Interviews Books

I purchased this book at a local book store in the West End Mall in Atlanta Georgia. I literally travelled with this book for weeks reading a page here and a page there until I was assigned a book report for one of my MBA classes. I found this book to be more than interesting. Its one of those books you dont lend out and always keep around on your shelf. I thoroughly enjoy reading about successful black women their accomplishments and contributions to society and their advancement in the corporate world. I am one of those professional women who have a burning desire to succeed and advance in my career and after reading the interviews and experiences of some of our very own I was deeply inspired. This book has helped me regain my self confidence and motivation. Its a book I highly recommend to all of my friends to read. I thank the author for inspiring me to continue my journey for success.

After reading Donna Ballard's book, I felt compelled to write her. I thanked her for producing such a fine body of work and for profiling 24 young black women who are suceeding in male dominated corporate America. Anybody who needs a touch of inspiration should read Donna's book; it certainly encouraged me to focus on my goals and aspirations. After receiving my letter, Donna called to thank me for taking the time to tell her how much I appreciated her efforts. Not only is she a fantastic author, she is also a wonderful person.

You can see by the pictures and words these men and women are not the same people they were many years ago when they were first put in prison. The pictures of each person put a face to the name and made them human.

Long term life sentences is why our prisons are so full today and more have to be built. We will have the "nursing home" prisons where these inmates will have to spend the last days of their life as more and more inmates receive life sentences and grow old in prisons. There is no good purpose for this.

I wish this book was required reading for every lawyer and judge. I wish the public would all read it also. Ann

I bought this book several years ago and have since given it as a gift and used it in teaching opportunities. I have watched as people thumb through it and write down the ISPN # so that they can find/purchase it. It's has to be one of the best books around to make real the personalities of some of those who society has discarded through the process of incarceration. This book is not about criminal justice theory. It's about global humanity. It's TERRIFIC!

Tom Weaver is running out of people to interview but that doesn't stop him. He continues digging and digging and comes up with with more amazing interviews. The Donnie Dunnagan interview is worth the price of the book alone. Hopefully Mr. Weaver will interview Amy Carter and - especially - Patricia Breslin. And Homicidal deserves a chapter all of its own. How was this most convoluted film ever made and how did William Castle get novice "Jean Arless" to give the most frightening and upsetting feminine performance in film history? Perhaps Ms. Breslin would know.

When it comes to horror and sci-fi, there is no better writer than Tom Weaver, and his latest book "Earth Vs. the Sci-fi Filmmakers" is further proof. Similar to his "I was a Monster Movie Maker" Weaver this time presents 20 interviews with some of the men and women who worked on some of the great sci-fi films, primarily of the 50's and 60's. Actually Sci-fi is a bit of a misnomer since the interviews are conducted with people who have worked not only on sci-fi films, but also on horror and fantasy as well. The acknowledgements at the beginning of the book is like a who's who of these genres including Ted Bohus and Kevin Clement of Chiller Theatre, Jim Clatterbaugh of Monsters from the Vault, Buddy Barnett of Cult Movies, collector Bob Burns, and film historian Rudy Behlmer.

Weaver's knowledge of these films and the actors makes for interviews that are in-depth and informative, not the typical throwaway reviews you may get with some writers. Some of the actors you'll know, some you may not, but you're sure to know the films they helped to immortalize.

Gene Barry, who starred in the original "War of the Worlds" is the subject of the first interview and is actually probably the weakest of the group. You get the feeling that he didn't want to expound to much on that film and says quite candidly that he didn't care much for science fiction. Barry would go on to do numerous TV shows including "Bat Masterson", "Burke's Law" and "The Name of the Game"

Gary Conway is a great example of a guy whose name you might not know, but you know his role in "I was a Teenage Frankenstein" from the 1950's under that hideous mass of makeup. Conway talks about the ordeal of getting done up everyday and how hot and uncomfortable the mask/makeup was. He also discusses the lesser known sequel "How to Make a Monster" as well as his time working with Roger Corman on "The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent". How's THAT for a title. Conway provides one of the stronger interviews in the book.

The interview with the late Merian C. Cooper wasn't conducted by Weaver, obviously. The interview was taken from an audio tape from 1964 provided by Bob Burns who attended a small gathering of friends that turned into an impromptu Q & A session with the legendary writer/director of "King Kong". Cooper discusses the various armatures and different style heads used for Kong in the movie as well as the animation process among many other topics. The most interesting tidbit is that Cooper had an associate sign his contract for the film while he was out of town and it left Cooper without a financial cut of the film.

