).

The predecessor edition was entitled 'A Basic History of Art'; this one has added the word 'Western' to the title, very appropriately. This new edition has included new essays in the introduction, including 'The Power of Art', 'The Impact of Context', and 'Experiencing Art in Museums'. The maps and timelines have been revised, and there are new Cultural Context boxes alongside the text. Also, 'Materials and Techniques' pull-quote boxes give an explanation of principal art practices, methods and conventions through history.

A very good introduction to a beautiful sounding language. It helps if you speak and understand Italian as the basics of the grammar are similar. Another advantage being that a lot of Sicilian utilises Italian with a different inflection. I recommend this book to anyone who loves Sicilly and its culture.

Beginnger's Sicilian is indeed a great tool for learning the Sicilian language. There are a great number of exercises and real dialogues listed. Once you finish doing all the exercises, you will be able to speak and understand basic sicilian. However, it seems that the grammar itself isn't complete, especially the part of verb conjugation. I recommed this book to people who would like to chista bedda lingua

This excellent book by the author "Basic Sicilian: A Brief Reference Grammar" provides for some of the exceptions noted by "A reader" (from Idaho Falls ID). There are exercises in learning basic phrasing to deal with specific needs (e.g., accommodations, transportation, restaurant service, asf). The brief grammatical entries are presented in parts of speech order (articles, adjectives [several], aumentatives and diminutives, numerals, pronouns [several], cojunctios and prepositions, adverbs, and finally verbs (no specific section seemed needed on nouns which are dealt with in context. Vocabulary is introduced with each lesson. The book doesn't pretend to do more than introduce, but it does that well.

I really enjoy this book because it contains the basics of Sicilian grammar, from verb conjugations to articles and pronouns. It is not the type of book that one could use to learn Sicilian in a classroom setting, because it doesn't have practice exercises or anything; however, if you are looking for a compact book of about 70 pages that is filled with basic Sicilian grammar rules, this book is for you.

When I first noticed this book, I rushed to buy it, because my motivating thought was, "At last, someone wrote the story of the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion at Guadalcanal." Much has been written about the Guadalcanal campaign but little is available about the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion that participated in the bloodiest fighting of the campaign. This book walks the reader through two of the para-marine heroic battles. Battles where outnumbered Marines fought their way to victory at a cost that decimated the battalion.
The author has managed to find and interview the small number of remaining battalion survivors. His discussions with these survivors provides the author the ability to bring the reader down to the individual and small unit level and explain how their actions contributed to the fight.
At the beginning of the Second World War, the US Marines organization is rapidly expanding from two light regiments into division and corps size units. The reader discovers that most of the members of the parachute battalion have already served an enlistment before the war and before the battalion is formed. These men were professionals and experienced. Today's Marines will want to call them "Old Corps" but the Corps did not exist when most of these men enlisted. It is that experience and dedication the author captures in this book that provides the essence of victory.
This story is how Marines, out numbered, starved, sick and short supplied, managed to prevail over a numerically superior enemy in historically critical battles. As they say; "It is the stuff that makes legends." I think the author has provided a book for the record that truly captures the bravery of the Marines of the 1st Parachute Battalion and establishes their legend. The author not only captured what makes a great military unit, but also the essence of why men fight and win desperate battles.

This is an excellent book written in a style to make you feel like you are actually there. Knowing a Marine who was actually on Gavutu was the main reason I bought this book but I will be sure to purchase more from this author.

Excellent book with meticulously research, you get the "grunts" view what is happening in the context of one of the most important battles of WWll. The commentary from the paramarines is amazing. Having grown up with occasional snippets from a combatant such as "Reising gun was a piece of crap" "at first we took the maggots out of the rice" and the "artillery saved us at bloody ridge" it is very much a you are there experience. Mr. Christ combines an excellent overview of the operation and manages to give the feel of the men who fought and died during this campaign. The heroism these men displayed is truly inspiring and the author captures it brilliantly.

