Entertainment Reviews

Major Meltdown: Dawson Creek #4

Published in Mass Market Paperback by Simon Spotlight Entertainment (1999-01-01)

Author: K.S. Rodriguez

List price: $4.99

New price: $1.95
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $10.00

Average review score:

The best one so far!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2000-07-27

I say so far becouse i dont doubt the Dawsons Creek authors one bit to bring out better and better books, but this is my favorite i loved it so much i stayed up in to the night to finnish it the story line to this book is exallent about a skiing trip and it is wonderfully written it makes you feel happy, sorry and annoyed for the charectors as it makes you feel so there i would recomend this book foe everyone not just Dawsons Creek fans.

Good ONE! A+++

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2000-07-13

I've read all the Dawsons Creek books, and this one is my 2nd favorite! They get a break from Capeside! And its snow! Joey gets the guys, which makes Jen jealous. Even though things heat up with Jen & Dawson. Plus Pacey meets someone special! Very good! RECOMEND!

Good ONE! A+++

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2000-07-13

I've read all the Dawsons Creek books, and this one is my 2nd favorite! They get a break from Capeside! And its snow! Joeu gets the guys, which makes Jen jealous. Even though things heat up with Jen & Dawson. Plus PAcey meets someone special! Very good! RECOMEND!

This is the best show/book ever

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1999-01-22

This book is the best book that i have ever read and the only book i can read over and over which is unusaul for me.Please make more books on Dawsons Creek and I will keep reading them.

I'm a Dawson's Creek fanatic!!!!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1999-01-11

I love Dawson's Creek! The books are just as good!! I wish that in "Major Meltdown" Dawson and Joey got back together! I saw the title and thought, wow this looks so cool, I have to add it to my collection! I'm a Dawson's Creek fanatic! The book was my favorite out of the other ones I own which are the following: Long Hot Summer, Calm Before The Storm, and Shifting Into Overdrive. I keep reading it over and over again! I wrote my own story about Dawson's Creek, but I can't think of a good title. I think that a good title interests the reader!! Thank you so very much for letting me voice my opinion! Yours Truly, A devoted fan!!

Make-Believe Media: The Politics of Entertainment

Published in Hardcover by St Martins Pr (1991-08)

Author: Michael Parenti

List price: $21.95

Used price: $1.37
Collectible price: $21.99

Average review score:

Excellent!

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2000-03-26

A wonderful eye-opener for any blind patriot who believes everything on TV and movies, and takes it all at face value. This book points out the hidden agenda of mass, corporate-owned media...

Alternative Entertainment

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2002-04-07

Parenti's critical review of the Rambo movies really made an impression on me. I used to like the Rambo movies, but now watch them mainly for laughs. Each subsequent Rambo release is, as Parenti describes it, worse than its predecessor. There was talk of reviving the Rambo character now that the U.S. is at war against terrorism. Let's hope it doesn't happen.

I'm not sure if working people are portrayed as negatively as Parenti has described it. If we only take Archie Bunker as an example, then yes, but filmmakers love to advance the theme of the powerless versus the powerful, because the opposite doesn't go well with audiences. Perhaps Parenti knows something I don't on this issue.

Parenti's favorable ratings of two films - JFK and Salvador - made me want to see them - over ten years after they had been released. I managed to see JFK, and it was great. I am still looking to see Salvador.

What I would like to see is an updated version of this book, since there has been more Hollywood propaganda released since the original version came out.

Why Archie Bunker and not Eugene Debs

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2001-10-17

To hear newscasters avoid talk about class in America, you'd think the concept is as obsolete as the Soviet Union.Yet Michael Parenti continues to insist that class bias not only spreads out from the heart of society, but shapes it. Here he looks at TV's entertainment role in preserving social privilege. From popular stereotypes such as the Lone Ranger and his third-world flunky Tonto, to the invisible world of labor, to the well-meaning but misunderstood plutocrat, Parenti exposes capitalism's self-serving myths as portrayed on the little screen. Sure it's fun to kick around TV and a lot of people do it, but Parenti does it in a highly informative way that confronts our last remaining taboo - the role of wealth and power in American life.

