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Entertainment Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Entertainment
Scorsese on Scorsese (Directors on Directors)
Published in Paperback by Faber & Faber (1996-10)
Author: Martin Scorsese
List price: $14.95
New price: $4.59
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $25.00

Average review score:

A Master of His Craft, in His Own Voice
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-04
Now that Hollywood has finally given Scorsese his due with what amounted to a career-Oscar, the time is ripe to read the revised edition of this superb book. The questions asked of the director are intelligent, not fawning, and his answer's are lengthy and fascinating. The generous space devoted to his childhood and early years help one better understand why Scorsese has been so attracted to a particular genre and how he executes it so well. This director is, of course, immensely knowledgeable about the history of film, and his comments on other directors' work are fascinating. A readable mine of information about one of the most important popular artists of our time.

A Book That Would Satisfy ANY Scorsese Fan
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-07
I bought this book out of respect and deep admiration for Martin Scorsese. What I got was keen insight into a creative genius. The numerous interviews reveal a side to Scorsese that not many people see outside the camera. It's a lot more personal than that. When he talks about his movies, he ultimately parallels them to what his life was like at that time. So it's a fine blend of his personal life mixed with his professional life. There's also the obvious vibe that this man always was and always will be a student of film; his passion is infinite. Perhaps that's what makes him as influential and well-respected as he is.
You're the best there is, Marty!!

An absolute must for the Scorsese-reverent
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 1999-07-06
There are few filmmakers more brilliant than Martin Scorsese, and this book provides wonderful insight into the sources of his obsessions. Almost any book on Scorsese is worth reading, but this volume gives equal time to his less-appreciated, (but no less wonderful), films like The King of Comedy and After Hours. By far, the most informative book on Scorsese yet.

Answers Scorsese Fans' FAQS
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2001-03-30
This reader felt almost privileged to read these interviews, lectures, and conversations with Martin Scorsese. He simply shares everything, and indeed he is, if nothing else, a true fan of movies!

The insightful words of Scorsese, arranged to parallel his filmography up through New York Stories, are annotated by the redoubtable editors Thompson and Christie. Scorsese is arguably the greatest postmodern artist, (and I would have to say the only postmodernist I unhesitatingly adore -with possible exception of Matt Groening), and the reader really gets to see how Scorsese constructs a film. His inspirations are as predictable as directors Pasolini and Powell, yet as diverse as Mahatma Ghandi and Little Richard. He loves all with equanimity and enthusiasm.

That's the joy of this book... the guy loves movies, loves making them, and all that energy just shines through.

Extremely valuable resource for the student of film, but good fun for the humble film buff, too. Bonus: interesting black and white photos you won't find elsewhere. Excellent (though naturally out-of-date) filmography appendix.

A fascinating peek inside the mind of a film master
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2000-12-29
I absolutely devoured this book, essentially reading in two sittings a day apart. A rare and privledged look into the mind of Scorsese in his own words, followers of his work will be thrilled with the insights and anecdotes. Anyone half-aware of the man's work can recognize the thought that goes into it, but these interviews reveal the incredible depth and passion for film and its history that underlies his craft.

An essential read for anyone that considers her- or himself a film buff.

Entertainment
Secrets of the Mirror
Published in Paperback by Authorhouse (2001-08)
Author: Daveda Kert
List price: $21.95

Average review score:

She rocks for a firs time writer
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-22
The best book I have read in years.

A TRUE STORY THAT GRABS YOUR INTERST AND TUGS AT YOUR HEART
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-15
Truly this author must be a sensual and extremely strong willed human being. Her unique style of writing makes the reader feel a personal involvement in her truly amazing life. This remarkable tale takes you back in time as you relive with her a life that is filled with drugs, sex, extortion, gambling, kidnapping, stalking, mental and physical abuse, and even more! Her strong will and love of life are all the tools she has to keep her alive. The book compels one to keep reading and is very difficult to put down. She blames no one for her misfortunes. She shows us that life is a learning experience. Her ability to convey her erotic experiences (with many famous rock stars and sport superstars) is done with a flare that brings the reader into her soul. Although she is the first to admit the mistakes she has made, she stands proud. She tells us, "If we cease to learn from experience, we might as well be dead".