I highly recommend reading this book! It is a gripping account of the 1st Marine Paratroopers at Gavutu, and Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal. The author's style combines meticulous historical detail with the feel and emotion of a great novel. The author knows his subject, and in turn I got to know and care about these incredible, courageous marines. The battles are intense and you feel like you are right there. I also appreciated his ability to inject humor amid the heavy drama of the battle field. I also recommend his first book, Mission: Raise Hell, which follows the 2nd Marine Paratroopers diversionary raid on the island of Choiseul. Both are a great read!

this book was very informitive and was very easy to read and understand and covered all bases in the u.s. and alaska

This book gives a great overview of the suprisingly many ways there are to see bears in Alaska. Stringham gives loads of specific, practical advice. He also backs it up with the science he's learned and contributed to over the years so that you understand what you're seeing. And, he gives tips on how to be safe while you're seeing bears.

This is a very well written book, but I had high expectations when I heard it was coming out. I envisioned a glossy but informative, "Frommer's" or "Eyewitness" type guide that had good maps and beautiful images for each viewing location, with very specific transportation, lodging, timing, tips, and suggestions.

This book seems to be a high level guide mixing the current Bear Viewing industry and a how to act in bear country guide. The facts are presented in a general manner. For example, rather than saying "Use guides A or B" or plan to travel the second or third weeks of July, they have a list of questions to ask of your guide and suggest mid-summer visits during salmon runs. This is understandable, specific information would go out of date quickly and bears' habits are variable. So, the more vague information has a longer shelf life and is weather-proof. The information in the book is valuable, but the book does not contain all the answers you'll need to plan a trip.

Location descriptions take up a third of the book, but they are short and again somewhat vague. Brooks River, which deserves pages, is given a paragraph of a hundred or so words. I was hoping for at least a map, description of camping availability, maybe a timing chart showing average peaks in bear presence and at least the iconic photo of a Brooks River bear catching the salmon mid-air. They spent 28 words describing the picture. I would have preferred a thousand words worth of photo.

Where the book soars is when it discusses bear etiquette and ethics. The author is knowlegeble and prudent in his advice. His descriptions of bear behavior and ideal viewer behavior is what should be taken away from this book. Techniques is a strong word to use in the title, they're more like guidelines, but I think this is the meat of this book.

Also, the book is filled with great photos, but again, I was hoping glossy national geographic type photos rather than black and white textbook images. I'm sure it was a cost saving compromise but they lost some of their power in the printing process.

Sounds like I am slamming the book. I really can't, it's a good book. I was just hoping for something different. I guess my advice is to expect a fantastic general overview of the subject. What is there is great, what is missing are the specific details you need to start your trip planning.

Dr. Stephen Stringham's BEAR VIEWING in ALASKA is an up-to-date reference guide for anyone interested in observing the magnificence and splendor of Alaska's wild bears. As a professional wildlife photographer I can say firsthand that Dr. Stringham's vast array of knowledge will surely enhance ones bear viewing adventure. The book is an indispensable manual for both the amateur viewer as well as the professional biologist, journalist or photographer. The exquisite images by Kent Fredriksson beautifully portray the bears in their natural habitat.

Amy Shapira is the co-author and photographer of GROWING UP GRIZZLY the TRUE STORY of BAYLEE & HER CUBS...Growing Up Grizzly: The True Story of Baylee and Her Cubs (Falcon Guide)

Richard Buller's knowledge seems to have no bounds. With clarity and confidence, the author presents key moments in the life of Lois Moran. He also spends a third of the book exploring her relationship with F. Scott Fitzgerald. Buller had a vast amount of information at his disposal: Moran's journal and autobiographical notes, her son Tim, and Moran herself. Plus, he researched numerous books and contemporary newspaper articles. Intimidated? Don't be. Buller pulls all the pieces of the puzzle together for us, in a seemingly effortless flow of historical events. Don't know the works of Moran or Fitzgerald? Buller provides clear summaries. Then, he takes us to the next level by analyzing how Moran influenced Fitzgerald. In addition, the book provides many pictures with helpful captions. Even if you've never heard of Lois Moran, this is a "must have" for anyone interested in F. Scott Fitzgerald, movies, or the Jazz age.