Maybe the best chapter concerns profits and censorship. It's no news to point out that the networks and advertisers are in it for the money. But it is news to point out those instances when producers actually forego profits for the sake of respectability. Parenti details instances when industry has eaten losses rather than jeopardise the system of wealth and power it serves. For example, Procter & Gamble, TV's biggest advertiser, makes this allegiance clear by banning all content critical of Wall Street and the Pentagon from scripts it sponsors. In fact, most scripts - as Parenti shows - go through not 1, but 4 levels of censorship. No wonder, the public walks around in an ideological haze wondering why the world hates us -- and so much for the dollar sign's being more important than the system of which it is a part.

Another telling chapter concerns one of entertainment's most popular myths: "We only give 'em (the audience) what they want." Sounds good. But, as Parenti documents, despite this appeal to democratic ideals, the entertainment marketplace is anything but democratic. He sketches out control points or nerve centers that reduce real choice to pseudo choice, sort of like a multiple choice question whose options are narrowed to a desired range of outcome. All this is made sorrier by indications that American audiences respond to forbidden topics on those rare occasions when they seep through.

No book that debunks the FBI's screen role in the civil rights movement, or points out the class conditioning behind TV's version of Treasure Island, can afford to be overlooked. Whatever the book lacks in depth is more than made up for in focus. Despite his unperson status, Parenti remains a key figure among dissident academics banished to the book-selling fringes. Recommended to all those who understand TV viewing as anything but a passive pastime.

a good analysis of admixture of propaganda and entertainment

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-06

Propaganda is basically found in every modern society, so it should come as no surprise to find it in a movie like "Red Dawn," which Parenti refers to. He brings up such interesting facts as that all the TV networks have a department devoted to censorship, such as CBS's euphemistically named "Standards and Practices Department"; that companies like Procter & Gamble often have inordinate veto power over broadcast content considered subversive; and that PBS, which is actually anything but a "public" organization, has been dubbed the "Petroleum Broadcast Service" due to the large influence of the oil companies that help fund it. He who pays the piper..., you might say. I highly recommend this book.

A great look at the entertainment industry

Helpful Votes: 9 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 1999-02-11

Parenti does an excellent job in exposing how lopsided the entertaiment industry is, and how Right it is centered. He looks at aspects as diverse as Oscar winning movies to WWF wrestling, and how politically oriented they are, more often then not the Right. The Cold War did a number on American movies and it tainted the industry to this day in producing mediocre films that did not threaten or offend anyone high in power. I feel that today the situation is improved just a little bit, with more accurate portrayels of minorities and women and so forth, but we still have a long way to go in the entertainment industry. An excellent book for anyone at all interested in the entertainment industry and an eye opener as well.

Maria Callas: The Woman behind the Legend

Published in Paperback by Cooper Square Press (2002-12-25)

Author: Arianna Huffington

List price: $17.95

New price: $9.98
Used price: $8.18

Average review score:

To Err is Human...to Forgive, La Divina...

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-29

Don't you think it'd be GREAT, if Amazon listed the book's true author as Arianna Stassinopoulos instead of Arianna Huffington? I mean, really. Oy.

The Best Biography I've Ever Read

Helpful Votes: 18 out of 18 total.
Review Date: 2006-01-28

I can't believe no one has reviewed this book...so although I have never written one before here goes....
Critics say that this is the best book on the intensely private yet captivating Maria Callas. I'll go farther than that and say that it is the best biography I have personally EVER read and I am a huge fan of biographies. Yet, I can't quite put my finger on why its so good. Maybe its because Arianna Stassinopoulos shows a profound empathy for the diva or perhaps it's because she interviewed practically every living person who knew her. Maria Callas, the love interest of Aristotle Onassis who later dropped her for Jacqueline Kennedy, and of course the greatest dramatic opera singer who ever lived, is brought to life right in front of you in this fantastic, well ..... just read this book. You'll love it as much as I do.