Buy and read this book. It will make you cry, laugh, and experience remarkable feelings. I learned much as the writer helped me to understand my own views. She gives us a jolt of reality. In essence this woman shows us not to judge others without all the facts and even then to understand that there is always the unknown. I hope she writes another book (or has already done so). I would buy it in a flash!

the best I've read in a very long time!!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-06-21
This book takes you on an incedible journey in the author's life. You travel through time and witness the intoxicating events that keep you uncontrollably turning the pages. She brings you through the world of gambling, extortion, drugs, murder, stalking, mental and physical abuse. Even after she has been through what most of us could not live through, there is more. She becomes a stripper to survive and winds up having affairs with some very famous sports celebrities. This book is definately adult material.
...
This book is a must read for those who think that the light is difficult to see at the end of the tunnel. If miss Kert could have made it to the other side she gives insperation to all of us. BRAVO

hi...i am....Daveda Kert...the author....
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-06-20
thx to those who have reviewed my book and to those who may purchase it...this is my story....it is the story of a woman who had to keep fighting ...just to stay alive...i was kiddnapped, stalked, physically and mentally abused and that list goes on...the mountains that i climbed to get out of my situations are amazing to say the least... that as well as the complexity of my life story....and my reasons for writing this heart wrenching account of this captivating story....

if u have bought the book...or are contemplating buying it...please visit my wesite
http://www.cybertpi.com/daveda/

Turning your life around
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-06-22
Speaking from personal experience, I was aghast at the review
from Lilgurl. She is in fact a little girl who could not understand the obstacles and malicious men her mother faced.
She turned her life around to become a dedicated mother to her 2 children.
This book is a life experience and those that are to young should not be permitted to read it, until they can fully comprehend, and not condemn their mother, but praise her for turning her life around.

Entertainment
Smile When the Raindrops Fall
Published in Hardcover by The Scarecrow Press, Inc. (1997-12-23)
Author: Anthony Brian
List price: $47.50
New price: $33.00
Used price: $35.56

Average review score:

Not just a great comic performer
Helpful Votes: 13 out of 15 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-05
Until this book appeared, there wasn't much information available on Charley except in Leonard Maltin's book on sound shorts. This great book will illustrates the life of both Charley (Parrott) Chase and his brother James Parrott. Their lives were intertwined, and when one of them had problems it certainly affected the other. While Chase always had a jolly face on, this book illustrates both his triumphs and his failures. Chase worked with many great comics like Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe Arbuckle, Laurel & Hardy, Thelma Todd and the Three Stooges. Chase also directed and/or supervised many good comedies where he did not appear on-screen. There is a very detailed filmography (and musicography) in the back that includes the lyrics to many of the songs that Charley wrote, his many directing credits, and other film appearances. Sure this book is expensive, but if you love silent comedy or early sound shorts you will not be able to stop reading it.

A fascinating and affectionate tribute to a great comic
Helpful Votes: 13 out of 15 total.
Review Date: 1999-03-08
"Smile When the Raindrops Fall" is a fascinating and affectionate look at the career of the vastly underrated motion picture comic Charley Chase (1893 - 1940). It's hard to imagine that Chase, whom time has mostly obscured, could be so vividly portrayed. However, through interviews with Chase's family, friends, and associates, the authors ressurect the comic in a biography that lovingly alternates between hilarity and heartbreak. Calling Chase one of the comic greats is no exageration: this brilliantly inventive and prolific figure contributed to over 300 films as writer, director, or actor (sometimes all three) before his untimely death at the age of 46. Chase worked with almost every major name in early film comedy, including Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle, Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy, and the Three Stooges. The reader is taken on a nostalgic tour of silent and early sound comedy, its evolution paralleling the career of one of its pioneers. Excellent photo's and a detailed biography are included. An important piece of Hollywood history has finally been documented, and done justice, in this fine biography.