I suppose I first encountered Lois Moran as most people did, via Scott Fitzgerald's portrayal of her as Rosemary Hoyt, the ingenue in his tragic 1934 romance TENDER IS THE NIGHT. Since Arthur Mizener identified Lois Moran as Rosemary's "original" in his 1950s biography of Fitzgerald THE FAR SIDE OF PARADISE, her name once again became recognizable, and we began to think of her as a silent film star who must have beeen cute, but surely without talent otherwise wouldn't her performances have survived? Now Richard Buller steps forward with this biography of the actress herself, both in and out of her relationship with the great novelist, and his book shows us that she's perhaps even more interesting when considered as an actress alone, and not just a Lolita-like playtoy.

Buller explores the bond between Gladys (Lois Moran's mother) and her daughter, and rebuts the myth that Gladys was a conventional stage mother who disliked her daughter's interest in married men. Gladys is worthy of a book all of her own! She took Lois from their settled life in Pittsburgh and brought her to Paris as a teen to escape the repressive US climate of the day, and to show her daughter life in big beautiful capital letters.

Stardom in the movies was only a sort of lagniappe to Lois, who abandoned Hollywood when she married in 1935. And she was signally a free-lance player, one who evaded the contractual obligations of any one studio (except for a brief and not too happy contract with Fox). That may have precipitated her withdrawal from cultural memory, however, for I think in the classical cinemaa the studio really built their stars up, and the ones who played it free-lance aren't as well remembered today. (We know Clark Gable, for example, better than we know, say, Irene Dunne.)

Buller has uncovered three short stories that Lois Moran wrote about Scott Fitzgerald, it's a shame that his publishers couldn't have authorized their publication in an appendix, for the excerpts he quotes are fascinating. Just as tantalizing are his descriptions of some of Moran's movies. I for one am going to go on a hunger strike until Turner Classic Movies schedules a showing of WEST OF BROADWAY with John Gilbert--the ultimate "bad luck" movie from Buller's description.

Lois Moran went to Broadway and starred in two Gershwin musicals (OF THEE I SING and LET 'EM EAT CAKE), then married an industrialist who ran Pan Am, Clarence Young. In the Youngs' luxury apartment here in SF's North Beach, on Vallejo Street, they hosted a secret wartime conference with FDR, Lindbergh, and other luminaries. I'm going to go there later today and try to talk my way into the graces of the current owners of the building and photograph the room where it all took place. After Clarence and Gladys died, Moran's later struggles with alcohol make for sad reading. What a story! And what a woman!

Lois Moran's life and body of work, so carefully portrayed by Richard Buller, are a living tribute to the wonderment of Lois Moran, the person. Here is a portrait of some eighty years of giving without reservation to the people of this planet.

The author's insightful and diligent research, coupled with some memorable findings in her journals, papers and photographs, have made this book a true and masterfully constructed literary achievement.

I had never heard of Lois Moran - now I am a fan! Richard Buller's fascinating account of this remarkable woman is brilliantly researched and beautifully written. Why more has not been made of this shining Hollywood star is a curious mystery. Happily, Mr. Buller fills us in with style. He describes the era adroitly and offers surprisingly intimate historical nuggets, sly humor, and a deep poignancy that moved this reader to tears. I felt as if I were walking with Lois every step of the way. Like meeting an old friend for the first time. Her gleeful, almost childlike kinship with life attracted sparkling people and events; yet her "grown-up" values guided her to always hone her gifts and to help others. A unique example that despite our heartaches, we can indeed create a "beautiful fairy tale" of our lives. A delightful, revelatory read. Inspiring.