Good beginning and ending - boring in the middle

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-28

The book is very good, but in some parts can be quite dull if you are not an Opera fan or musician. The beginning up to when she becomes famous is exciting, and the end as she is no longer quite so famous, is interesting. But the middle is redundant. Arianna goes through detail after detail of each and every performance. That to me is not exciting to read. But because I was curious about the whole Onassis/Kennedy/Callas triangle, I waited. It is important though to read everything to understand her personality. This woman was a wonderful person and a great legend, but she definitely suffered I would suspect from Histrionic Personality Disorder. Onassis is definitely a complete dick, not that this is a surprise, he reminded me a lot of Diego Rivera when it came to women as his possessions. They might have been friends had they known each other - although I suspect thier politics were different. I also purchased a CD to hear Maria sing and often played it while reading, quite a beautiful experience. I was not an Opera fan prior to buying this book. I only bought it after seeing the movie from Netflix - Callas Forever - a Historical Fiction. Curiosity got the best of me and now I am a fan - of Maria.

Excellent biography. Read it when it first "came out!"

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-10

The number one recall I have about this book still haunts me to this day... her abortion. Onasis giving her the choice, him or the child.
Haunting. Horrible.
Above all, this book was a major "undertaking" for the author which she executed superbly! What a story! What a book!

a page-turner

Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-05

(To the reviewer before me: Now we're two.)

I have not read any other biography on Callas, but I listen to her avidly (her La Wally aria is particularly addictive) and have her Tosca performance on DVD as well as the documentary Maria Callas: Life and Art. But Callas's music alone has always made me wonder about her. Such deeply mined emotions in her singing, such ferocity, such purity, such power. How does she get all these in her performances? Where does she mine them? Zefirelli has compared her to Michelangelo, Bernstein has called her the greatest artist in the world. This book answers these questions and explains why. I have to say that it is a compulsive page-turner, even now in the twenty-first century where opera is no longer mainstream. There's always something interesting in each page. At the same time the biographer doesn't belabor a particular episode or detail in Maria's life as to make it boring or overly dramatized. And Arianna Stassinopoulos is no Kitty Kelly: everything seems very well-researched and reliable.

Marilyn

Published in Hardcover by Taschen (2002-09-15)

Authors: Andre de Dienes and Steve Crist

List price: $200.00

New price: $150.00
Used price: $77.99

Average review score:

Marilyn boxed.

Helpful Votes: 10 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2003-05-06

I've got copy 4066 of this sumptuous (and reassuringly?) expensive package and I thought this review should really detail what you'll get for your money.

ONE: An oversize Kodak color film box, nineteen inches high by sixteen wide and three deep, this is a big facsimile of the box that De Dienes kept some of his Marilyn prints in. The package weighs twelve pounds and will hardly fit any bookcase. The inside has recesses for the two books and one booklet. Black silk tape allows for easy access of the contents.

TWO: A large, beautifully designed and printed, 240 page book of Marilyn photos printed on thick paper. Although the printing screen is not the highest (150 dpi) the photos leap off the page, especially the full-page color ones. Many of these photos seem to be very private shots of Marilyn that De Dienes took during her career (a few show her with other people, a hairdresser and bookseller). Several at the back of the book show Marilyn's face montaged into clouds or surrounded by celestial bodies. Between the photos, printed in silver ink and in a large typewriter font, there are excepts from De Dienes memoirs. Also printed in silver are smaller photos with his hand-written captions.

THREE: A booklet with twenty-four, one to a page, magazine covers featuring De Dienes photos of Marilyn. Seventeen of them are European titles. Predictably, great photos are weakened by logos, cover lines and generally poor cropping. I thought this booklet was rather disappointing in its production.

FOUR: The 608 page facsimile of De Dienes manuscript and composite book. I think this is the most fascinating item in the box because of the production problems. The original pages were typed on one side of a sheet of ordinary paper and this facsimile is on similar weight stock so that the back of each page has some text showing through, as the original (There is a production problem here though, the paper rightly has text show-through but the photos do as well, on the original paper only the white back of the photo would have been visible). Although the manuscript was in black and white it has been printed in four colors to create the aged paper look and the few handwritten numbers in green and red that De Dienes wrote on the photos. You can see all of his corrections and deletions to the manuscript and read the comments he wrote about the various contact prints of Marilyn and other printed ephemera he stuck on back of each page.