A great bio on a forgotten comedian!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-14
Well, it took me awhile to track this one down through my local library but it was worth it!! Charley Chase practically invented the situation comedy!

This wonderfully concise and well-written bio traces the life of Charles Parrott/Chase from his early days as a entertainer on the East Coast to his move to California and his two-reel comedy career. The book also focuses on many aspects of Charley's personal life, from his protective/co-dependent relationship with his brother, comedy director James Parrott to his own bouts with alcohol. The book is also full of wonderful photos and stills from his films. My favorite parts of the book are the chapters that pertain to his career at his final comedy home, Columbia Studios, where he not only churned out some excellent comedies (THE HECKLER, THE BIG SQUIRT, THE WRONG MISS WRIGHT), but directed other two-reel comedy players of the day, most notably The Three Stooges.

Charley left us all too soon at the age of 47 in 1940, but his legacy of great comedy is out there for all to enjoy!

A Very Well-Researched Book
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-05-27
I was introduced to the comedy of Charley Chase by a film collector friend of mine back in college and have always appreciated his unique style. Brian Anthony's and Andy Edmond's book does justice to this far underrated and nearly forgotten talent in a way that is readable and as entertaining as Charley himself. In fact, the wealth of material here is so great, one wonders why no one has mined it for a film. In any event, if you're into early film history, or even if you are just curious about a man who was a powerhouse both in front of and behind the camera, you owe it to yourself to check this book out.

Fine bio of underrated Chase, can be enjoyed again and again
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2002-03-19
I just finished re-reading "Smile When the Raindrops Fall" (third time, I think) and I second the opinions of the other reviewers. Very few authors have ever discussed the films of Charley Chase in print, and nobody has ever delved into the prolific comedian's personal life in so much detail. Brian Anthony and Andy Edmonds have done Mr. Chase proud, amply demonstrating how he created many clever and amusing movies, and how his private life sometimes colored his work. There are many rare and charming photos, including a memorable candid shot from his final days: his camera crew has just presented the new grandfather with "Gramp's Chair." If you've only been casually acquainted with Charley Chase, here's your chance to get to know him. Great reading for movie buffs, and well worth the publisher's price tag.

Entertainment
The Summer I Died
Published in Paperback by Coscom Entertainment (2006-01-30)
Author: Ryan C. Thomas
List price: $10.99
New price: $9.89
Used price: $7.91

Average review score:

HOLY %@#*!!! I CAN'T BELEIVE I READ THE WHOLE THING!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-12
but I could'nt stop! This is the most horrifying, sickening book I have ever read (and I love Laymon) yet it is also one of the hardest to put down! I read mostly in one sitting and called my reading buddy right after to warn her about what I was going to pass on to her next!
This is a visceral, pull no punches, why I am reading this and worse yet, why can't I stop horror story! It left me reeling, feeling a little sick, used up and spit out and I highly recommend it!
Happy Reading!

Terrific
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-24
This book scared the heck out of me. Very gory!! Wanted to bury this book in my backyard before I even finished reading it but you can't. The plot really grabs and keeps you turning the pages. Looking forward to the next book by Thomas.

lovely bloody mess...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-17
The Summer I Died was a heart racing page turner. I couldn't put it down. I lost my appetite in a few parts (I never lose my appetite) and had to take a few deep breaths. This is for sure a bloody mess....I recommend it to all horror fans.

A twisted but entertaining tale!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-13
There are ways to die, and then there are ways to die...

"The Summer I Died," is a very unsettling book. Roger and his friend Tooth inadvertently interrupt an insane serial killer while he is in action. They are captured and become part of his fun. This serial killer engages in sick, twisted activities. My muscles were actually sore the day after I finished reading the book because I was so tensed up as I was reading what Roger and Tooth had to suffer through.

This depraved man makes his victims suffer horribly. The author really paints a vivid picture of what is happening to the victims. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does. Everything that you can imagine as what your worst nightmare could be occurs in this story. The victims even have to live with body parts being hacked off and fed to his dog. This was very gruesome but entertaining. I definitely recommend this book to horror fans.