Donnie Dunagan is one of the most interesting interviews in the book. Dunagan played the much-maligned role of Basil Rathbone's son Peter Von Frankenstein, in "Son of Frankenstein". For years fans have argued how Dunagan's performance was the worst thing about the film so it was interesting to get his take on the performance and to also realize that he was five years old at the time. Dunagan would also share his thoughts on Karloff, Rathbone, and Lionel Atwill, although curiously, Lugosi is not mentioned. Dunagan would go on to become a career U.S. Marine, achieving the rank of Major and having three tours of Viet Nam.

Peter Graves is known to most people as the star of "Mission Impossible" and as one of the hosts of A&E's Biography. But before that, Graves starred in a number of great Sci-Fi "B" movies including "It Conquered the World", "Red Planet Mars', and "Killers from Space".

Other interviews include Arch Hall Jr. who starred in the cult films "Eegah!" and "The Sadist"; writer ken Kolb who wrote the fantasy epic "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad"; Mary Mitchel who starred in such "B" movie gems as "Panic in Year Zero", "Spider Baby", and "Dementia 13"; and Frankie Thomas who played Space Cadet Tom Corbett in one of TV's very first outer space shows from 1950 - 1955.

What I love about Weaver is that he never minimizes the contributions of his interview subjects. Most of these people have not been active in film or TV for decades but Weaver never handles them as if they were a novelty. He asks the right questions and the subjects seem generally surprised and delighted at his familiarity with their work. Throughout the book vintage photos from the films are included as well as many current photos of the actors today. This is a "B" movie fan's dream!

Another great title from McFarland Publications who puts out so many fantastic books on film and TV. Check them out!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Get to know "Gabo" through his own words as he converses with his old friend Plinio. I found "El Olor de la Guayaba" beneficial in helping me understand the author's view of his own books, including the popular and Nobel Prize-winning "Cien Años de Soledad"/"One Hundred Years of Solitude." García Márquez explains how this novel is thoroughly based in Caribbean reality, not "magic." In addition, "El Olor de la Guayaba" provides valuable and interesting biographical and personal information, plus some great photos. García Márquez is a brilliant, witty, and humanistic soul, and this little book fully shows off his character.

Algo asi como una platica escrita entre Garcia Marquez y Plinio Apuleyo, sin faltar el colorido lenguaje y el ambiente confortante que se crea solo al tocar un libro de el

Si eres seguidor de el pues es muy recomndable leerlo ya que como buen inventa cuentos de una historia sale la otra y nos hace participe de ello!

College-level holdings strong in film history or Middle East history will both find plenty of depth, detail and description in Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers, a survey of how these women produce films in a male-dominated profession and world. The history of Arab women's filmmaking and the political and social background of Arab nations are mingled in a blend of biographical sketches, critical film reviews, and discussions that include interviews from the filmmakers themselves.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

"Encyclopedia" connotes the comprehensiveness of the material, but not the kinds or variety nor the formatting. The material which exceeds what anyone could be looking for in this subject area and is more informative for the way it is formatted is arranged country by country. Not only are the Arab women filmmakers grouped by country, but there is an introduction to each group which is an overview of the Arab country's film industry noting the particular challenges and advances for its women filmmakers. As for additional material not ordinarily associated with an "encyclopedia," there is an interview with each of the women. And in the section on each is a filmography and also separate "film reviews" of each major film. With this formatting rather than the standard alphabetical arrangement with a reference titled an encyclopedia, the distinctive talent and accomplishments of each filmmaker is presented cogently with accompanying photographs so each one stands out with nearby references to her body of films. Not a conventional type of reference despite its title, this work on this category of filmmaker of rising interest from current international affairs as well as the long-standing special interest in women's accomplishments is really more like a text for use in courses or individual study.

Je choisis ce livre-ce parce que je le connus en anglais. (Je parle tres peu francais.) Cette traduction garde la atmosphere du original, une atmosphere a la fois voluptueuse et tragique. Louis est un personnage plus complexe et interessant que the autres vampires de Anne Rice. Il pense plus et voit plus que Lestat. Il souffre comme nous souffrons et par consequent on peut l'aime. Quand il dit >> Je suis destine a vivre jusqu'a la fin du monde, et je ne sais pas ce que je suis! << one sent le chagrin et la horreur de sa vie. Ce livre-ce vous hantera.