The original composite section has a hundred pages (it becomes two-hundred pages in this facsimile) of cut-out contact prints which De Dienes stuck on the typewriter paper, again they are reproduced in four-color black because of the occasional handwritten colored numbers, even the image of the punched file holes on each page is reproduced. Hundreds of these contacts show how he photographed Marilyn and you can see how dozens of shots were taken of which only one or two were probably published. Most of these images have never been seen before and certainly never in the form that they are presented here.

Overall I think the Marilyn Box is an amazing production package. A world famous visual icon is presented in a unique way.

*** FOR A LOOK INSIDE click customer images under the contents photo.

Marilyn Masterpiece

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-12-14

A truly wonderful pictorial memory of Marilyns early modelling years.The photos capture the emotion that exsisted between Marilyn and Andres and are uniquely presented in the large book.The box containing the books is truly one of a kind making the entire publication very special and authentic.

beautiful, sumptuous package

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2003-07-15

When I opened this box on Christmas morning, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. A recent convert to Marilyn-ism, this was one of the first books about her I owned, and I'm so glad, because I think it's important to know Norma Jeane before you know Marilyn. These huge, glorious photographs taken by Andre de Dienes capture her innocence and natural beauty at a time when she was an unknown model. De Dienes' memoirs are touching and reveal Norma Jeane as she was to him, a man who fell in love with her, as so many would in the future. After paging through these books, you are left to feel as though Norma Jeane Dougherty would never look quite as beautiful again (and of course she would, but not in the same way). Revealing Marilyn Monroe at her earliest beginnings, this limited edition package is definitely worth the money.

A book for a sturdy coffee table

Helpful Votes: 9 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2002-10-22

For the Marilyn fan, this is a great book. The photographs reproduced in the large book are magnificent. The large book is difficult to read with silver ink on white paper, but it is cleaned up excerpts from the smaller facsimile typed recollections of De Dienes. It is heavy, thus a sturdy coffee table is required.

WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK!

Helpful Votes: 9 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2002-10-08

This book by Andre de Dienes is the most amazing title ever assembled on Marilyn Monore. ANY fan of Marilyn's will find this book worth every dollar. The design and reproductions are amazing! The diaries are a wonderful read! ...

Marilyn Memorabilia: Putting a Price on the Priceless Performer

Published in Paperback by Krause Publications (2002-01)

Author: Clark Kidder

List price: $24.95

New price: $6.49
Used price: $3.64

Average review score:

A Must Have For The MM Collector, Fan or Movie Buff!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-02-21

This book is the ultimate must have for any fan, collector or movie buff. Clark Kidder has done an amazing job gathering together new & old, rare & popular and foreign & American Marilyn Monroe memorabilia. The book is full of luscious photos. Many of the photos are in color. Each item is detailed and is given an approximate value. The book includes values on: magazines, books, dolls, plates, posters, statues and countless other items. The book is well made with thick paper and easy to read text. If you shop on Ebay or antique shows or just want to know the value of your Marilyn collectibles you will need this book. Thank you Clark! CHERYL

AWESOME!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-01

Awesome guide! The best as finally been put out for a reference price guide on the best ever movie star MARILYN MONROE! Even she would be amazed I bet! Terrific job! Thanks for all the hard effort in making it! All worth it!

A Beautiful Book Marilyn Fans Will Treasure !

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-04-02

This brand new, year 2002 224 page, softbound book is sure to delight any Marilyn Monroe fan. There are more than 3,500 items shown, and plenty of useful information on collector clubs, buying on the Internet, and insuring your items. You'll find a wealth of informative text included, along with a complete index to make item location easy. Over 500 large full color photos are shown. Fan clubs and collector sources are listed. It is the most up-to-date, comprehensive price and I.D. guide available. Every type of Marilyn collectible is shown in this book. Add it to your library.

A Marilyn collectors dream come true!

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-10

This book is a must have if you are a Marilyn collector or even just a fan. Not only are there thousands of listings but, there are thousands of pictures too! This book is the perfect tool to start you on your way to collecting Marilyn Monroe memorabilia. There are tips given by the author such as using the internet to find items, how to spot an original & much, much more!
You will refer to it again and again. I highly recommend this book. It's a purchase you'll be glad you made!