It is unnerving that such a twisted tale came from mind of the author, Ryan C. Thomas. Perhaps it is more twisted that I couldn't put the book down, I kept reading...I will say one thing, if I was to have a potluck and I invited Mr. Thomas, I would not let him bring a meat dish.

Five out of Five spaceships.


Reviewer: Paige Lovitt for Multiverse Reviews

A terrifying new voice in horror!!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-27
Review of THE SUMMER I DIED by Ryan C. Thomas

There's a small sub-genre (but growing by the year) of what's termed in horror circles as `backwoods' horror. It's an offshoot of the same sub-genre in film: movies like DELIVERANCE, STRAW DOGS, WRONG TURN, and the ultimate in backwoods terror, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. In the horror literature world it's comprised of some pretty gruesome titles by the likes of Joe Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, Ed Lee, Richard Laymon and Weston Oches.
Well, we can add another title to that extreme sub genre...THE SUMMER I DIED.
It's an unrelenting read.
Grisly.
Bloody.
And, unfortunately, quite plausible.
Author Ryan C. Thomas tells the story of Roger and his childhood friend, Tooth, and what happens to them in the backwoods of a small New Hampshire town, when they run across a dilapidated cabin and find it's the terror dome of a sadistic (and very imaginative) killer.
But the author doesn't throw the reader into the horror before some careful consideration for his main characters. Thomas takes the time to paint a pair of likable guys, and give them a sense of humor and life before tossing them to the lions. Roger, the industrious one, and Tooth, the slacker of the duo, are young men that anyone might recognize as the guys next door, unhappy with life in a small town, but hopeful for a change. And that's what makes this novel so damned hard to get through without feeling sick and dirty. Thomas holds nothing back; he describes all the gore, all the pain, and all of the terror blow-by-blow. THE SUMMER I DIED is written in first person, so there should have been no suspense about Roger's survival of the ordeal. But several times I had to remind myself that he lives through it, or else no one would be telling the story, right? It's been a long time since I had to do that for a first person narrative. That's the power of good descriptive writing, and building a dense atmosphere of palpable horror for the reader.
The obvious caveat is that this style of writing may not be for everyone. Some may see THE SUMMER I DIED as violence for violence's sake, a literary equivalent to a Friday the 13th film.
But what makes it work so well is the characters' sense of humanity. Even at his worst, the killer, named Skinnyman in Roger's narrative memory, gains our sympathy even as he utterly devastates the human body, and does such outrageous things to a woman's severed head that I can't even bring myself to print it here. His methods are extreme...maybe too extreme for some readers, so be warned now. Even the dog, Butch, has a sense of humanity, and becomes like another character for the story.
However, there are some weaknesses here. The biggest flaw of the narrative is the rough beginning. There are a few too many flashbacks in the flashback and that can get a little distracting. It becomes obvious later why there are so many flashbacks in the beginning, but most of them could have been filtered through dialogue with the characters, or alluded to in some other fashion. But as they don't kill the narrative, they can be forgiven. There were also a few spotty areas of dialogue that jar against the reader's ear. They jar because 90% of the dialogue is so well written that those moments jump out in comparison. And there were a few silly metaphors and analogies that might strike some as plain ridiculous, and certainly unneeded.
This is a hell of promising beginning for a hell of a writer. He has a good grasp of theme and characterization; his dialogues scintillate off the page. If Thomas makes it his business to learn how to condense and edit, he may very well be the next big name in extreme horror. For those fans of extreme horror, and `backwoods' horror, or both, I recommend THE SUMMER I DIED.

--Nickolas Cook.

Entertainment
Vin Diesel XXXposed
Published in Paperback by Pocket (2002-11-01)
Authors: Michael Robin and Todd Rone Owens
List price: $10.00
New price: $3.99
Used price: $0.65

Average review score:

Loved It!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2003-04-24
Everything you wanted to know and more. A must have for his fans. Good, clear photographs. Experience his up's and down's on the road to making it big. An easy, quick read but, satisfying like good, chocolate flavored, vanilla ice cream.