This book, and the rest of the books that have to date been translated into French in the vampire series up to Tale of the Body Thief, are good translations. Be warned, however, that if you are using this book to help bolster your French, that the translator did take certain liberties, and sometimes things don't quite match up to the original English version. If you are using this book to help your French, I'd recommend you pass Entretien avec un vampire up, and instead purchase Lestat le vampire, if you can find it: the translation with Lestat seemed more consistent. If you're reading Entretien for pleasure, it's good as it is, and stands on its own.

Having not been in the interview process for some time, I found this book very informative and a great tool for giving interviews as well. I highly recommend this book especially if you think you interview well. It's a great insight on the evaluation of your responses.

I found this text to be a great resource throughout the interview process. The subject matter flows well and makes it easy to read and use as a resource. Not only does the book cover phone interviews, behavioral and situational sample questions, it also gives you an easy to follow protocol on how to follow up after the interview and what to expect.

Definitely a valuable resource for anyone who has not interviewed recently.

Eye On Science Fiction by movie expert Tom Weaver presents twenty interviews with classic science fiction and horror filmmakers, including Herman Cohen, Alex Gordon, Beverly Washburn, John Hart, Robert Nichols, William Wellman, and others. Black-and-white photographs enhance the candid, open testimonies that span science fiction and horror fantasy subgenres, generations, artistic interpretations, interacting with stars, and the ever fickle and evolving desires of the movie-going public. Eye On Science Fiction is a very highly recommended reference and resource for academic Cinematic Studies collections, especially fun and informative reading for dedicated fans of great old-time science fiction and horror movies.

This book is a great surprise. An eclectic group of interviews all connected by an affiliation (actor, producer, writer, etc.)to vintage science-fiction b-films. Some names you might recognize, such as Mike "Mannix" Connors or Richard "Jaws" Kiel". Other names you might not recognize, but chances are that they will be talking about someone you know in the interview. The best part is that interviewer Weaver seems to have a knack for getting his subjects to really let their guard down and provide some very interesting anecdotes. Heck, why not just say it - they really dish the dirt! Weaver also seems to have an incredible background knowledge of the films and the behind-the-scenes people involved, so he is able to converse on a somewhat deeper level than the average interviewer would. The interviews are mostly culled from kind of obscure genre mags, but unless you are the ultimate die-hard fan boy/girl who has everything, you probably haven't run across many (or any) of them. A little pricey, but worth adding to your collection!

Judy Stone's book is a wonderful read even if you think you don't recognize all of the director's she interviews. She has a way of interacting with the people she interviews, of getting them to talk about what really matters to them, that is truly remarkable. I can't imagine a film buff or would-be director who wouldn't love this book.

``Eye on the World'' is a ``multipurpose'' work -- for anyone interested in the movies, it's a must-read, but also a splendid collection of interviews that provide insight into life, love and the whole damn thing -- far, far beyond the confines of just one branch of art.

Stone's elegantly simple style and her total focus on the interviewees combine for an outstanding volume that is hard to put down, easy to pick up again and again.

Having taken up yoga late in life I was very curious to read the experiences of a woman who has practiced a life time of yogic discipline and what she could share with the rest of us for whom yoga is a sometime practice. Among Dona's talents, and I think of any great teacher, is the ability to state universal knowledge in the simplest of terms. For example through the use of an anecdote about the Virgin and a juggler Dona seems to be telling us that whatever our gifts are in life they are sufficient to form that link between us and complete being and that in the end all gifts are equal by the very fact that they are gifts freely given through love. This is just one wonderful discovery that Dona shares with the reader.

"Eyes of Innocence is a collection of ten remarkable interviews with Yoga teacher Dona Holleman, author of Dancing the Body of Light. Holleman, a practitioner for over 40 years, explores a wide range of interests in these exchanges: the meaning of and need for a system as a way of seeing the world; modern physics and religion; the human body and consciousness; her experiences with significant teachers in her life, such as J. Krishamurti, B.K.S. Iyengar and Vanda Scaravelli; and of course the practice and teaching of Yoga. These are some of the most interesting and informative interviews I have ever read, and I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Portions of these interviews were filmed and made into an accompanying 24-minute video, A Fish in Search of Water. This production will give you a tiny taste of Holleman's vision, but if you want to sit down to the entire feast, then you should aquire the book." I felt that this review which was written by Richard Rosen who is a Yoga Journal Contributing Editor and Deputy Director of the Yoga Research and Education Center (YREC) in Santa Rosa, Ca.would be very helpful to anyone who was interested in the content of this book. Additionally, Mr. Rosen teaches yoga in Berkeley and Oakland and has published books on the subject himself.