M. Memorabilia: Putting a Price on the Priceless Performer.

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-02

Beautifully illustrated and indexed a true "must have" for all Marilyn Monroe "afficionadoes" and serious collectors as well.
I truly enjoyed perusing through this book and appreciated how Mr. Kidder gave a thorough "overview" of Miss Monroe's career, "photo modeling" thru her "starlet" years thru her very brief "super stardom". The author also presents a biographical overview of the Stars'life. All in all, really loved this book. Of notable mention,Mr. Kidder's first book, (Marilyn Monroe Collectibles: A Comprehensive Guide to the Memorabilia of an American Legend), co-authored by George Zeno, was their first as well as successful effort on this subject.

Mark Twain Tonight

Published in Audio Cassette by Audio Partners (1988-02)

Author: Hal Holbrook

List price: $16.95

New price: $4.99
Used price: $0.09
Collectible price: $27.23

Average review score:

Timeless!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-09

I've owned the two LPs from which these CDs were made for many years. I digitized the tracks a decade ago and, when one of them comes around on the iPod, I have to stop whatever else I'm doing and listen to Holbrook's magnficent performance. Today, it was "Huck Finn and the Lynching Bee". If you have never experienced Mark Twain Tonight - in person, on DVD, or through the audio recordings, give yourself a treat. And then go read some Twain.

Mark Twain Tonight - The First 2 recordings

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-25

I have owned all 3 LPs for many, many years. I own the VHS of the 1967 CBS broadcast. I recent bought The Best of Mark Twain Tonight CD that pulled from all 3 recordings, but is not complete by any means.

What this Double CD offers is the complete first 2 recordings. I pulled out the LPs and checked everything. The lists match. So for the price below a full price single CD, you get both recordings including one of my personal favorites, My Encounter with an Interviewer.

Now there are no liner notes, but unless you want to learn about the preparation for the role or see photos as he transforms into Twain (some do), the performance needs little introduction.

I have seen Hal Holbrook perform Mark Twain Tonight several times, recently a couple years ago at the Moore Theater in Seattle. He is now closer to the age when Twain went on his world tour. The history is that he had lost a fortune investing in a Print Setter. It failed and Twain owed over $200,000. His friends and financial advisors told him to declare bankruptcy, but Twain refused. Instead he declared he would pay back everyone he owed. This is how the lectures came to be. He lectured across the country and around the world. He was America's Ambassador - and yes, he amassed another fortune and paid back every penny.

For a book to read that is not on the traditional reading list, I strongly recommend Letters From the Earth. Here is where the a different Twain exists. For people who love Twain, this is an essential.

Twain Masters

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-02

This, as stated elsewhere, is a masterly recording of a master actor doing the material of a master writer. It is as funny and true today as when Twain was alive. Contrary to the editorial comments above, this two-cd set combines recordings previously only issued on cassette or LP. They were recorded in stereo and issued on Columbia Masterworks. The sound is actually pretty good. It is from two different performances before live audiences. These performances are not taken from the video broadcast (now on DVD), although there is some overlap in the material covered. Both these 2 CDs and the DVD are well worth having.

Holbrook's Twain

Helpful Votes: 11 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-21

I saw Hal Holbrook many years ago on the Kennedy Center stage, doing this one man show. After I saw Holbrook's performance, I bought both Columbia LPs of Mark Twain Tonight and More of Mark Twain Tonight.

It rekindled that amazing show for me every time I heard these albums, until my record player died.

The track list was "Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight!" (1959): "Introduction," "On Smoking," "Journalism on Horseback," "My Encounter With An Interviewer," "Huck Battles His Conscience," and "How To Be Seventy." and "More of Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight!" (1961): "Introduction," "Slow Train And Low Dog," "Dangers Of Abstinence," "Problems Of Missionarying," "Accident Insurance," "Requesting A Hymn Book," "Huck And The Lynching Bee," "My Ancestor Satan," and "Encore." All of the two LPS are transfered to this two disk CD collection, with clean masters

Now on CD, the show is rekindled again for me and now my young nephew who I shared these with. He was studying Mark Twain and his works in school, so I played them on a car trip we had. He asked me as we listened to these CDs "Is this recording new, Uncle Bennet?" I said No, but they are new to you.