A GOOD LOOK AT ACTOR VIN DIESEL
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-08
THIS IS A VERY CASUAL AND PICTORAL LOOK AT THE VERY POPULAR ACTOR. IT IS NOT IN GREAT DETAIL BECAUSE VIN WANTS HIS PRIVATE LIFE TO REMAIN PRIVATE. I FOUND THE BOOK TO BE VERY INTERESTING AND ENTERTAINING. VIN IS A VERY LIKABLE GUY WHO IS VERY UNDERRATED AS AN ACTOR. THIS IS A MUST FOR FANS OF VIN. VERY RECOMMENDED.

XXXposed Completly!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-29
This book gives a better look at the man behind the best movies. It tells you what he did when he was young and what he wanted to do as a career. It also tells you about his family and hrad work that they endured all togetherto help make dreams come true. This book is great!

Loved It!!!
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2003-04-24
Easy to read. A must have for his fans. Everything you wanted to know and more. Experience the up's, down's, etc. of making it big. Good clear pitures. A quick read which was rather gratifying (like chocolate and vanilla ice cream treat).

Everything you wanted to know about Vin, and probably more.
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2003-04-19
There really isn't much that I cannot say for this book. It was great. Every avid Vin Diesel (Mark Vincent) fan out there has to read this book. It is a must have for all fans and it lends a great deal of personal history to this mysterious actor taking Hollywood by storm. It even gives a little heads up on future films he may be in, and we all wanna know that before hand, right? Anyway, enough said, worth every penny!

Entertainment
Wake Me When It's Funny: How to Break into Show Business and Stay There
Published in Hardcover by Adams Media Corp (1995-08)
Author: Garry Marshall
List price: $22.95
New price: $3.99
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $22.95

Average review score:

A delightful behind the scenes look at TV and Film
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-13
Garry Marshall is a true gem in Hollywood. He is a beloved and respected producer/director/writer/actor who never takes himself too seriously to appreciate life and his family and friends. In his own humorous way, Garry tells his story from his humble beginnings to his incredible career in TV and film. He has worked with some of the top actors in Hollywood and it is a total delight to read about the behind the scenes making of HAPPY DAYS, MORK AND MINDY and LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY along with his films BEACHES, FRANKIE AND JOHNNY, NOTHING IN COMMON and PRETTY WOMAN. Garry tells it like it is and doesn't hold back when talking about actors and studio executives. He also admits to his fondness for nepotism. Good timing and luck put Garry in the right place at the right time and he shared his good fortune with his sister Penny Marshall by helping launch her career. The book is filled with insight and revelations. Garry's anecdotes are too humorous to miss. How did they come up with the famous opening for LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY? How did he come to cast Robin Williams and Pam Dawber in MORK & MINDY? Despite budget restraints, Garry was able to create a very memorable opening for Bette Midler in the film BEACHES. It's fascinating to read how Garry created some of our most beloved TV shows and films. When a problem arose with a production, Garry found a solution. He never hestitates to admit to his failures and mistakes and never fails to give credit to others who have supported him. WAKE ME WHEN IT'S FUNNY is inspiring and a great motivator for anyone trying to aspire in any field...not just TV or film. Garry's honest and down to earth insight will leave the reader wanting more.

Up there with "Harpo Speaks" for all-time feel-good bios!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-10-27
This book is a joy! Garry Marshall is a fine writer of jokes for stand-up comedians of yore, sitcoms &, apparently, of full-length show biz autobiographies. He discusses his life in an extremely entertaining way. His asides - about moviemaking, camerawork & tips on the directing/producing process - are enjoyable for everyone, not just aspiring filmmakers. There are (truly) laugh out loud sections as well (Two Words: Kathi Wathi)...this is a man who seems to live his life with passion & decency & drive, ALWAYS with the added bonus of humor. Yes, he dishes the "dirt" about his celeb peers, but in a completely non-malicious way. Best of all, here's a man who accomplishes much but doesn't take himself too seriously. Good-humored, good-hearted, crisply written & hilarious. Can't recommend this book highly enough!

Garry is my directing God!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-09
Pretty Woman has been my favorite movie since I saw in in the theater at the age of fifteen and since then Garry Marshall has been my favorite director. But Garry proved what a great person he is when I attended a book signing for this book back in 1995. I was only twenty, and pretty much the only young woman in line. Most of the people in line were young men giving him treatments, which really disgusted me. But when I finally got up there I just stared at him, the first thing he said to me was that I was very pretty, so I started crying like the girl that I am. He held my hands and just smiled at me, and I told him that Pretty Woman was my favorite movie and thanked him for making it and told him that I wanted to be an actress, so he signed my book "Andrea a very Pretty Woman here's hoping you Happy Days as an actress." that made me cry as well:) His daughter Lori was also very sweet which just proves what a great dad he is as well.

As for the book, of course it's fabulous! You get to learn behind the scenes info on, of course Pretty Woman, but all his other shows and movies as well. His sense of humor cracks me up, especially when he overheard someone talking about Exit To Eden saying "That movie was so bad he doesn't deserve to be Penny Marshalls father!" I laughed SOO hard at that. Not to mention that you can't help but love a director who thanks his wife at the end of every one of his films.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the ends and outs of the entertainment industry from a vetern who knows what he's talking about!:)

I Want A Sequel
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-12
A most amazing book about a most amazing man. Follow Mr. Marshall's assertive and generally hilarious approach to breaking into the world of comedy writing - and beyond. The book is a bit of a family affair (forward by sister Penny Marshall, and co-authored by daughter, Lori) chronicling his often hysterical trek from an allergy-laden childhood to the life of a very successful actor, writer, producer, and director. I've had the unique pleasure of meeting this man in person, and he truly is as determined, grounded and compassionate a man as this book reflects...all with that sparkling sense of humor!

A fine person
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 1999-11-30
I used to think I was in love with Garry Marshall because of his films and sitcoms, but now it's because he's truly a fine person. Read the book and I think you'll agree. If you're a screenwriter thinking about writing for sitcoms, this should be required reading. I'm more of a spec writer, so I just enjoyed the stories and laughs. This is a story of one of the most successful people in Hollywood and more importantly, a good father, brother, son, and grandfather.

Entertainment
Weathering the Storm: Tornadoes, Television, and Turmoil
Published in Hardcover by University of Oklahoma Press (1996-01)
Author: Gary A. England
List price: $24.95
New price: $3.75
Used price: $0.40
Collectible price: $24.95

Average review score:

Very well done
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-20
Funny and fascinating. What an incredbile life!

Great resource of meteorological knowledge
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 1999-09-17
I have not read the book as yet but I would like the opportunity to relate how Mr. England's reputation is in Oklahoma. I worked in the railroad industry for 15 years in Oklahoma which is greatly affected by weather extremes. Our supervisors used to tell us to watch Gary England for weather updates as his was the best in the state. Mr. England never failed us.

Weathering 2 Storms
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 1998-09-05
As a youngster growing up in Seiling, Oklahoma, Gary England had an idol in television meteorologist Harry Volkman. Flash forward 40 years. As a youngster growing up in Oklahoma City, I had an idol in Gary England. This is the first time I have known the entire story of what England has gone through in his 20+ years at KWTV. I have met with and talked to England on several occasions, and I will never know how he keeps his sanity while weathering 2 storms...the weather itself, and the world of television news.

Great Book!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-03-03
It's obvious this guy is a weatherman, not a professional writer being paid to turn an ordinary life into something that sells books. The book isn't weighed down with lots of pretty words or meteorology lessons. It's simply written as a story of Gary England's life, and what a life that has been! As a young girl I was always fascinated by tornadoes, and at one point seriously considered being a meteorologist. After reading England's book I'm convinced I couldn't have handled the politics and pressure. I hated turning each page because it only brought me closer to the end of the book. I'm sure Gary has lots more stories to tell, and I hope he writes many more books to tell them! I'll gobble them all up.