As much as that sounds like drvel, If you have not heard these recordings, it is worth you time to hear Holbrook orating Twain. He capture Twain the man, the author and the humorist

Enjoy
Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

Exalent! Great for the Mark Twain Fan!

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 1998-04-05

If you have read any of Mark Twains books and loved them, you should buy this, it is the best tape I have ever gotten! I love it and listen to it many times a day! Hope who ever reads this buys it, it is great!

The Marx Brothers Scrapbook

Published in Paperback by Harpercollins (1989-10)

Authors: Groucho Marx and Richard J. Anobile

List price: $14.95

Used price: $5.23
Collectible price: $88.88

Average review score:

Great Reference Book, But...

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-16

First, the praise.

This book presents one of the best portraits of Vaudeville that I've ever encountered. While Groucho disavowed the book, I will be forever grateful to Anobile for transcribing Groucho's words as he said them instead of editing them. I think the portrait that emerges is human, amusing and elucidating. The early sections about the Marx family's life in Vaudeville are especially illuminating.

Now, the bad news.

According to several sources, transcription errors abound. I would point you to Kanfer's biography on Groucho for a description of the particular errors. At least one or two of the photos are misidentified. Of course, this might be of interest only to obsessive fans like myself, but it is does throw some of the information into question - hence the four star rating.

That all being said, for a fan of the Marx Brothers, this work is indispensible - a must buy!

The Marx Bros. Scrapbook

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-18

A great Marx Brothers book. The extensive interviews make this book great. It is loaded with interviews, not only with Groucho but Zeppo, Morrie Ryskind, Robert Florey, Harry Ruby and others. Richard Anobile spent quite a bit of time with Groucho in the mid-1970's. Many great pictures are also included. The only negative is Groucho's use of four-letter words. For accuracies sake I suppose they should have been included. However, I could have lived with a few "****" s instead of......well I can't type that here.

I loved it

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 1998-03-21

A book that displays Groucho as he was. If a true fan reads this, they should understand his unfortunate display of vulgarities related to the incedible childhood and subsequent amazing career paths of the brothers. In order to appreciate this book, you must read Harpo's account in "Harpo Speaks", as well as any thing by Adamson that you can.

Marx Maddness!

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2000-05-31

The Marx Brothers were arguably the greatest comic act of the century and 'The Marx Brothers Scrapbook' brings the heart and soul of the great performers to life. With engaging interviews, hirlarous anecdotes, and moving glimpses into the brother's lives, this book is a must for any die-hard Marx fan. Especially remarkable is the look author Anibole gives us of Groucho in his latter years. Fantastic!

Read what Groucho sued to stop publication of

Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-14

In his second book on the Marx Brothers (the first being 1971's "Why A Duck?") Richard J. Anobile conducted lengthy interviews with Groucho, Gummo, Zeppo, Harpo's widow Susan, and Jack Benny, among others. Most of the book is Groucho speaking, and his recollections are fascinating and brutally honest. Frequently the eighty-two-year old comedy giant lashes out at the twenty-six-year old Anobile: "Fifty years ago! How the hell am I supposed to remember what I did fifty years ago?" Gummo is pleasant and cooperative, more so than Zeppo, who was no doubt squirming about that card game that was getting away. Susan Marx is blunt about Groucho's caustic tongue and Chico's gambling. Groucho's four-letter words, which are in abundance, found their way into the final print and Groucho sued for $15,000,000.00 to stop publication. This was settled in Anobile's favor as Groucho signed all the releases. Steve Stoliar, a college student who worked for Groucho and helped get "Animal Crackers" re-released, says he doesn't doubt Groucho used that language, but never thought that Anobile would include it. Son Arthur Marx attributed it to his father's advanced age. This can't be recommended enough for Marx Brothers fans; it's a treasure trove of information, tidbits, and gossip.