One of the neatest things about reading this book is that now when I see Gary England on TV clips saying those now-famous words during the May 3, 1999 Oklahoma City Tornado, "You NEED to be underground to survive this one!" I look at him with a knowledge of his life story and how he got to be where he is, and I'm filled with such respect. Thank you, Gary, for suffering through petty politics to be able to save so many lives.

A true perspective in the television industry.
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 1998-05-15
After reading this book, I felt that I was no longer alone in dealings with news directors. I have only been in television weather for 6 years and have had my fill of television business. My hats off to Gary for being able to stave off over a dozen new directors. This book is a must read for anyone wanting to venture into the "glamorous" life of television news, especially any aspiring meteorologist.

Entertainment
What's Welsh for Zen: The Autobiography of John Cale
Published in Paperback by Bloomsbury USA (2000-02-19)
Authors: John Cale and Victor Bockris
List price: $24.95
New price: $108.06
Used price: $28.00

Average review score:

To borrow a song title of his, "Perfect"
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-20
It is important to remember that there were four people in the Velvet Underground and only one of them was named Lou Reed. Though Lou has gone on to a waxing/waning career as homo heroin hipster in the thirty-odd years since their demise, the other three (Mo (best drummer on Earth) Tucker, Dr. Sterling Morrison (RIP), and John Cale) are just as relevant if not moreso. One might argue Lou hasn't done anything as great without them since the VU's demise.

Here we have the autobiography of uber producer (Modern Lovers, Patti Smith, The Stooges)/VU bassist/viola/singer John Cale written with NY scenester whore Victor Bockris (who wrote similar pieces on the VU with Gerard Malanga and on Patti Smith with Roberta Bayley). The time with the Velvets is here, as is his solo period, marriages and divorces, early childhood and history as a musician, in a book that runs the range of emotions not expected by someone approaching Cale with the reductionist mentality of "The dark other guy in the Velvets that wasn't Lou," which sadly, lots of people do approach him with.

This book screams for a "read by Cale" audio version as anyone who has listened to/seen footage of Cale interviews knows, the man has a hypnotic Welsh lilt to his voice.

Buy it, read it, find out more about one of the best bands of the latter part of the last century and one of the best musicians to come out of it. You won't be disappointed. The content as well as the graphic presentation are beautiful.

Signed,
epsteinsmutha

EXCELLENT! A MUST BUY Now!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2000-03-08
John Cale is one of my musical idols. I'm in the process of producing my own concert of his & my compositions. He has a great deal of range stylistic. I highly recommend you purchase this amazing life of an amazing artist! I actually bought the cardboard bonded first edition from the U.K. when it was first published. Very finely book. BUY IT & enjoy!

INSPIRING TALE OF MY FAVOURITE MUSICIAN
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2000-09-04
I devoured this book about my top music hero and pronounce it good! It's not perfect though, I would have liked more background on some of the albums (people involved in the recording, events etc) especially his work with e.g. Nick Drake, and the editing is really sloppy: in one place early in the text, the title of a newspaper has just been left out, and Cale's collaboration with Bob Neuwerth is called Last NIGHT On Earth (it is DAY). It provides valuable insights into his personal life and artistic development, and early reflections on Andy Warhol and The Factory. Great photographs and illustrations too make for a very pleasing design. Certainly worthy of the man and his achievements.

Cale can be so funny
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-01
I just recently bought this book. I love it. Great stories, and nice pictures. Sometimes it is painfull honest. It is so nice to read about the start of the Velvet Underground.

Also the pictures are wonderful.