Masters of Movement: Portraits of America's Great Choreographers

Published in Paperback by Smithsonian (2007-10-01)

Author: Rose Eichenbaum

List price: $27.95

New price: $17.15
Used price: $9.64

Average review score:

Beautiful Art

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-06

As an artist and art educator, I am enthralled with the photos in this book. The design elements and knowledge of art and dance all combine to create a beautiful presentation of each dance artist. The wonderful part is that the dancers are shown in their own environment. The love, absolute love of what they are doing shows in every face. The text is something you want to sit down and absorb over and over. This book is not only for one familiar with dance, but lovers of photography and the arts also. Can't wait for more!

American Choregraphy Revealed!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-03

I love this book. It is esthetically gorgeous. The text reveals the depth and complexity of these amazingly talented choreographers elicited by compelling and often humorous questions. I think Rose Eichenbaum's images and accompanying interviews show tremendous respect for her subjects. And they respond in turn by revealing so much both in front of the camera and as they speak to her of their art. If you are curious about who has been or is responsible for American dance today, you will want to read this book. Bravo!

Stellar Book on Dance!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-31

Never before have I encountered a book with such rich content dealing with the dance field and---photos no less, that truly capture these interesting and provocative dance artists. Not only did the book peak my interest about the field, it inspired me to consider going to the theater for a evening of dance--something I haven't done in years.
I recommend this book to dancers, educators and average people who simply want to be inspired.

Jack Caffrey

WOW!

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-10

I expected to be wowed by the photos in Ms. Eichenbaum's book, as I have attended some of her photography exhibits. What I did not expect was that I would be so entertained by the interviews! I am not very familiar with the world of dance but with her interviews, she has portrayed the spirit, the style and the passions of each individual -- they are all very inspirational. And with the photos and the prose combined she has really captured the essence of these dancers. You do not need to be a dancer to appreciate this book!

Outstanding work of art!

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-09

Lavish treatment of the American Dance scene. Warm in tone, intriguing and evocative in purpose. Photos are emotional and revealing. A 'must have' for anyone passionate about the art of dance and the dancer.

Merlin and the Dragons

Published in Audio CD by Lightyear Entertainment (1993-06)

Author: Jane Yolen

List price: $13.98

Average review score:

Great intro to the world of King Arthur

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-20

This picture book by Jane Yolen is an excellent introduction to the world of King Arthur. The story is shared by Merlin to a young Arthur whose sleep has been disturbed by dreams. The pictures are excellent and the story is well written.

A fanstastically illustrated Arthurian book for children,

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1999-07-16

who will be enchanted by the story of the young Merlin. This is the tale of the boy (Merlin) and his confrontation of Vortigern. The tyrant needs a boy 'without a father', whose blood must keep Vortigern's crumbling tower upright. But Merlin has a dream that foretells of a battle between a red and a white dragon. On his instruction, a lake beneath the tower is drained, and two eggs are found. A red and a white dragon burst forth..they fight.. Spellbinding! Jane Yolen is a renowned writer, and this great book is illustrated beutifully by Li Ming.

Must Read

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-03

It is about a boy named Emrys. He lives in a small village. One day a cruel and ruthless king named Vortigern wanted to build a watchtower in the village. He told the men to work as slaves to build the tower. When they had finished building the tower it fell! So they built it again and it fell again. What they needed was Emrys's blood. When the guards had found the right child Emrys told them that you needed to kill two dragons. They dug a hole where the dragons lived.
I don't want to tell you what happens next. You'll have to read the fantastic book Merlin and the Dragons. What I liked about the book is that it had a lot of verbs, adjectives, and nouns. What I liked about the illustrations was that they had a lot of detail. I liked the characters because they were greatly drawn and they were very cool. It was a great book and I really enjoyed it. I would compare this book to MERLIN. What ages I would recommend are 6 and up it is also a great read aloud book. The moral of the book is even if you are different you can make a change.

Merlin and the Dragons

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-12-13

This book you are about to read,will have knights ,dragons,merlin,and kings. this bookis called Merlin adn the Dragons. It is a fantasy book that is made up. The authoris Jane Yolen. It is also illstrated by Li Ming. It has thirtyfour pages in it.
The setting in my book is back in king Aurthers time in a whole bunch of places where there were two dragons eggs and everytime they breath in and out the tower would fall and crumblb to the growned. The story is about dragons and knights, kings and one merlin.They take this kid with them one day at a time and the kid with them for one day and he gets to choose what he wants to be.
I can give you three reasons why I like this book.One it has the stuff that I like.Two is about stuff that my mom likes and threae itha merlins and dragons in it.
I think that peole should read this book because ithas lots of cool pictures. But this is the most important thing is it has cool stuff like the dragons and knights.