Bettina

A lot of jealousy, drug use and entertaining candor
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-05
After finishing this book in the wee hours of this morning I've come to the conclusion that Cale must be appreciated for his solitary genius in the fields of art and expression but also must be taken with a grain of salt. The entire book seems to be a thinly veiled attack at Lou Reed whom Cale seems overwhelmingly jealous of (thou others would tend to disgree) Plus it shows him as a very difficult individual to get along with (ie his many wives, his broken colaborative relationships with Reed and Brian Eno) I also found it amusing how he brought it other commentators only to attack Reed and make Cale out to be a saint. Overall this is a very well written book filled with sardonic wit and dry humor with an excellent view into the VU, The Factory days, and the progression of one man's struggles through himself and art. Cale is not blameless in his trangressions but I think he sees this...

Entertainment
Who's Your TV Alter Ego?: The Ultimate Television Character Personality Test
Published in Paperback by Simon Spotlight Entertainment (2007-06-05)
Author: Noah Lusky
List price: $7.95
New price: $4.00
Used price: $0.43

Average review score:

surprisingly accurate
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-07
I bought this book on a trip and thought it might pass some time on the airplane...

It truly surprised me! The quizzes are fun...lot's of great television shows included. There's no cheating...hard to determine which characters match the question choices...

AND...the end reults are surprisingly accurate! VERY fun and addicitng book...I want to find more like it.

This book is hard to put down. It is fun and addictive.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-18
This book is so much fun. It's great for groups or alone. When one quiz is finished everyone wants more!! It truly is hard to put this book down. The questions are quite clever and intriguing. In the end, these questions lead to quite accurate personality identifications. I love this book and highly recommend it. It makes a great gift.

Ever been curious about if you were on televion if you'd be more the crazy wacky neighbor, or the nurturing parential type...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-25
This book is highly contagious and very fun. My friends and I were testing ourselves on shows that we weren't even all that familiar with. ;)

A great purchase for anyone who's ever wondered about their television persona. Are you a Carrie or a Miranda? Mary Ann or Ginger? This book gave mostly surprisingly accurate answers.

My only problem with it was that I noticed some of the quizzes were missing one or two characters that I personally felt should've been included. No Lisa on the Saved by the Bell quiz, or Andrea on Beverly Hills 90201. So I do have to wonder if that would've effected my results any.

Oh well, still a great find nonetheless. I hope Noah is planning on a part II.

So have fun and learn about yourself as well.

Best Party Book Ever
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-21
So much fun. The personality tests are funny and amazingly accurate at the same time. Great to do with your friends or to pass time on your own.
With so many shows there is something in here for everyone. Its a great gift for someone you love - or for that secret santa person you have no idea what to get for them. Definite crowd pleaser.

This book is too much fun.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-18
My boyfriend and I couldn't stop taking these quizzes. We even did one for a little girl on the train. When's the next one? Huh, Noah, WHEN?

Entertainment
World of Warcraft 2008 Wall Calendar
Published in Calendar by Sellers Publishing (2007-08-01)
Author: World of Warcraft
List price: $12.99
New price: $19.95

Average review score:

Nice pictures
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-16
I've played World of Warcraft for a couple of years, so anyting having to do with the game, I usually buy. I like this calendar, for the art work, but, the pictures are not labled. As in, what boss, where the screen shot was taken, what instance, alliance, horde. Nice to have all the moon phases in it, and also stickers came with it, for labeling birthdays, and such. If it is offered next year, I will buy it. 4 stars for not labeling the pictures.

wow calander
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-27
i am a big fan of warcraft and i got the calender last year and so i bought this one too and it is great i will buy the next one when it come's out next year.

For The Horde!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-18
Artwork looks pretty good and the raid calendar helps those who do a lot of PvE.

Awesome!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-31
I got one of these for my kids and my daughters boyfriend, they are all diehard wow players and it was great! They loved it. It came quickly and in good shape.

what else is there to say?
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-28
It's a calendar; not much more to say. Although I am getting tired of the "16 month" calendars that are really 12 months with the other 4 months on one little page. It's false advertising in my opinion.

Other than that the artwork on this calendar is very good. The stickers are updated to have EOTS and Karazhan for marking as well as some of the old time Raids such as MC even though that is only a 25 man now if that. (It can be 15 manned but we're getting off track here.)

Other than that; it's a Calendar, what more is there to say?


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