A Really Good Book

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-04

(...)

Merlin and the Dragons is a very good book, because there are dragons in this book. Dragons are my favorite animals because they breathe fire, and they look cool.
There were lots of cool action scenes. My favorite action scene was when the tower falls because the dragon's eggs are rumbling.
The illustrations looked real. The illustrations helped me understand the book, because the words aren't very descriptive.
I recommend this book for 7 to 70 years old.
The theme is that some people are sometimes alike.
There were lots of conflicts. There were dragons fighting. And there were kings fighting the dragons.
These are some of the characters. There were the kings armies; they were really strong, because they killed a dragon. There were two dragons, they had red and white scales, long tales, and they breath fire. The king has a gold crown.
Now I will tell you some of the story. Once upon a time there was a boy named Arthur he did not want to be a king yet. One day he had a bad dream so he went to Merlin. Merlin told him a story about another boy, who's a king too, and he wanted to build a watchtower. And the king's workers finished building it and the next day it fell down, then the king's workers built it again and again but it still fell.
Later the king's workers dug under the rocks and they found two dragon's eggs, then the king's workers smashed the eggs and the eggs hatched into fierce dragons.
If you want to know the end read the book.

Metal Generation

Published in Perfect Paperback by High Volume Press (2007-11-02)

Author: darryl J. Keck

List price: $15.95

New price: $10.49

Average review score:

Review of Metal Generation by Darryl Keck

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-15

This is an awesome read for any metal music fan, old or new. The stories Darryl tells are his own experiences mixed with quotes from the artists themselves. There are numerous pictures to accompany the stories as well.

I ate right thru this book the first night I received it. The first 20 or so pages are literally falling out and need to be clipped in place now.

I have suggested it to others on an internet metal radio station. A few have also picked up copies and are also enjoying reading it. You will not be disappointed if you pick up a copy for yourself.

If you are into great music....

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-07

I highly recommend this book to not only fans, but bands themselves! So much information to glean from. Past advice and current reflections make this a great book for groupies, fans, and bands alike. Darryl covers all metal and some hard rock; these are true metal bands too, not corporate forced fad entities. Some of these bands, I had only heard through the radio station I DJ for. The author gives insite from the little-known local bands to the major acts. Parents, give your kids this book and let's start a new generation with the music we grew up with....REAL Rock!

A MUST READ

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-07

Buy this book. I couldn't put it down once I started it. Did you buy THE CURSED cd "Room Full of Sinners" with myself on guitar and Blitz from Overkill singing low and bluesy? Kinda sounds like my old band NON-FICTION.Dan

Metal Generation

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-21

I just finished to read this book and it is a great trip through the 80's scene! in LA,tucson AZ and iowa from a guy who used to run a metal magazine,great pics of bands and funny stories!about the wannabe's out there, about the ones who are on "rock star trips".oh this guy really hate road manegers and record labels!. i didnt give it 5 star cuz the guy is too negative about metal most of the time,too much glam for me( i really dont like glam)i also dont like at all that he mention that poser band called metallica come on! they are not a heavy metal band they are alternative and nu-metal and every trend out there but not metal,oh darryl keck call slayer,megadeth and flotsam and jetsam power metal! and that is a huge mistake! they arent power metal at all...by the way it is a great book about heavy metal

Darryl Keck's Book Is Great, Because It's Written By One Of Us!

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-02

I read through Darryl Keck's book, METAL GENERATION, and I think it might be one of the best books ever written about Metal. It's great primarily because it's not the typical shocking stories that glorying (and somewhat amplify what really happened) regarding the sex, drugs and rock & roll of the time as told by the band members. No, it's written by a fan who had some access to the bands - enough to be nosy, but not enough to be influenced into lying for their decedent friendships that they developed. Darryl Keck should be applauded for telling it like it was!

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